GEM is a structured and flexible methodology for assessing the impact of ICT projects on gender equity. It organizes the evaluation cycle into clear and iterative phases that ensure that the gender perspective is transversal, detecting biases, defining indicators and encouraging corrective actions.
Metodologia
Gender Equality Mainstreaming
Provide a practical framework to identify gender inequalities in ICT projects, make problems visible and promote inclusion through indicators and key questions, orienting the evaluation towards real impacts and continuous improvement.
Abbreviation GEM
Origin and context
Association for the Progress of Communications (APC). Promoted by entities such as UN Women or UNESCO.
Started in the 1990s and consolidated as a reference tool for evaluating the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) projects in terms of gender equity.
Principles
Rigorous diagnosis with a gender perspective.
Participation of diverse users in design and validation.
Specific indicators to measure progress in equality.
Constant monitoring and adaptation of the project to ensure equitable results.
Components
Evaluation questions to guide the analysis.
Quantitative and qualitative indicators .
Methodological phases : initial diagnosis, inclusive design and development, pilot test, impact assessment and continuous monitoring.
Operating guide
The GEM cycle follows 8 phases:
- Define goals.
- Initial diagnosis.
- Inclusive design and development.
- Implementation and pilot test.
- Impact assessment.
- Adjustments and improvements.
- Continuous monitoring.
- Scalability and replication.
Its use requires adapting the questions and indicators to each specific project and ensuring the involvement of multidisciplinary teams.
Advantages
- Structured and iterative methodology.
- Adaptable to projects of various sizes and contexts.
- It provides specific indicators to evaluate impact.
- It promotes critical thinking and the involvement of various groups.
Limitations
- It can be complex for teams without previous experience in project evaluation.
- It requires qualitative and quantitative data that may not be available.
- It requires time and resources to be applied correctly.
- It can be perceived as an additional resource if it is not well integrated from the initial design of the project.
To take into account
GEM is a particularly useful methodology for transforming ICT projects into more inclusive projects, identifying gender-differentiated impacts. Although it is designed for evaluation, its structured approach can also inspire the design phase of digital products and services. In the guide for facilitators we find good examples of how to conduct gender perspective sessions and the common problems we can encounter.
The methodological guide looks quite complicated, very exhaustive.
Documentation
Reference: APC (2005–2021). Gender Evaluation Methodology (GEM). https://www.apc.org/en/project/gender-evaluation-methodology-gem
Materials and practical guides available on the APC website.
Methodology: https://www.apc.org/sites/default/files/GEM_ES.pdf
Facilitator’s guide in Spanish: https://genderevaluation.net/sites/default/files/GEM_SP_web.pdf
Practical examples
In this article we see a practical example of the application of GEM in the evaluation project of two community telecenters in Colombia, developed by the Autonomous University of the West and Colnodo, which analyzes how ICTs can contribute to the empowerment of women in local environments. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/4784655.pdf