Mainstreaming Gender and Development in the World Bank : Progress and Recommendations

This report presents the main findings of a completed desk study undertaken for the Social Development Family in the World Bank's Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) Network. The primary objective of the review is to identify the current rationale, language, and underlying policy approach to Gender and Development (GAD) adopted by the World Bank; to evaluate the extent to which these are Bank-wide, that is, shared across the institution; and, based on its findings, to make recommendations concerning needs specifically identified by ESSD. The issues raised go beyond social development and, regardless of network, are of relevance to all Bank staff concerned with mainstreaming gender and development into World Bank lending and non-lending operations at the policy, program and project levels.