Guidance Materials for Mainstreaming Gender Perspectives into Model-based Policy Analysis

This guidance documentSSSSSS Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) document provides a framework for integrating gender perspectives and social equity into model-based policy analysis, specifically focusing on the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) and Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) systems. It addresses the systemic 'gender-blindness' in technical modelling and offers strategies for inclusive project design, data collection, and capacity building to ensure that the differentiated impacts of resource management on men and women are captured in policy planning.

• A survey of WEAP and LEAP users revealed a significant gap between the perceived importance of gender and social equity (GSE) and its actual application: while 88% of respondents agreed these aspects should be included in modelling, only 7% were currently doing so.
• The document identifies five primary challenges to integrating gender and social equity in model-based analyses: a lack of quantitative data, a lack of recognition of GSE issues, a lack of convincing scientific evidence, a lack of analytical tools, and low prioritization of these questions.
• Gender-blindness in energy planning often leads to an inequitable distribution of energy supply, frequently neglecting household needs and subsistence agriculture, which disproportionately affects women who perform the majority of unpaid domestic labour.
• In water modelling (WEAP), gender integration can be achieved by disaggregating water use per capita by gender and livelihood type, as women's use is often concentrated in domestic supply, which may compete with industrial or agricultural uses.
• The document emphasizes that social inclusion requires more than just representative numbers; it requires meaningful participation where women are engaged as technical experts and decision-makers, rather than as a formality.
• To address data gaps, the guide suggests using 'mixed methods' that combine quantitative modelling with qualitative data from key informants, as well as leveraging existing global datasets from the UN DESA and FAO.
• Capacity-building workshops are identified as critical entry points for mainstreaming gender; SEI-US data showed that women participate more actively when workshops are led by women or mixed-gender teams.
• The guide proposes specific modifications to LEAP and WEAP training modules, such as incorporating demographics (e.g., female-headed households) and modelling demand-side reductions based on gender-specific consumption patterns.

APA

Escobar, M., Forni, L., Ghosh, E., & Davis, M. (2017). Guidance Materials for Mainstreaming Gender Perspectives into Model-based Policy Analysis. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-2017-Gender-guidance-for-modelling-studies.pdf

Chicago

Escobar, Marisa, Laura Forni, Emily Ghosh, and Marion Davis. Guidance Materials for Mainstreaming Gender Perspectives into Model-based Policy Analysis. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2017. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-2017-Gender-guidance-for-modelling-studies.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Escobar |first1=Marisa |last2=Forni |first2=Laura |last3=Ghosh |first3=Emily |last4=Davis |first4=Marion |title=Guidance Materials for Mainstreaming Gender Perspectives into Model-based Policy Analysis |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=April 2017 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-2017-Gender-guidance-for-modelling-studies.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{escobar2017guidance, author = {Escobar, Marisa and Forni, Laura and Ghosh, Emily and Davis, Marion}, title = {{Guidance Materials for Mainstreaming Gender Perspectives into Model-based Policy Analysis}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2017}, month = apr, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-2017-Gender-guidance-for-modelling-studies.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }