Section 3: Gender Baseline Assessment Overview Methodology The Gender Baseline Assessment was carried out in July 2024 and involved: [A] [B] Gathering, analysing and reporting on: • Secondary data through a focused document review • Primary data through, i) an all-member survey involving quantitative and qualitative questions. ii) semi-structured interviews with five NHRIs - one from each of APF’s sub-regions Socialising the outcomes of the baseline assessment in a paper to the gender conference, Gender Inclusion in NHRIs, being held by the Nepal NHRI in early September 2024. Outcomes As a result of the Gender Baseline Assessment, 1. the current capacity of APF members to integrate gender in their internal operations and external work has been evidenced. 2. a benchmark for the APF for future gender equality reviews across its membership has been established. It is anticipated that, as a result of the Gender Baseline Assessment, 3. the awareness of gender mainstreaming and specialisation amongst APF members by participating in the baseline assessment process will have increased. Indicator Framework The indicator framework includes five areas and 21 indicators (Appendix 1).15 The areas aim to cover all aspects of an NHRI’s integration of gender into internal operations and external work and include: 1. Structure and decision-making 2. Organisation culture and practice 3. Human resource management, policies and procedures 4. Internal gender expertise and capacity 5. Gender equality in external work. The indicators do not aim to cover every aspect of each area but have been developed to provide a snapshot understanding of each. The following sections report the detailed findings on the three data collection methods. 15 While the GANHRI Sub-Committee on Accreditation reports provide some information on the ability of NHRIs to progress gender equality, it was decided this information was not robust enough for Indicator 2.4 to be included in this GBA. A future assessment may decide to engage appropriate external stakeholders in these discussions. Gender Baseline Assessment of NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region – July 2024 17