Fenella Porter – författare

Articles discuss how gender mainstreaming has been understood in different organisations; provide examples of good work, which supports the empowerment of women; and look beyond gender mainstreaming to what new possibilities exist for transformation.

Based on a participatory process involving many Oxfam GB staff, Gender Works gives a multi-faceted account of the organisation''s attempt to intergrate gender issues into its work and culture over the past 15 years. It is an important book for development poliy-makers and practitioners as well as academic researchers. The 36 contributers include women and men from all over the world who work for or with Oxfam GB and other national Oxfams. Individual articles are short and to the point, reflecting the personal experiences of both managers and community-level workers. They cover the challenges of implementing Oxfam''s innovative gender policy: of promoting gender-aware development and emergency work; of influencing organisational culture and of working with the international women''s movement to promote gender equality.

This volume offers a critical review of gender mainstreaming and aims to be enabling and practical, offering ways to help identify solutions and move past dilemmas into action. Articles discuss how gender mainstreaming has been understood in different organisations; provide examples of good work, which supports the empowerment of women; and look beyond gender mainstreaming to what new possibilities exist for transformation.

Aid organizations have their origins in a desire to help the world’s poorest and most marginalized people – but are they reaching these people? Factors are coming together that put pressure on NGOs working in development: the economic crisis, the growing conditionality of aid, and increased competition for funding between NGOs. This creates ‘a perfect storm’ driven by a new language of aid, policies and procedures leaving poor women behind. This book explores how international NGOs are navigating these rapid changes that challenge their role and legitimacy, values, and overall purpose. The writers see a crisis for NGOs as they are pulled further from those they claim to work with; they also explore alternative ways of conceptualizing development, and of bringing about improvements for the most marginalized and increasingly ‘unheard’ women. This book is essential reading for development practitioners and those working on women’s rights, as well as NGO staff , researchers, and students of development studies.