Mainstreaming gender in conflict reduction: From challenge to opportunity

This paper draws on the author's experience of leading the work of Oxfam GB on conflict reduction and attempting to mainstream a commitment to gender equality into it. It highlights the difficulties faced and reflects on what did and did not work along the way. Finally, the author draws out some wider lessons about leading gender mainstreaming in development work. While gender mainstreaming in development programmes is widely seen as a challenge to be overcome, it can in fact be an opportunity to increase impact dramatically, or to achieve breakthroughs in situation analysis and programme design.