Introduction

Traditional economic models and development planning often fail to adequately account for the invisible labor, unpaid care work, and systemic inequalities that disproportionately burden women and marginalized groups, leading to incomplete analyses and ineffective policies. Feminist Economics offers a powerful alternative, challenging conventional assumptions by explicitly integrating gender into economic theory, research, and policy. It highlights how power dynamics, social norms, and gender roles shape economic outcomes, advocating for a broader definition of value that includes social reproduction and environmental sustainability. By centering human well-being and equity, feminist economics provides critical tools to analyze economic systems, expose gender biases, and design development plans that are truly inclusive, just, and sustainable for all members of society. This essential training course focuses on Feminist Economics and Development Planning, equipping participants to reshape economic discourse and policy.

This intensive training course is meticulously designed to equip economists, development practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and civil society advocates with the theoretical understanding and practical tools necessary to apply Feminist Economics principles to Development Planning. Participants will delve into the core critiques of mainstream economics, learn to conduct gender-aware economic analysis, and explore innovative approaches to designing gender-responsive development strategies. The course will cover topics such as measuring unpaid care work, gender-responsive budgeting, women's economic empowerment, the care economy, and integrating feminist perspectives into macroeconomic policy. By mastering the principles and methodologies of Feminist Economics and Development Planning, participants will be empowered to challenge conventional wisdom, advocate for equitable resource allocation, and contribute to the creation of truly transformative and inclusive development pathways.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience

• Economists and Economic Analysts
• Development Planners and Policy Makers
• Gender Equality Specialists
• Researchers in Economics, Development Studies, and Gender Studies
• Civil Society Organizations and Gender Advocates
• Government Officials (Ministry of Finance, Planning, Gender)
• International Development Organization Staff
• Social Policy Experts
• Academics and Students in related fields

Course Objectives

• Understand the core concepts and critiques of Feminist Economics.
• Analyze the gendered assumptions and biases in mainstream economic theory and development models.
• Learn to measure and value unpaid care work and its economic significance.
• Develop skills in conducting gender-aware economic analysis and data interpretation.
• Explore strategies for gender-responsive macroeconomic and fiscal policies.
• Acquire knowledge of approaches to women's economic empowerment from a feminist perspective.
• Comprehend the role of the care economy in sustainable development.
• Identify opportunities for integrating feminist economics principles into national and sectoral development planning.
• Examine global best practices and case studies of feminist economic policies.
• Develop a practical action plan for applying feminist economic insights in their work.
• Enhance advocacy skills for equitable and transformative economic development.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Feminist Economics

• Defining Feminist Economics: core principles, history, and critiques of mainstream economics.
• Key concepts: gender as a social construct, power relations, intersectionality.
• Beyond GDP: alternative measures of well-being and prosperity.
• The expanded definition of economy: valuing production, reproduction, and distribution.
• Ethical considerations and values in economic analysis.

Module 2: Unpaid Care Work and the Care Economy

• Understanding unpaid care work: its forms, magnitude, and importance.
• Methodologies for measuring and valuing unpaid care work (e.g., time-use surveys).
• The economic implications of the unequal distribution of care work.
• The concept of the "care economy" and its contribution to GDP.
• Policy responses to recognize, reduce, and redistribute unpaid care work.

Module 3: Gender-Aware Macroeconomics and Fiscal Policy

• Analyzing the gendered impacts of macroeconomic policies (e.g., austerity, trade, inflation).
• Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) as a tool for fiscal policy.
• Taxation from a gender perspective: identifying and addressing biases.
• Gender and public debt: differentiated impacts and policy implications.
• Feminist critiques of structural adjustment programs.

Module 4: Women's Economic Empowerment from a Feminist Lens

• Defining women's economic empowerment: beyond income generation.
• Addressing barriers to women's full and equal participation in labor markets.
• Promoting decent work, equal pay, and safe working conditions for women.
• Supporting women's entrepreneurship and access to finance.
• The role of collective action and women's economic organizing.

Module 5: Gender and Labour Markets

• Gender segregation in labor markets: horizontal and vertical.
• Wage gaps: causes, measurement, and policy interventions.
• Informal economy and precarious work: gendered vulnerabilities.
• Legal and policy frameworks for equal employment opportunity.
• Addressing gender-based discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

Module 6: Gender, Poverty, and Social Protection

• Understanding the feminization of poverty and its drivers.
• Designing gender-responsive social protection programs (cash transfers, public works).
• Access to assets and productive resources: land, credit, technology.
• The importance of gender-disaggregated poverty data.
• Policies for addressing intergenerational poverty through a gender lens.

Module 7: Gender, Environment, and Sustainable Development

• Feminist ecological economics: linking gender, environment, and economy.
• Gendered impacts of environmental degradation and climate change.
• Women's roles in environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management.
• Green economy initiatives: ensuring gender-inclusive transitions.
• Integrating gender into environmental policy and planning.

Module 8: Integrating Feminist Economics into Development Planning

• Gender mainstreaming in national development plans and strategies.
• Tools for gender-sensitive economic planning and analysis.
• Engaging diverse stakeholders in participatory economic planning.
• Monitoring and evaluating economic policies for gender outcomes.
• Case studies of countries applying feminist economic principles in development planning.

Module 9: Challenges, Advocacy, and Future Directions

• Overcoming resistance to feminist economic perspectives.
• Building alliances for transformative economic change.
• Data challenges and the need for new indicators.
• The role of feminist economics in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Future research agendas and policy priorities for feminist economics.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training