Integrating Gender in National and Sectoral Development Plans Training Course

Introduction

Integrating gender perspectives into national and sectoral development plans is critical for achieving inclusive growth, equitable service delivery, and sustainable development. Many countries continue to struggle with gender gaps in education, health, governance, economic participation, and access to social services even when robust policies exist on paper. This course equips participants with the skills to embed gender-responsive strategies into national planning frameworks, sector policies, and development programs to address these gaps.

The training explores global, regional, and national commitments that guide gender integration, including the SDGs, CEDAW, Agenda 2063, and sector-specific frameworks. Through a practical and analytical approach, participants learn how gender issues influence sector outcomes and how planning processes can reinforce or reduce inequalities. This ensures that the design, implementation, budgeting, and evaluation of development plans are aligned with inclusive development priorities.

A central feature of the course is its focus on gender-transformative approaches those that go beyond mainstreaming to shift power dynamics and strengthen accountability for gender equality. Participants examine how to strengthen institutional systems, planning tools, data processes, and decision-making structures to make development planning genuinely inclusive and equitable.

To support hands-on learning, the course integrates case studies, real-world planning documents, diagnostic assessments, and sector-specific simulations. Participants gain the capacity to identify gender gaps, conduct sector analyses, adapt planning guidelines, and apply evidence-based strategies that align with national development priorities and sector mandates.

The program also addresses emerging issues affecting national and sectoral planning such as climate change, digital transformation, migration, demographic shifts, humanitarian crises, and socio-economic shocks. Through these lenses, participants explore how gender inequality intersects with these challenges and how planning systems must evolve to respond effectively.

By the end of the course, participants will be empowered to design, advocate for, and institutionalize gender-responsive national and sectoral development plans. They will gain the strategic, analytical, and technical skills needed to influence policy, strengthen institutional capabilities, and foster inclusive development outcomes across sectors and governance levels.

Who Should Attend

• National and county government planners, policymakers, and economists
• Gender officers, gender focal points, and gender mainstreaming specialists
• Directors and officers in line ministries and sector agencies
• Development partners and program officers in UN, NGOs, and INGOs
• Monitoring, evaluation, learning, and accountability (MELA) professionals
• Strategic planning, policy formulation, and budgeting officers
• Civil society advocates working on governance, gender equality, or social policy
• Consultants and technical advisors supporting national development planning
• Researchers and analysts in public policy and development economics
• Programme managers implementing national or sectoral development strategies

Duration

10 Days

Course Objectives

• Deepen understanding of gender equality frameworks within national and sectoral development planning.
• Strengthen skills for conducting gender analysis in sector-specific and multi-sectoral contexts.
• Equip participants to integrate gender priorities into national development plans, sector strategies, and policy documents.
• Build capacity to design gender-responsive results frameworks and development indicators.
• Enhance participants’ ability to align sector planning with national, regional, and global gender commitments.
• Develop practical skills for gender-responsive budgeting within development plans.
• Strengthen abilities to use sex-disaggregated data, gender statistics, and evidence for planning.
• Improve capacity to conduct gender audits of sector policies and planning processes.
• Equip learners with tools to engage stakeholders, including women’s groups, in planning consultations.
• Strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and accountability systems for tracking gender outcomes.
• Prepare participants to respond to emerging gender issues in development planning, such as climate resilience, digital equity, and humanitarian needs.
• Build confidence in designing and advocating for transformative gender integration strategies across government and development institutions.

Comprehensive Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Gender-Responsive Development Planning

• Concepts and principles of gender equality in development
• National, regional, and global policy commitments (SDGs, CEDAW, Agenda 2063)
• Overview of national development planning cycles
• Gender-transformative approaches in public policy

Module 2: Gender Analysis Tools and Methodologies

• Gender problem identification and root cause analysis
• Analytical tools: Harvard Framework, Moser Framework, Gender 3Rs
• Integrating gender analysis into planning processes
• Case applications across different sectors

Module 3: Sectoral Gender Assessments

• Identifying gender issues within specific sectors
• Mapping sector inequalities and service delivery gaps
• Sector policy review and institutional analysis
• Aligning sector assessments with national priorities

Module 4: Gender-Responsive National Development Frameworks

• Integrating gender into long-term national visions
• Embedding gender within national medium-term plans
• Reforming planning guidelines and tools
• Ensuring inter-ministerial coordination structures

Module 5: Designing Gender-Responsive Sector Strategies

• Step-by-step gender integration within sector plans
• Setting gender priorities and sector-specific goals
• Identifying transformative sector interventions
• Strengthening sector leadership and accountability

Module 6: Gender-Responsive Results Frameworks

• Developing gender-sensitive indicators
• Logical frameworks with gender integration
• Setting baselines, targets, and assumptions
• Tracking gender outputs and outcomes

Module 7: Gender-Responsive Budgeting for Development Plans

• Fundamentals of GRB in national planning
• Budget tagging and gender budget statements
• Resource allocation for gender priorities
• Tracking expenditures and accountability mechanisms

Module 8: Data for Gender-Responsive Planning

• Using sex-disaggregated and gender-statistics data
• Data gaps, sources, and innovative data tools
• Integrating gender into national statistical systems
• Using evidence for decision-making and forecasting

Module 9: Institutionalizing Gender in Planning Systems

• Strengthening institutional mandates and capacities
• Organizational change for gender mainstreaming
• Gender focal point systems and coordination mechanisms
• Embedding gender in planning procedures and tools

Module 10: Stakeholder Engagement and Participatory Planning

• Engaging women’s groups and gender advocates
• Participatory consultation and planning approaches
• Navigating political economy and sector influence
• Building partnerships with civil society and development partners

Module 11: Gender in Climate, Environment, and Resilience Planning

• Gender and climate vulnerability analysis
• Integrating gender into adaptation and resilience strategies
• Green economy and climate finance opportunities
• Disaster risk reduction and gender-responsive resilience planning

Module 12: Gender in Digital Transformation and Innovation Policies

• Digital inclusion and gendered access to technology
• ICT policy integration for gender equality
• Addressing digital gender divides
• Emerging issues in AI, automation, and digital public services

Module 13: Gender in Humanitarian and Fragility Contexts

• Gender-responsive planning in conflict and crisis settings
• Integrating gender into humanitarian response and recovery
• Protection, GBV, and risk mitigation measures
• Bridging humanitarian–development–peace nexus

Module 14: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

• Gender-responsive MEL systems and tools
• Scorecards, dashboards, and accountability frameworks
• Reporting gender results in national and sector reviews
• Adaptive learning and continuous improvement

Module 15: Advocacy, Communication, and Policy Influence

• Techniques for advocating gender priorities in planning
• Communicating evidence and influencing decision-makers
• Managing resistance and political sensitivities
• Storytelling and messaging for gender-transformative change

Module 16: Strategy Development and Action Planning

• Designing national and sectoral gender integration strategies
• Development of institutional action plans
• Resource mobilization and implementation roadmaps
• Presentation of action plans and peer review

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue 

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.