Formative evaluation of the Partnership for Gender Equality – Evaluation summary
About the evaluation
Global Affairs Canada’s Evaluation Division conducted a formative evaluation of the Partnership for Gender Equality (PGE), covering the period from May 2018 to March 2023. The evaluation had four objectives: to examine the relevance of the PGE in the feminist funding ecosystem; to identify the early results of the different program areas; to explore the adoption of feminist and locally-led development principles; and to highlight lessons learned from developing and supporting the PGE.
Key findings
- The PGE provided a timely injection of funds when the rights of women, girls and gender diverse people were under threat. The core, flexible and multi-year support extended to women's rights and feminist organizations was well-suited to their needs, though grantees called for more investments in convening and connecting partners.
- The PGE offered a positive example of feminist, locally-led development. It shifted power and resources to self-led organizations representing diverse, structurally excluded marginalized communities.
- The early results of the Equality Fund’s various program areas have been generally positive, despite some challenges posed by COVID-19 and other factors. The grant making program has contributed to building the capacity of women’s rights and feminist organizations, positioning them to affect positive change in their communities.
- The expansive, collaborative relationship between the department and the Equality Fund has been valuable in advancing the cause of feminist funding. However, limited awareness of the program, and the grantees it supports, was a missed opportunity for Canada's missions in the Global South.
Programmatic recommendations
- Work with the Equality Fund to clarify key elements of the contribution agreement, including reasonable capital preservation
- Streamline and adapt the performance measurement requirements
- Reassess the target and definition of external investor capital mobilization in the gender lens investment program
- Support efforts to connect and convene GAC-funded women’s rights organizations
Corporate recommendations
- Identify feminist programming innovations and good practices that can inform the department’s approach to international assistance
- Identify approaches to risk management used by the Equality Fund Initiative with its grantees that can inform how the department develops and manages partnerships
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