[LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE]

How might we hold leaders accountable to translate their GM commitments into concrete actions?

 

Why does this matter?

While leaders may speak to the importance of gender, they do not consistently prioritize implementation of gender mainstreaming. If leaders don’t signal the importance of gender in their actions, organizational culture doesn’t follow suit and discourse related to gender mainstreaming is not translated into meaningful action.

Without the proper resources and systems in place, gender teams have limited room to act and must rely on influencing their sector and program peers, without formal authority.

Who is this meant for?

An executive leader who is committed to gender mainstreaming, but is unclear about what specific actions they want their organization to rally around and implement. Indecision has driven them to do nothing because there are no public goals they need to be accountable to.

WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING? (The prototype)

Design a leadership manifesto or accountability mechanism that has a compelling call to action and clear goals that holds leaders to their GM commitments.

 
CONSTRAINTS TO DESIGN FOR

  • Should call out concrete actions to be completed by a certain date.

  • Should publicly hold leaders accountable

  • Should be engaging, simple, clear and concise

  • Should explain the why

  • Should be compelling to leaders in organizations across the international development community

Inspiration.

ENLISTING ALLIES - Palau is the first nation on earth to change its immigration laws for the cause of environmental protection. Upon entry, visitors need to sign a passport pledge to uphold a concrete set of actions to protect the nations environment

ENLISTING ALLIES - Palau is the first nation on earth to change its immigration laws for the cause of environmental protection. Upon entry, visitors need to sign a passport pledge to uphold a concrete set of actions to protect the nations environment.

CLEAR AND CONCISE MESSAGING: The Climate change pledge calls for net zero emissions by 2040. By reducing their ask to one clear message, the movement has been able to rally the world.

CLEAR AND CONCISE MESSAGING: The Climate change pledge calls for net zero emissions by 2040. By reducing their ask to one clear message, the movement has been able to rally the world.

CREATIVE ACTIVISM - Guerrilla Girls formed as “the conscience of the art world to fight against sexism, racism, and inequality.” They laid out a clear set of goals and used their outfits as their activism.

CREATIVE ACTIVISM - Guerrilla Girls formed as “the conscience of the art world to fight against sexism, racism, and inequality.” They laid out a clear set of goals and used their outfits as their activism.

A COMPELLING CALL TO ACTION: Founded by the Nike Foundation, The Girl Effect kicked off a movement to ensure that adolescent girls could reach their full potential. The video they released 13 years ago, still resonates as a clear theory of change for

A COMPELLING CALL TO ACTION: Founded by the Nike Foundation, The Girl Effect kicked off a movement to ensure that adolescent girls could reach their full potential. The video they released 13 years ago, still resonates as a clear theory of change for why it is important to program for adolescent girls.

Getting started…

 

Questions to get started

Consider these as you brainstorm ideas.

  • Where have leaders fallen short in acting on something they had previously verbally committed to?

  • What are some concrete actions that all leaders should take in order to demonstrate to their organizations and the public that they are truly prioritizing the implementation of gender mainstreaming?

  • What form and format could this pledge or manifesto take to be engaging for leaders and the public?

  • What distribution channels or forums will create the most visibility for this message and enhance leadership accountability?

 

Your prototype might look like

Some initial ideas to get you going…

  • An engaging video that lays out the GM asks for leaders

  • A one page manifesto that can be easily circulated and signed

  • A gender mainstreaming handbook for leaders across organizations