Gender Equality Indicators

How we evaluate whether or not we are on the right track towards achieving our desired gender equality results.

What does a gender equitable world look like?

Measuring outcomes related to gender equality (GE) is important for everyone! By doing so, donor and financing institutions can guarantee that their investments are meeting their GE goals, and implementing partners can ensure that their strategies are not only working and inclusive but also responsive to evolving gender norms and power dynamics. Measuring GE is not easy, however, and there is an ever-growing need for GE outcome indicators.

How do we know we’re on the right track?

That’s where we come in. We have compiled a comprehensive repository of indicators that Chroma member institutions use – in alignment with the SDGs – to track GE-related outcomes in their investments/projects and/or those that they ask their implementing partners to use in the course of designing and implementing their work.

You can find a list of references from which the indicators were taken below. To check out other indicator resources and GE databases, check out Chroma's resource page.

And how will we know when we’ve gotten there?

If you are a donor/financing institution, a grassroots organization, or an implementing partner who wants to know if your efforts are on track to achieving your GE goals and commitments, then this resource is for you. You can explore the database by:

sector
indicator type (e.g. those used to track institutional performance, measure project/program outcomes, or demonstrate national/regional impact)
measurement type (e.g. quantitative or qualitative)

Considerations for selecting indicators

Selecting the right indicators is important for accurately measuring progress and impact towards gender equality. Here are 10 essential questions to guide your selection process.

The indicators you choose should not only reflect global standards and frameworks for gender equality, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but they should also directly measure aspects of gender equality that your institution and/or project seek to address. Wherever possible, consider measuring gender equality results that reflect changes across not only programmatic priorities, but also internal policies, practices and systems, organizational commitments, and accountability mechanisms.
These considerations will also determine which type of indicator to implement: one that measures institutional performance, project/program outcomes, or national/regional impact.
There is often a temptation to use universal indices or frameworks to measure gender equality; however, global indicators may not always translate to the local or regional level. Gender inequalities play out in different ways depending on the social, cultural, or political context. The measurement process should be relevant and respect the dignity and rights of individuals, especially when collecting sensitive information (e.g., about violence, sexual and reproductive health practices, etc.).
It is difficult to measure a construct as complex and dynamic as “gender equality” using only one indicator or index. Choosing a mix of indicators that collectively paints a more holistic picture of gender equality is key. Consider outcome indicators that measure outcomes at the individual, interpersonal, community, and institutional levels. Also, be sure to cover relevant domains related to economic empowerment, education, health, participation in decision-making, and more.
To measure transformative change, use gender equality outcome indicators that capture how systems of inequality–such as sexism, racism, ageism, and ableism–interact to produce patterns of privilege and oppression among diverse groups of people.
A combination of quantitative and qualitative indicators illuminates both numerical trends and nuanced insights into social dynamics, power relations, and cultural nuances. Triangulating this information paints a more holistic picture of gender equality outcomes and allows for cross-checking of results.
The process of deciding what aspects of gender equality to measure can be as political as it is strategic. Often the indicators that are used reflect the priorities of decision-makers rather than of those the intervention is trying to serve. To ensure that this does not happen, use a participatory approach and involve the target population, especially women and marginalized groups, in the selection of gender equality indicators.
Gender roles and expectations are dynamic and often change over time. Select indicators that are relevant to the current gender norms and power dynamics identified by your gender analysis.
Consider the relevance of selected indicators for policy formulation and advocacy. Indicators that resonate with policymakers and stakeholders are more likely to contribute to sustained, positive change.
Achieving sustainable transformations in gender norms and inequalities takes time. When possible, include indicators that measure long-term impact to demonstrate sustained effects of your development efforts toward gender equality. When measuring these impacts is not possible within the program or funding timeline, however, it is important to measure short-term and intermediate gender equality results that serve as proxies for impact by reflecting a clear path toward achieving meaningful progress.
Collecting information to measure gender equality outcomes can be complicated by a number of factors, including a lack of baseline and/or consistently available data, the timeline of the project or funding, the sensitivity or cultural acceptability of the topic, etc. To address these potential obstacles, consider the availability of data sources from the beginning and whether collecting data for select indicators is feasible. Also, be sure to assess whether the required data can be reliably and ethically obtained in a timely manner and within the project's resource constraints.