Re-thinking gender mainstreaming in African NGOs and communities

This article examines research on gender mainstreaming initiatives, undertaken by a sample of localNGOs in four African countries. This research explores where resistance to gender equality comes fromin some African organisations and communities. It shows that for gender mainstreaming processes tobe effective they need to address the complex realities of people, and be sensitive to the values ofcommunities in their implementation. The more successful gender mainstreaming initiatives haveworked with local people's beliefs and realities, and allowed sufficient time for attitudinal change in bothlocal people and NGO staff.