The Gender-Responsive Leader's Handbook

This handbook is meant to provide guidance on skills for leaders in peace, security, and development work. In light of slow global progress on gender equality, it is important that those in leadership positions drive equality forward from the top. It is structured around five skills: Leading by example; Setting priorities and targets; Communicating clearly and convincingly; Managing staff, resources, and activities; and Holding oneself and others to account.

Within the skills to which each chapter is dedicated, a number of general actions are described for leaders to follow. To lead by example, prescribed actions include mitigating stereotypes and privileges, intervening in sexism, and being an ally to women among their staff through proactive attentiveness and supporting of needs. In setting priorities and targets, leaders should first analyse their organisation's mandate, context, and capacity, and then set smart and actionable targets for gender equality and women's rights within these. In communications, leaders should use gender-responsive language, be clear, convincing, and consistent in messaging on gender equality, and ensure that the intended audience receives and understands their message. 

The handbook provides significant guidance on the skill of managing staff, resources, and activities. Leaders should include gender equality experts in their team and ensure that all activities include a gender analysis in all activities. Within external activities, equal participation of women from diverse backgrounds should be promoted. Within the workplace, gender parity should be actively worked towards, and sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment should be prevented and addressed. Gender equality should be an important factor in budgeting, procurement, and staff performance objectives. For the final skill, accountability, clear formal accountability mechanisms should be developed and used in combination with informal mechanisms. Included at the end of each chapter is a guided self-assessment on the skills and actions described.

Reference: Groves-Williams, L. (2024). The Gender-Responsive Leader's Handbook. Folke Bernadotte Academy.

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