Gender Responsive Planning and Programming Course

Introduction

This course equips professionals with strategic skills to design, implement, and evaluate development plans and programs that are fully responsive to gender needs and inequalities. It emphasizes integrating gender perspectives into all stages of planning cycles to ensure inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development outcomes across sectors and institutions.

Many development programs fail to achieve intended impact because they overlook gender dynamics in planning and implementation. This course addresses that gap by providing structured approaches to identifying gender gaps, analyzing stakeholder needs, and embedding equity principles into program design. Participants learn how to move from neutral planning to intentionally inclusive programming.

The program draws on global development frameworks, national policy guidelines, and sector-specific planning tools to demonstrate how gender responsiveness can be operationalized in real-world settings. Participants will engage with case studies from government, NGOs, and international development agencies to understand best practices and implementation challenges in diverse contexts.

A strong emphasis is placed on practical planning tools such as gender analysis frameworks, results-based management systems, and logical frameworks that integrate gender indicators. Participants will learn how to align budgets, targets, and performance indicators with gender equality goals to ensure accountability and measurable impact in development programming.

The course also explores emerging development issues such as climate change, digital transformation, humanitarian response, and intersectionality, highlighting how these factors influence gender outcomes. Participants will be equipped to adapt planning processes to dynamic environments while ensuring that no group is excluded from development benefits.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to design gender-responsive programs that are evidence-based, inclusive, and results-oriented. They will gain the capacity to influence institutional planning systems, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and ensure that development initiatives deliver equitable outcomes for all members of society.

Who Should Attend

• Government planning and policy officers
• Development project managers and coordinators
• NGO and civil society program officers
• Gender and social development specialists
• Monitoring and evaluation professionals
• Public administration officials
• Donor and development agency staff
• Humanitarian and relief program practitioners
• Community development officers
• Academic researchers in development studies
• Corporate social responsibility managers
• Institutional reform consultants

Duration

5 Days

Course Objectives

• Build strong understanding of gender responsive planning principles and programming frameworks to ensure inclusive and equitable development outcomes across all sectors and institutions.
• Equip participants with practical skills to conduct gender analysis and identify inequalities that affect program design, implementation, and impact in development contexts.
• Enable learners to integrate gender perspectives into planning cycles, budgeting systems, and performance frameworks for improved accountability and effectiveness.
• Strengthen capacity to design, implement, and evaluate gender responsive programs using results-based management and logical framework approaches.
• Develop ability to align policies, strategies, and resources with gender equality goals for sustainable and measurable development impact.
• Enhance skills in stakeholder engagement and participatory planning to ensure inclusion of diverse voices in program design and implementation processes.
• Build competence in using gender indicators and data systems for evidence-based decision-making and monitoring of program outcomes.
• Improve understanding of intersectionality and its role in shaping inclusive planning approaches that address multiple forms of inequality.
• Strengthen ability to adapt planning and programming approaches to emerging global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and crises.
• Foster strategic thinking for influencing institutional systems and ensuring long-term integration of gender responsiveness in development programming.

Comprehensive Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Gender Responsive Planning

• Concepts of gender and development planning
• Evolution of gender responsive programming
• Principles of inclusive planning systems
• Global gender equality frameworks

Module 2: Gender Analysis in Planning

• Gender analysis tools and methodologies
• Identifying inequalities and gaps
• Stakeholder gender profiling
• Data collection and interpretation

Module 3: Results-Based Gender Programming

• Results-based management systems
• Designing gender-sensitive indicators
• Defining outputs, outcomes, and impact
• Performance measurement frameworks

Module 4: Gender and Policy Integration

• Integrating gender into policies and strategies
• Policy cycle and gender entry points
• Institutional alignment mechanisms
• National development planning systems

Module 5: Gender Responsive Budgeting

• Budgeting with a gender lens
• Resource allocation strategies
• Tracking gender-related expenditures
• Financial accountability systems

Module 6: Participatory Planning Approaches

• Community participation methods
• Stakeholder engagement strategies
• Inclusive consultation processes
• Feedback and accountability systems

Module 7: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Gender-sensitive M&E frameworks
• Data collection and reporting systems
• Impact evaluation techniques
• Learning and adaptation mechanisms

Module 8: Sectoral Gender Programming

• Gender in health, education, and agriculture
• Sector-specific planning challenges
• Program design adaptation tools
• Cross-sector coordination mechanisms

Module 9: Intersectionality and Inclusion

• Understanding overlapping inequalities
• Inclusive program design approaches
• Targeting vulnerable populations
• Equity-based programming strategies

Module 10: Emerging Issues in Gender Planning

• Climate change and gender impacts
• Digital transformation and inclusion gaps
• Humanitarian response and gender
• Future trends in development planning

Training Approach

The instructor led trainings are delivered using a blended learning approach and comprises of presentations, guided sessions of practical exercise, web-based tutorials and group work. Our facilitators are seasoned industry experts with years of experience, working as professional and trainers in these fields.

All facilitation and course materials will be offered in English. The participants should be reasonably proficient in English.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the training, participants will be awarded a certificate of completion by Steady Development Center.

Training Venue

The training will be held online. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, tutorials and all required training manuals. Any other personal expenses are catered by the participant.
For registration and further enquiries, contact us on:

• Tel: +254 701 180 097
• Email: training@steadytrainingcenter.com

Tailor-Made Option

This course can be customized to suit the specific needs of your organization and be delivered on-line to any convenient location.

Terms Of Payment

Upon agreement by both parties’ payment should be made to Steady Development Center’s official account at least 3 working days before training begins to facilitate adequate preparation.

Our Upcoming Training Schedule