Example: Why do a Gender Audit? Why do a Gender Strategy? Why Do a Gender Audit? • A gender audit provides the evidence base for decision-making, identifying gaps, risks and priorities across NHRI systems and practice. • It clarifies what resources are actually needed (human, financial, technical) before commitments are made. • Audits surface institutional blind spots that are difficult to see internally, including power relations and workplace culture. • External expertise strengthens objectivity, credibility and staff confidence, particularly when sensitive internal issues are raised. • The audit establishes a baseline against which progress can be measured over time. • Without an audit, gender strategies risk being aspirational, unfocused or misaligned with institutional reality. Why Do a Gender Strategy? • A gender strategy translates audit findings into a clear, prioritised roadmap for action. • It sets out the NHRI’s vision, priorities, roles, accountability and monitoring arrangements in one coherent framework. • Strategies ensure gender work is institutionally owned, not dependent on individuals or focal points. • They support consistency and continuity, helping gender commitments withstand leadership or staff turnover. • A strategy aligns gender equality with core NHRI functions rather than treating it as an add-on. • Without a strategy, gender actions remain fragmented, reactive and difficult to monitor. Bottom Line • The gender audit tells you where you are and what is realistic. • The gender strategy tells you where you are going and how you will get there. • One without the other undermines credibility, accountability and impact. Gender Strategy Workshop – Kuala Lumpur ( 19 – 21 Jan 2026) [Contributing NHRIs: Australia, Bahrain, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste.] Gender Strategy Toolkit 2026 19