CARE GENDER MARKER FAQ:
What is the CARE Gender Marker?
CARE’s Gender Marker is a self-assessment tool that measures the integration of gender into programming measured along the CARE Gender Continuum; from harmful to transformative. The Gender Marker enables CARE to track, improve and support more effective, gender equitable programming using grades from 0 to 4. The Gender Marker is used in conjunction with Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability systems, which measure outcomes for all members of the target population.
CARE initially designed their Gender Marker in 2013. This tool built off the work of the IASC, in recognition of the need to assess gender integration throughout the whole project cycle. CARE’s newest iteration of the Gender Marker builds off the recommendations from the pilot of this initial design, and has expanded to be used in both humanitarian and development programming.
Why gender and age matter
It is now well understand that women, men, boys, and girls experience crisis and poverty differently, resulting in distinct needs, protection risks, and coping methods. Understanding these distinctions can help CARE to design and deliver services and aid that assist the population in the most effective, and responsive manner, while placing no one at risk.
How does the CARE Gender Marker fit with the IASC and ECHO Gender Markers?
The CARE Gender Marker is compatible with, but different from, the IASC and ECHO Gender Markers. Whilst broadly, CARE's Gender Marker fits inwith theessence of the IASC andECHO markers, they cannot be directly compared. This is largely because the aim is different. No other marker in use is being used to grade both humanitarian and development work. This explains the extra granulation in the CARE tool, and the inclusion of points on the Continuum beyond sensitive (2), up to transformative (4).
Those grading 2 and above onthe CARE Marker can expect to grade a 2 on either the IASC or ECHO marker.
Who should use CARE’s Gender Marker?
Everyone! This tool is designed for everyone within CARE to be able to pick it up and use it to reflect on their work. Guidance is provided, and should further information be sought, the Gender team is here to help.
When to use CARE’s Gender Marker?
CARE’s Gender Marker is a tool that can be used in a number of different ways, and at a variety of different moments in the project cycle to improve and reflect on an intervention. As a starting point, every CARE project and programme will use the Gender Marker through Project and Program Information and Impact Reporting System (PIIRS). This annual activity ensures that every project, no matter what stage it is at, will have reflected on the integration of gender in the past years’ work.
The Gender Marker is not restricted to only being used in this one way. CARE Member Partners often use the Gender Marker to grade proposals, and to begin a discussion on gender with Country Offices. Country Offices have also used the Gender Marker to strengthen their Gender Audits; as a part of After Action Reviews; and as a training tool to have staff and partners practically engage with the ideas of gender outside of the conceptual ideas.
Use of the Gender Marker is not restrictive – use the tool in innovative ways to facilitate understanding, engagement, and share your learning.
Why “women, men, boys and girls”?
Using the terminology “women, men, boys and girls” was consciously chosen, in recognition of the challenges of using this simplified understanding of gender. This expression is used simply to indicate that both age and genders (in all its diversity) are relevant within the consideration.
This tool is targeting a broad audience; it is not directed for use by gender specialists, and does not require training before use. As such, the terminology had to be designed to be inclusive, and easily accessible to a broad number of users, many of who may never have engaged with such ideas. This phrasing was therefore chosen as the ideal compromise to allow users to immediately understand the relevance of gender related age concerns.
What do the grades mean?
Projects are awarded a grade ranging from 0 to 4, positioning them directly onto CARE’s Gender Continuum. CARE strives to have all projects reaching a minimum code of 2 (gender sensitive), whilst striving to reach towards transformative work. For humanitarian response a grade 2 or above demonstrates good work.
The Gender Mark achieved should be used as an opportunity to reflect on how well the project is integrating gender, and whether there are areas in which this can be improved, with the broader goal of checking alignment with strategic goals, and striving towards the best possible outcomes for target groups. After grading, it is strongly advised that the learning, feedback and recommendations are shared amongst your colleagues, and used to adapt programming to be more effective.