GERA Goal, Mission and Objectives

Goal
The GERA program was initiated to increase the participation of African research organizations and women's groups in research, analysis and advocacy to transform economic policies from a gender perspective.

Mission
The GERA program is committed to research and advocacy that expands and disseminates knowledge on the relationship between economic reform processes and gender inequality and develops effective strategies leading to economic justice and social and political emancipation for African women.

The mission of the GERA program, and of the researchers and advocates that join its growing network, is both to provide critical analyses of economic reform processes in Africa from a gender perspective and to work towards the development of alternative approaches that ensure gender equity and economic justice. Transforming policies or institutions requires effective action-oriented research and informed advocacy.

It has a new focus on emerging issues of trade and investment in Africa in order to analyse the impacts of trade and investment policies on women and gender relations, and to generate and lobby for alternatives that support gender equality and sustainable livelihoods in Africa. With TWN-Africa's support, the programme focus will be sharpened to proactively address these emerging economic policy issues that pose major challenges to the future of the African region.

Objectives
The program's objectives are to:

• Undertake African-designed policy research, training, and/or advocacy projects that meet country and region-specific needs, with priority given to projects that link these three activities;
• Increase the numbers of African researchers and NGO activists advocating for gender-aware economic policy alternatives;
• Build upon the existing research base on gender and economic reforms and promote alternatives;
• Provide opportunities for African researchers and NGO activists with gender perspectives to engage in advocacy for gender equity in economic policy and policy-making processes.