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The GBA+ process can be applied to your work no matter what your role is in the federal government. The important thing to remember is that this process can be adapted to your work at any point; it is never too early or too late. GBA+ can be applied throughout the policy process, from research and early investigation to monitoring and evaluation. 

Diagram summarizing the steps for the GBA+ process. Throughout a GBA+ you should communicate your initiative, document your process and check values and assumptions. Other steps include looking at information sources, considering stakeholder perspectives, defining GBA+ issues, developing options and making recommendations.

Many public servants and departments have been considering gender and diversity in their work for decades, often without calling it GBA+. Analysis of the social determinants of health is an example of how GBA+ has been integrated into a department's work.
The GBA+ process should be systematic, consistent and documented to attain the best results.

Check values and assumptions

In conducting 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. Check your assumptions about women and men at every stage of the process. 

Look at information sources, consider stakeholder perspectives

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 (e.g. age, language, education, geography, culture, ethnicity, income) to understand the GBA+ issues which may be present for a particular initiative. Some examples of data sources include Statistics Canada's Women in Canada and administrative program data.

In order to deepen your analysis, 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.

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? Think about gender, age, ability, socio-economic status and other factors.
  • 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 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.

  • 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?

Make recommendations

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

Document your process and findings

GBA+ is evidence-based and the data and analysis you have gathered contain meaningful information that guided you to the recommendation stage.
Think about documenting the following:

  • 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?
  • If gender considerations do not apply, why not?

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.

For more detailed information and a free training course, visit the training tab on our website

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Date Modified:
2012-02-21