Gender analysis of conflict

Over the past two decades, there has been increasing recognition that to understand the nature of conflict and design effective responses, peacebuilders must consider gender. The different roles and behaviours of women, men and sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) affect the way that conflicts play out, as well as the impacts they have on people’s lives.

This toolkit for gender analysis of conflict is intended to help national and international non-governmental organisations and other peacebuilding practitioners to integrate gender perspectives into conflict analysis, providing a foundation for more gender-sensitive peacebuilding programmes.

While there are many different ways in which the links between gender and conflict can be analysed, this toolkit focuses on one angle which is often ignored. It seeks to understand how gender norms – the ways in which societies pressure their male and female members to behave – can either drive conflict and insecurity or be resources for peace.