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Gender Evaluation Methodology

Can ICTs really improve women's lives and gender relations as well as promote positive social change?

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GEM for ICTs and internet initiatives is an on-line guide for conducting gender evaluations of initiatives that use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for social change. The APC WNSP offers the GEM Tool as part of its work in Gender and ICT learning and advocacy. This free on-line guide provides users with an overview of the evaluation process, explores gender and ICT issues, and outlines suggested strategies and methodologies for carrying out your evaluation. Used in over 30 projects since 2002, GEM has helped organisations transform and deepen the impact of their ICT work to achieve social transformation. The GEM knowledge sharing site brings reports, evaluations, methodologies and practitioner's together.

In 2007, the APC WNSP began working on GEM adaptations for localisation, rural development, national ICT policy advocacy and telecentre initiatives.

APC WNSP offers a pool of skilled facilitators and consultants in Africa, Asia-Pacific, the European Union and Latin America to provide GEM services and support in multiple languages. Although everything needed to carry out the Gender Evaluation Methodology for Internet and ICTs is included in the GEM website, organisations and agencies have also opted to obtain additional support from the APC WNSP and it's GEM facilitation team to introduce gender and ICT perspectives to their work and evaluation processes.

GEM Services include:

  • Training for organisation members on the use of GEM and carrying out gender evaluation of ICT projects Introductory workshops on gender and ICTs
  • Introductory workshops on gender evaluation of ICTs
  • On-site or on-line consultancy for on-going evaluations using GEM
  • Application of the GEM framework in planning, research, and assessment of development
    initiatives

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APC WNSP and evaluation

APC WNSP has worked globally, co-ordinating research and "on-the-ground" activities that have highlighted the need for strengthening consideration of gender concerns in the planning and implementation of ICT initiatives. Our practice led to the development of Learning for Change, the philosophy behind our evaluation work based on the notion that learning is continually evolving and dynamic. Evaluation is now part of our every-day process in APC WNSP projects.

Prior to the development of GEM the APC WNSP's research pointed towards the need for a more comprehensive, qualitative evaluation tool for ICTs. In 1999, APC WNSP initiated the 'Lessons Learned' Project to contribute to the development and strengthening of practical, relevant and sustainable women's networking initiatives at global, regional and national levels. "Women in Sync: A Toolkit for Electronic Networking" featuring a collection of stories and experiences of women and organisations using ICTs for women's empowerment, emerged from 2 years of research, documentation and training.