This report presents the findings from the evaluation of Gavi’s 2013 Gender Policy. The evaluation was conducted by Itad in 2018-2019.
Download the reportThis report presents the findings from the evaluation of Gavi’s 2013 Gender Policy. The evaluation was conducted by Itad in 2018-2019.
Download the reportThe evaluation assessed the Policy design, the efficiency of its implementation during the period 2014 – 2018 and the results that were achieved. Though a summative evaluation, the evaluation findings are also informing a review of the Gavi Gender Policy that is currently taking place.
After reviewing the final report for the ‘Evaluation of Gavi’s Gender Policy’, the Gavi Evaluation Advisory Committee (EAC) felt that it was a useful report that met the Gavi quality standards. 1
The report is well written, very well structured, and the evidence is presented clearly and systematically. It is very transparent in its approach to address the Request for Proposal (RfP) and many of the findings are useful and credible. It was a theory driven evaluation which provides summative analysis of the policy whilst also clearly outlining the constraints and limitations they faced. The recommendations are well thought out and convincing.
Overall, this is a very useful evaluation and the lessons learned will contribute to future work of the Gavi Alliance and key stakeholders, and likely help to inform Gavi’s new Strategy (2021-2025).
The evaluation adopted a theory-based approach to explore five evaluation questions and associated sub-questions. Mixed methods were used for data collection, including a detailed study of eight focal countries, key informant interviews (KIIs), a survey to Gavi Secretariat staff and a best practice analysis of comparison organisations.
The evaluation presents 15 findings and seven recommendations, which were discussed with stakeholders at a co-creation workshop in March 2019 (please see the report for more details).
The evaluation found that the Gender Policy’s ToC broadly reflected Gavi’s intentions at the time. The four strategies depicted were regarded as reasonable approaches to build country capacity for gender-sensitive immunisation. However, some aspects of the programme theory had not materialised as expected. This is due to some underlying assumptions not holding true and an insufficient articulation of a pathway from inputs to outputs and outcomes and which limited the ability to monitor progress in policy implementation
Gavi’s Gender Policy is relevant to global and country efforts to promote universal immunisation coverage and gender equality. The policy has responded to evidence that showed gender-related barriers are the key issues in inhibiting access to immunisation. The Policy is also aligned with international goals (including SDG 3). The evaluators highlighted four ways in which the Policy’s relevance can be strengthened going forward:
Key Gavi figures are committed and provide visible leadership to the Gender Policy’s implementation. The Gender Working Group (GWG) has made good efforts to drive and coordinate policy implementation within the Secretariat and has facilitated the achievement of some important milestones. However, , the GWG has lacked the level of prioritisation and the resource commitment required to efficiently translate the policy commitments into action. The evaluators recommend enhancing internal Secretariat systems and processes including appointing an experienced gender and equity specialist dedicated to supporting the Alliance in implementing the Gender Policy.
Gavi has recently increased its participation in global advocacy and dialogue processes to ensure that language that addresses gender related barriers to health services is incorporated into various multi-stakeholder agreements and compacts. The Secretariat has achieved a reasonable level of attention to improve country understanding and addressing gender-related barriers through the development of programmatic guidance documents on gender.
However, for this to result in gender-related barriers being addressed in programming, they also need to be explored in country dialogue to enable partners to develop their understanding. To date, the Alliance has tended to prioritise other drivers of inequities, including geographic equity, and has, for the large part, allowed countries to dismiss the importance of gender issues in providing access to immunisation and in improving overall immunisation coverage. The evaluation recommended making equity assessments a requirement for HSS support, and working with country partners to develop a detailed understanding of the gender-related and other barriers to immunisation access.
Gavi works with countries to address gender-related barriers, and ensure all boys and girls have equal access to vaccines
Gavi has committed to increasing immunisation coverage by supporting countries to overcome gender-related barriers to accessing immunisation services and promoting equity of access for all genders to immunisation and related health services that respond to their different needs.
This report presents the findings and lessons from an evaluation of the Gavi Gender Policy. The evaluation was conducted in 2012 by ICF Macro, Inc.