How well are sectoral gender policies aligned with the cross-sectoral strategy? A policy alignment analysis methodology was introduced to specialists from ministries, the Capital City, and districts to help them better assess the alignment between policy and planning documents.

On 9 October 2026, IRIM introduced a policy alignment analysis methodology to specialists from sectoral ministries, the Capital City, and districts. The methodology was developed to help institutions systematically assess the alignment and linkages between different policies and strategic planning documents. The methodology was developed under the project “Enhancing Gender Equality for Rural Women and Girls through Climate-Resilient and Gender-Responsive Policies”. During the session, participants were introduced to an illustrative alignment analysis conducted for the food, agriculture, and light industry sector and had an opportunity to apply the methodology to policies and strategic plans from their own sectors.

Participants worked in groups using three different types of policy documents and analytical templates to explore the following questions:

🔹 Group 1 – Ministries: How well does our sectoral gender policy align with the Cross-Sectoral Strategic Plan for Promoting Gender Equality (2022–2031)?

🔹 Group 2 – Ministries: Are the actions identified in our sectoral gender policy actually reflected in the annual work plan of the sectoral gender sub-council?

🔹 Group 3 – Capital City and districts: How well are local policy and planning documents aligned with the cross-sectoral strategy?

📝What did the exercise highlight?

The group exercises suggested that sectoral policy documents were generally well aligned with the priorities of the cross-sectoral strategy. Participants found that many of the activities included in sectoral policies corresponded closely with the strategic directions set out at the national level.

At the same time, the exercises pointed out potential gaps when translating longer-term policy commitments into annual plans. In several cases reviewed during the session, activities included in sectoral gender policies were only partly reflected in the annual plans of sectoral gender sub-councils.

The policy alignment analysis methodology is designed as a practical tool that institutions can use to regularly review and strengthen the alignment between their policies and plans. The methodology is open to anyone interested in examining policy coherence in greater detail.

Link: Report-2026

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