GBA+ Process

Document your process and findings

It is essential to document your GBA+ process and findings throughout the cycle of the initiative. GBA+ is evidence-based and the data and analysis you have gathered contain meaningful information that guided you to the recommendation stage.

• who did you talk to?
• what data, studies and indicators did you review?
• what did the information tell you about any possible GBA+ issues related to your initiative?

Central agencies may ask for evidence that a GBA+ was conducted, particularly if your initiative is moving forward to Cabinet. The Privy Council Office, the Department of Finance and the Treasury Board Secretariat may ask to see the supporting evidence for any GBA+ related statements and budgets.

Your role is to ensure you have documented you GBA+ and can present the rational upon request.

Check your values and assumptions

Checking values and assumptions is a critical part of the GBA+ process. As public servants we must be aware of any values and assumptions, either our own or those of the institution, which could affect the impact of an initiative.

In conducting your GBA+ be sure to think about the diversity of women and men in your client or target group. Try to ensure that you do not base your initiative on stereotypes about women and men, nor on stereotypes about other factors such as age, ability, family status, or socio-economic status, etc. Women and men are not homogeneous groups and therefore often have different needs.

Look at information sources, consider stakeholder perspectives

Gather information

When conducting a GBA+, it is assumed that the broad issue or topic you are working on has been defined. For example, you have been asked to prepare a briefing note on how a budget announcement on economic stimulus may impact your department and its clients.

Gathering information is the first step in assessing if gender and/or diversity factors apply and if your initiative will have a more significant impact on a particular group of women or men.

Sources of data come from a variety of places. Quantitative data should be gathered by sex and, where possible, other diversity factors to understand the GBA+ issues which may be present for a particular initiative. Some examples of data sources include Statistics Canada and administrative program data.

Academic sources, research reports and other forms of research can help you to go beyond the numbers to give a fuller picture of why a particular group of women or men seem to be at a disadvantage.

You may not always have access to data gathered by sex and other diversity factors. This should be flagged and can present an opportunity to highlight the need to collect this kind of data for the initiative you are working on.

Consider stakeholder perspectives

Getting views from stakeholders, whether internal to government or external, can help to deepen your analysis of how groups of women and men will be impacted by your initiative and helps to ensure meaningful and comprehensive information is considered in the decision-making process.

Seek out reports, websites and other information from a range of actors representing diverse groups of women and men who may be affected by the issues at hand. Non-governmental organizations and other organizations may have specialized research on a particular group affected by the initiative, such as women with disabilities.

During the stakeholder engagement process, the voices of diverse groups of men and women need to be heard on the issues that affect them. It is not enough to consult the general public and then apply the information to all groups.

Issues affect diverse groups of men and women differently and these need to be considered to generate effective initiatives.

Define GBA+ issues(s)

Defining the GBA considerations for your initiative will come as a result of analyzing the information and stakeholder perspectives you have assembled.

In analyzing the information you have gathered, answer the following questions:

• who are my clients or target group? - gender, age, ability, socio-economic status, etc.
• do the issues affect diverse women and men in different ways? If so, how?
• does the initiative improve the situation for all? Or does it have unintended differential impacts and create barriers for some groups of women and men?

If you cannot answer all three of these questions, you may need to gather more information.

Develop options

When developing options for moving forward, it is important to ensure that any GBA+ considerations you have uncovered are considered. GBA+ considerations should be included in any documentation for decision-makers.

How do the options reflect the information gathered and the stakeholder perspectives in relation to GBA+?

How have GBA+ impacts and outcomes been given weight in the analysis of options?

What are the consequences of adopting or not adopting GBA+ options (e.g. GBA+ specific or GBA+ integrated)?

Make recommendations

GBA+ considerations can help you to develop meaningful recommendations and can show how investment in a given initiative may be prioritized.

GBA+ can also help to mitigate risks associated with announcements. For example, if a policy or program is reconfigured and cannot be retained, GBA+ allows us to identify target groups that will be affected by realignment so that we can find alternatives to meet their needs, or at the least helps us to recognize the need for a communications strategy that will address the impact of cuts on different groups of women and men.

Communicate your initiative

Communicating your GBA+ is an important element of the process. Whether communicating with internal or external stakeholders, your GBA+ results may show due diligence, foster buy-in with a particular stakeholder, or help inform decision-making.

Communicating GBA+ is not just about what you say, but also how and where you say it, as well as who is saying it. It can help to strengthen your communications strategy by identifying groups of women or men who are most affected by an initiative.