AfDB Launches Digital Platform to Track Gender Equality Progress Across Projects

The new Dashboard will present gender-related data organized by sector, region, country, and financing source, while also highlighting areas requiring more resources.

The African Development Bank Group has introduced a new digital platform, the Gender Marker System Dashboard, designed to track the progress of gender equality integration across its programmes and projects throughout Africa. This platform is based on the Bank's Gender Marker System, which classifies projects by the degree to which they address gender equality and women's empowerment.

The Gender Marker System categorizes projects into four levels:

• GEN I: The project’s primary goal is gender equality and/or women’s empowerment.
• GEN II: Gender equality is an outcome, but not the main focus.
• GEN III: Some outputs contribute to gender equality and/or women’s empowerment.
• GEN IV: Gender-inclusive activities are present but not central to the project’s outcomes.

The new Dashboard will present gender-related data organized by sector, region, country, and financing source, while also highlighting areas requiring more resources. This tool will help Bank staff and consultants access gender data for strategy development, project supervision, and reporting on gender-related activities.

“This Dashboard is the latest innovation in investing in Africa’s women to drive inclusive growth," said Dr. Martha Phiri, Acting Director for Gender, Women and Civil Society. "It aims to accelerate our efforts to empower women, close gender gaps, and hold the Bank accountable for gender mainstreaming in its operations."

Linked to the Bank’s SAP corporate project management system, the Dashboard will assist in monitoring the implementation of Gender Action Plans, ensuring specific actions and budgets are in place to mainstream gender in each operation. The data, updated monthly, will allow staff to measure the impact of their work on gender equality.

The platform will support the Bank’s goal of ensuring that 80% of public-sector operations and 50% of private-sector operations directly benefit women and girls. Gender is a key priority under the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy 2024-2033 to drive Africa’s transformation.