A Gender Impact Assessment provides decision makers with a transparent and clear understanding of the gendered impacts of the policy proposal. It also outlines where gender analysis has been used to inform the policy design to deliver better gender equality outcomes.
Remember the principle of targeted and proportional analysis
The level of detail and depth of the Gender Impact Assessment should be proportional to the scope, value and impact of the policy proposal.
A Gender Impact Assessment may include consideration of policy options and actions to improve gender equality, for example, where the gender analysis shows a clear gendered impact.
Gender Impact Assessment is required for all proposals that meet one or more of the criteria. However, where the gender analysis for proposals that meet the criteria show no significant gender impact, an abbreviated Gender Impact Assessment can be completed. The template provides direction for an abbreviated approach.
A Gender Impact Assessment is a key mechanism for enabling gender responsive budgeting (refer to How to use this guide). Proposals that meet one or more of the Gender Impact Assessment criteria (refer to Appendix A) must complete the Gender Impact Assessment Template, in addition to a Gender Analysis Summary (refer to Part 3).
A Gender Impact Assessment usually requires a more detailed gender analysis than what is needed to complete a Gender Analysis Summary, especially to identify how a policy can avoid, ameliorate or address negative impacts.
A Gender Impact Assessment can also include concrete actions that result from changing or adapting a policy proposal so that it improves gender equality. Concrete actions may include amending the policy design or including targets, implementation milestones or progress commitments (within the parameters of the policy authority). For example, improving the collection of gender disaggregated data or commissioning new research or consultation on gendered impacts. For the purposes of gender responsive budgeting, a Gender Impact Assessment provides transparency and assurance to decision makers that proposals with the greatest potential to influence gender equality have carefully considered – and where appropriate, responded to – gendered impacts.
When preparing a Gender Impact Assessment, further analysis is likely to be needed - consider:
- Can gender equality be incorporated through implementation including via diverse representation in decision making and consultation, a focus on achieving gender equality in terms of reference or inclusion of gender equality outcomes, for example in a grant opportunity or research guidelines?
- What is the mechanism for course correction if the policy intervention contributes to gender inequality?
- Are there levers to improve access to resources, services or any other opportunities created by the proposal?
- Are these levers being used to deliver meaningful outcomes?
- Can gender equality be considered as a priority in negotiating mandates, government strategy, procurement arrangements, grant guidelines, draft legislation or reform proposals?
- Are there opportunities to design gender equitable leadership teams, governance arrangements, consultations or co-design? Can explicit expertise in gender equality/diversity be included in selection criteria?
- Can the evidence base and research available be improved and built to inform gender impact, including collection and analysis of gender disaggregated data and evidence?
Steps for a Gender Impact Assessment
- Assess whether the proposal meets any of the criteria. You can use findings of the gender analysis to understand whether the proposal has a gendered impact.
- If this analysis shows minimal to no impacts on gender equality, it may be appropriate to move to step four to complete the Gender Impact Assessment Template. This acknowledges the need for effort to be proportional to the value, scope and impact of the proposal.
- Consider any policy responses to the gender analysis and available options to change, adapt or redesign the proposal to improve gender equality or to address risks to gender equality.
- Consider concrete actions to support gender equality, for example methods to monitor and evaluate progress (e.g. targets, implementation milestones or progress commitments).
- Complete the Gender Impact Assessment Template and attach it to the Cabinet Submission. Remember, where a Cabinet Submission has more than one NPP, a Gender Impact Assessment Template must be completed for every NPP that meets any of the five criteria.
In a Gender Impact Assessment
Do
- Use quality gender disaggregated data, evidence or insights to design policy options that improve gender equality and cite the data. If data is not available, clearly articulate this evidence gap and outline how it may be addressed.
- Take a proportional approach to analysis for the Gender Impact Assessment.
- Focus on progress, whether it is a big leap forward or an incremental step towards gender equality.
- Identify future, tangible and focused steps towards improving gender equality.
- Remember a Gender Impact Assessment applies to expenditure, revenue and savings measures.
- Contact the Office for Women for any questions via GIA@pmc.gov.au
Don't
- Assume the policy has nothing to do with gender equality – gender analysis is a way to surface gendered impacts and Gender Impact Assessment is a way to unpack the details and consider changes or actions to improve gender equality.
- Assume universal programs or systems are gender neutral.
- Worry if there are no obvious policy options at this stage. The Gender Impact Assessment Template can record reasons why changes were not made and identify future options – there is also room to include progress commitments.
- Delete any section of the Gender Impact Assessment Template (apart from the guidance text).
Hint: If the gender analysis shows limited or no gender impact, further analysis may not be required. If so, this should be set out in sections 1 and 2 of the Gender Impact Assessment Template. Completing sections 3 and 4 is optional in this case.