2017 Policy Maker Report

Policymakers and Gender Equality: What They Know and How They Know It

Understanding the perspectives of policymakers on gender equality – as well as the extent to which these perspectives are grounded in data and evidence – is a crucial part of understanding where change needs to happen in order to keep us on track to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for girls and women by 2030.

The fact remains that, if the SDGs are to be achieved, it will be because policymakers in the 193 countries that signed up to the SDGs put in place the laws, policies and funding necessary to implement the goals on the ground.

By surveying 109 policymakers in five countries (Indonesia, India, Kenya, Senegal and Colombia), this research seeks to shed light on:

• How do policymakers perceive progress on gender equality in their countries?
• What most needs to change in order to improve gender equality?
• What data and evidence do they rely on to make their decisions?
• How confident are they in their understanding of the major challenges affecting girls and women in their countries?

The survey results raise concerns about whether policymakers are equipped with and sufficiently using the basic information required to drive action towards the ambitious gender equality targets that are part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).