A Proposed Strategy for Mainstreaming Gender at the IMF

Source details

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is preparing its first strategy to mainstream gender.
The proposed strategy aims to integrate gender into the Fund’s surveillance, lending, and capacity development.
The proposal will be submitted for consideration and approval to the IMF’s Executive Board in Spring 2022.

Mainstreaming gender at the IMF begins with recognizing that many gender disparities are macro-critical and that economic and financial policies can exacerbate or narrow them.
Improving women’s access to opportunities and decision-making roles is linked to:
- higher economic growth,
- greater economic and financial stability and resilience,
- lower inequality.
Attention to gender has never been more urgent: the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing gaps, disproportionately affecting women.
The proposed gender strategy focuses on the Fund’s areas of expertise: macroeconomic and financial policy and analysis. It does not consider all aspects of gender issues.

A foundation of past work has paved the way, including country pilots, capacity development initiatives, and analytical research.
The proposed gender strategy seeks to complement the efforts of other organizations that have had a head start in this field.
Partnering with external stakeholders is identified as vital to enhance efficacy and leverage impact.

Core focus areas for integration:
- Surveillance: incorporating gender-relevant macroeconomic analysis.
- Lending: mainstreaming gender considerations in lending operations where macro-critical.
- Capacity development: targeted advice and technical assistance to strengthen country capacity on gender-relevant macroeconomic and financial policy.
The strategy concentrates on the IMF’s comparative advantages, namely macroeconomic and financial policy and analysis.

The IMF values engagement with partners and stakeholders to shape its analysis and policies.
The IMF has had constructive engagements on gender work over the last several years through calls, CSO policy forum sessions, and dedicated events.
Inputs from these engagements were considered in the first gender strategy proposal to the Board on February 9.
An online public consultation of the concept note is open during February 10 - March 23, 2022.
Consultations with external partners will take place during February 10 – March 23, 2022.

Do you agree with the proposed vision for mainstreaming gender at the IMF?
Given the mandates, core competencies, and comparative advantages of other organizations working on gender issues, what are your views on where the IMF can make the most impactful contribution?
What factors are important for the IMF to consider when identifying countries for targeted advice and capacity development support?

A Proposed Strategy for Mainstreaming Gender At the Imf — Consultation Concept Note
- A Proposed Strategy for Mainstreaming Gender At the Imf — Consultation Concept Note (Markdown version)
- A Proposed Strategy for Mainstreaming Gender At the Imf — Consultation Concept Note (PDF)