1. Why is PRM requiring a gender analysis?

The Obama administration has put gender equality at the center of its foreign policy. This commitment is manifested through several U.S. government action plans and strategies which call for gender integration to promote gender equality and improve programming and policy outcomes – for example, the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, and the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (GBV) Globally.

As a Bureau, PRM has long prioritized the unique protection needs of women and children, and recognizes that women and children face heightened risks and vulnerabilities, especially in situations of emergencies. As Assistant Secretary Anne Richard stated in her confirmation hearing, the protection of women and girls is one of PRM’s top three priorities. Moreover, PRM is committed to protection mainstreaming across all sectors to address the needs of all vulnerable groups, including minorities, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons.

Beginning in FY 2014, PRM will require our partners to include a gender analysis in all project proposals in order to better meet the unique needs of women and girls and improve overall programming outcomes. With this new requirement, PRM seeks to more fully integrate gender into its overall policy and programming, empowering our partners to identify the gender dynamics in the context in which they work, the unique risks women and girls face in these contexts, and how the project will reduce or mitigate protection risks. This new requirement also furthers the goals of the State/USAID Safe from the Start initiative, which seeks to prevent and respond to GBV from the onset of emergencies.

2. What is a gender analysis?

Partners applying for PRM funding will be required to provide a brief gender analysis that answers three specific questions within the overall project narrative:

(1) Gender Dynamics: What are the gender dynamics within the target population (i.e., roles, power dynamics, and different needs of men and women, girls and boys)?

(2) Vulnerabilities and Risks: What are the associated protection risks and implementation challenges for the project posed by those dynamics?

(3) Activities: How will program activities mitigate these protection risks and be made accessible to vulnerable groups (particularly women and girls)?

3. How long should it be?

This gender analysis should be included as part of the project narrative in section 3A (see the PRM proposal template) for both single-year and multi-year proposals. Given the overall page limitation for proposal narratives, the gender analysis should be as concise as possible.

If you choose not to use the PRM proposal templates provided, please ensure that your proposal specifically addresses the three questions above in its project narrative.

4. How will this be reviewed?

All submitted proposals should include a gender analysis. The gender analysis will be reviewed specifically for 1) whether the partner has demonstrated an understanding of relevant gender dynamics within the project narrative; and 2) how the project activities will address identified risks and vulnerabilities, as well as promote equal access to project activities, for women and girls. Should the project be chosen for a funding award, a gender analysis meeting the above criteria must be included as part of the final proposal.

5. What is the new gender-based violence (GBV) funding line in PRM’s budget template?

In addition to the requirement for a gender analysis, for proposals that include activities to prevent and respond to GBV, PRM is also asking partners to provide a cost estimate of such activities (for example, medical services that include a GBV component, capacity-building for staff, awareness campaigns). A line for applicants to provide their GBV funding estimate has been included in PRM’s budget template. Please see PRM’s General NGO Guidelines for more detailed information on the types of activities that PRM considers as part of prevention and response to GBV.

**Please note: PRM understand that this is an estimate and will only apply to those projects that specifically seek to address GBV.**

Please feel free to contact PRM-MCEGenderYouth@state.gov with further questions.