The African gender and development index phase: technical note

Abstract

The African Gender Development Index (AGDI) was introduced by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in 2004 to measure gaps between the status of African men and women and assess the progress made by African governments in implementing gender policies. The ECA African Centre for Gender (ACG) prepared this note to ensure common understanding of the process by participating countries and assist them in implementing it effectively. It served as the main background document for the AGDI phase 4 methodology. The note is based on the AGDI Manual and an unpublished manuscript on the AGDI prepared by ACG. Section II of the note discusses the importance of gender statistics and measuring progress towards gender equality. The third section discusses the objectives and composition of the process leading to the calculation of the AGDI, using examples from AGDI country reports. Section IV looks at the AGDI process. The issues discussed in this section include: the role of national gender machinery and national advisory panels in driving the AGDI process at the national level; ECA support to AGDI countries, including organization of the AGDI methodology workshop; and the administrative and financial processes involved in the AGDI process.