What is Gender and Development?
The Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act No. 9710) defines Gender and Development Program (GAD) as the development perspective and process that is participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable, free from violence, respectful of human rights, supportive of self-determination and actualization of human potentials. It seeks to achieve gender equality as a fundamental value that should be reflected in development choices and contends that women are active agents of development, not just passive recipients of development.
(Source: Official Gazette)
Goal of GAD
As a development approach, GAD seeks to equalize the status and condition of and relations between women and men by influencing the process and output of policy-making, planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring, and evaluation so that they would deliberately address the gender issues and concerns affecting the full development of women.
Gender Equity
Means giving more opportunities to those who have less and those who are historically and socially disadvantaged based on their needs for them to operate on a level playing field. “Focusing on the needs of women does not mean discriminating against men or putting them at a disadvantage”