What is a gender strategy? A gender strategy is a long-term plan that supports an NHRI to strengthen gender equality across its work, systems and culture. It usually covers a 3 – 5 year period and outlines the approach that an NHRI will take to improve: • The extent to which gender equality is understood and acted upon in their work, systems and processes, and • The integration of gender equality measures into its internal and external work. A gender strategy helps move gender work from ad-hoc activities to a more coordinated and accountable approach. It is not a stand-alone ‘gender project’ but a tool to strengthen how an NHRI delivers its mandate. A gender strategy is a public document and also indicates to key external stakeholders what your priorities are and how you are planning to address them. This way you are able to identify collective points of collaboration - or duplication. Most gender strategies are developed alongside the NHRI’s organisation-wide strategic plan and include: • The context and background of the plan • 3 – 5 strategic priorities • A high-level summary • The strategic plan in detail • An outcomes framework • A Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Framework. Gender Strategy Toolkit 2026 16