Feminist Foreign Policies and development finance: a primer on practical applications

In the global landscape, countries are diverging in their approach to developing and institutionalizing Feminist Foreign Policies. In these times of tense geopolitical juncture, understanding FFPs and their contribution to development becomes crucial. This commentary focuses on defining FFP, understanding its approaches, and highlighting its key role in promoting efficient development cooperation through financing.

How has interest in FFP evolved?

Recently, many nations have developed or institutionalized FFPs, such as: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Mexico, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain. At the subnational level, Scotland and Catalonia have also explored the implementation of FFPs.

While there is a positive overall trend towards improving gender equality, specific countries have chosen to deprioritize FFPs. One such example is Sweden, one of the originators of the FFP-concept; with a new, more conservative government, the country has moved away from its previously hallmark FFP. Furthermore, the rise of far-right governments in nations like Argentina and the Netherlands signals a potential slowdown or even a backlash against the FFP movement.

With such momentum surrounding FFPs, it is important to determine their makeup, as well as how they contribute to the development finance landscape.

What is an FFP?

Experts define FFP as “the policy of a state that defines its interactions with other states, as well as movements and other non-state actors, in a manner that prioritizes peace, gender equality and environmental integrity, enshrines the human rights of all, seeks to disrupt colonial, racist, patriarchal and male dominated power structures, and allocates significant resources, including research, to achieve that vision. Feminist foreign policy is coherent in its approach across all of its levers of influence (e.g. defense, diplomacy, trade, immigration, aid (if applicable)), anchored by the exercise of those values at home, and is co-created with feminist activists, groups and movements, at home and abroad.”

While the ambition for FFPs span to the long-term, the Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative, together with partners, suggests an operationally-oriented framework to address our immediate reality with a vision toward the future. This framework includes five illustrative measures of success for FFP:

1. Rights
2. Resources
3. Representation
4. Research and reporting, and
5. Reach.

Collectively, WROs and the wider gender equality movement at large recognize the need for quality over quantity – the expectation is not that all countries will develop FFPs, but those that do serve as positive examples in the broader political landscape and catalyze movements that promote equal approaches to development, as well as responses to geopolitical conflicts and climate change. In addition, advocates agree that progress in this movement would include more countries and entities integrating the tenants of FFP in their policies, rather than having to label their foreign policies officially as FFPs.

How is FFP connected to development?

The international development sector is rooted in legacies of colonialism and is deeply intertwined with distinct patriarchal structures. However, the principles of FFPs present an opportunity to reflect and reevaluate how these systems work, as well as allow actors within these systems to meaningfully engage in conversations that challenge the status quo. Ideally, “global development is not a series of discrete, monodirectional transactions; it is an ongoing, collaborative struggle to improve the lot of all human beings on our shared planet. Effective projects in development are characterized by long-term partnerships, critical self-reflection, and a multidirectional pooling of resources and knowledge." Development has been historically plagued by unequal partnerships; FFPs aim to address this imbalance.

Beyond mere frameworks and commitments, FFPs are able to catalyze broad mindset shifts which acknowledge the disproportionate impact of patriarchal beliefs and structures on the lives and rights of women, girls, and gender non-conforming people. Under FFPs, pursuing gender equality is not merely an independent goal; it is also a prerequisite for attaining development objectives. Advocating for genuine gender equality both internationally and domestically is a mutually beneficial policy strategy.

Despite extensive efforts from donors to enhance gender equality for decades, the efficacy of these endeavors is often hindered by constraints in directing resources towards the most crucial stakeholders. CSOs and WROs have voiced their concerns regarding the non-inclusive design of development agendas, leading to insufficient resources for key actors to instigate structural changes.

An FFP implies a collaborative effort between the state that develops the policy and the states with which it engages. An FFP is concerned not only with achieving state objectives but also with the impact of its policies on recipient communities, with special consideration given to marginalized groups.

Key attributes defining FFPs include ones that:

• Are created through consultation with a diverse group of domestic actors;
• Promote a collaborative effort between policy-making states and the recipient states;
• Prioritize equal rights, backed with representation and resources;
• Are inclusive of LGBTQI+ identities;
• Incorporate transversality, ensuring implementations across all influential levels such as development assistance, trade, defense, and diplomacy; and
• Recognize and address structural power imbalances.

What are takeaways for advocates?

Considering the FFP framework measures of success, when crafting development cooperation programs, policies, donors should critically evaluate contributions to rights, resources, representation, research and reporting, and reach. Advocates can push donors to look further in each of these areas. Whether donors actively embrace an FFP or not, advocates can assess the strength of a government's policies along similar criteria and aim to propagate positive change through the principles of FFP.

Rights

FFPs focus on the concerns of marginalized groups, aiming to establish a world where everyone enjoys equal rights by promoting gender equality and addressing the specific challenges faced by marginalized groups globally. These policies recognize the importance of confronting gender-based discrimination and violence while prioritizing the empowerment and protection of all, including LGBTQI+ individuals. Donors should critically evaluate the approach and resulting effects of their current national and foreign development policies in extending the rights of the most-vulnerable. Donors can also channel their ODA to initiatives focused on improving and expanding rights-based work.

Resources

FFPs can serve as catalysts for positive change. While there is a growing interest in gender equity and FFPs, development donors have primarily discussed financing within the confines of existing financial systems. As a result, gender equality financing has never been adequately resourced, and existing financing is not maximally effective. Donors must begin to consider the entire financing value chain, from where resources originate, through to where they end up, including the efficacy of chosen interventions.

While the gender equality movement is not adequately resourced, the anti-gender and anti-rights movement receives largescale financing that continues to increase. For example, the Global Philanthropy Project found that between 2013-2017, the anti-gender movement received at least US$3.7 billion and out-scaled the gender-rights movement in that same period. In the years since, experts indicate that anti-gender financing has increased significantly, while most recent figures indicate that gender equality financing is stalling, or even declining.

For FFPs to work, WROs performing critical work in their communities need both increased and improved financing. Financing WROs produces benefits in-kind, e.g., by decreasing GBV as well as conducting successful state- and peace-building efforts. According to the Association for Women's Rights in Development, just 0.13% of ODA went to WROs and feminist movements in 2019. WROs and the wider feminist movement call for local and feminist organizations’ involvement in program design, as well as strengthening support for overheads costs and providing flexible, adaptive program management. This includes creating diverse funding tranches and allowing regranting and budget flexibility. Donors should promote these actions when planning development cooperation funding.

Representation

To be successful, FFPs must involve and co-create policy with the communities they will impact prioritizing safeguarding rights, peace, and equity. Inclusive FFPs should evaluate and address structures of power, including colonialist, racist, and patriarchal approaches to policy both domestically and abroad.

To enhance representation in development finance processes, donors are encouraged to implement consultative approaches when channeling funds through intermediary INGOs to local WROs. Furthermore, donors should engage WROs in programming for crisis response coordination and risk management. In cases where donors are unable to provide direct funding to local WROs, they should prioritize existing women’s funds with demonstrated credibility.

It is important to note that meaningful representation in FFPs surpasses mere inclusion in decision-making processes. Representation alone does not guarantee improved outcomes for all members, emphasizing the need for investment in capacity-building initiatives. These initiatives should empower communities, fostering knowledge and skills that enable marginalized individuals to actively participate in and influence policy-making processes effectively. This process includes consultations and co-creation of development assistance policies and procedures that are representative of global voices, including not only funders, but also those impacted by the use of funds like ODA.

Research and reporting

Facilitating research on the needs of diverse vulnerable groups and assessing the impact of gender-related policies plays a pivotal role in enhancing and refining those policies in alignment with the SDGs. Vigilant monitoring of policy spillover effects, particularly on minority groups, is crucial to ongoing development and accountability.

In ODA reporting, leveraging the OECD gender marker, although not flawless, serves as a valuable tool for tracking and establishing commitments to gender equality funding. For example, maintaining a high ‘coverage ratio’, or the proportion of funding which is screened against the OECD gender marker, should be a key area of continued focus to support gender financing reporting. While countries with FFPs have a high coverage ratio, e.g., in 2019, countries with FFPs had a 96% coverage ratio, other countries lag behind.

In addition, advocates can push for the widespread uptake of accurate use of the self-reported gender marker. Studies have shown that nearly one-quarter of tagged projects are done so inappropriately. Pushing for robust and widespread accurate use of the OECD gender marker is a key manner in which donors can strengthen both accountability, as well as facilitate accurate monitoring and evaluation in gender equity progress globally.

Reach

For FFPs to be truly feminist, countries must use a whole-of-government approach, rather than focusing exclusively on the development envelope. Other ministries, such as defense, diplomacy, trade, immigration, and environment must also actively integrate the tenants of FFPs in their work and financing.

A whole-of-government approach effectively incorporates gender-sensitive approaches comprehensively with an integrated focus on equality across different areas of engagement, including peace and security, humanitarian response, human rights policy, climate diplomacy, external energy policy, foreign trade and investment, and cultural and public diplomacy. Specifically for donors, it is important to rethink and analyze where they allocate gender-related ODA. Development assistance for gender equality has historically focused on human rights, media, and education with a lesser focus on engaging in the connections between gender and the environment, poverty, and the economy. A whole-of-government approach encourages donors to target ODA along other less common sectors. Such a coordinated approach is necessary to address the interconnected social, economic, political, and cultural causes of inequality and discrimination that contribute to marginalization.

A whole-of-government approach allows for the implementation of multi-sectoral strategies that address intersecting forms of discrimination and oppression faced by marginalized communities. Furthermore, it can also maximize the resources and expertise available to address these complex challenges. Adopting a whole-of-government approach to FFPs allows governments to demonstrate global leadership and influence in promoting the rights of women and marginalized communities on the international stage. By integrating these principles in different ministries and departments, governments can play a pivotal role in shaping global norms and standards that prioritize the empowerment of marginalized communities, whilst also exerting pressure on other nations to adopt policies with feminist principles and align on similar objectives. However, to meaningfully engage in this space, donors must finance the gender equality space both domestically and internationally.

What are next steps?

FFPs constitute a framework that development actors should consider when seeking to effectively promote structural change, not only in advancing gender equality but also in fostering sustainable development on a broader scale. While gender equality and FFPs have received increased interest and have garnered the spotlight in larger political platforms recently, gender financing to support their aims has not yet caught up. While progress is being made, larger geopolitical tensions, such as the rise of far-right movements globally, as well as increasing conflict, it will be ever more important for development actors to critically evaluate their role in promoting FFPs, ensuring adequate implementation, and securing financing for gender equality and larger feminist movements more broadly. As advocates engage in the coming weeks, such as at the upcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women, they can enocurage donors to prioritize financing gender equality through the practical applications listed above, to include more and better funding for gender equality and feminist organizations in development budgets.

More in-depth information on approaches to FFP have been created by feminist and WROs, including Leading from the South, Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy, Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative, and Association for Women's Rights in Development, amongst others.