Gender-based Analysis Plus toolkits
Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) is an analytical tool that has been used by the Government of Canada since 1995. GBA Plus supports leaders and personnel at all levels to ensure that policies, programs, operations and other initiatives are inclusive and responsive to the needs of everyone. It supports efficient design, development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
For National Defence, applying GBA Plus strengthens the institutional systems that protect both the people within the organization and the people served by our domestic and international responsibilities. Integrating intersectional perspectives throughout the spectrum of Defence Team activities can create more resilient initiatives: from procurement to camp design, operational planning and execution, HR policies, business planning and so on. GBA Plus equips us to recognize and overcome barriers that may impact specific groups or individuals, which creates an environment that supports a diverse workforce that is not only welcoming and well-informed but also operationally effective.
The routine application of GBA Plus by planners and leaders can also increase operational effectiveness by gathering appropriate intelligence to understand the operational environment and our own strengths and weaknesses. This contributes to better analysis and guidance, which supports risk management and improved operational outcomes both at home and abroad. Increasing our understanding of the human terrain in an operational environment and the makeup of the team improves operational plans and processes and reduces risks to our personnel.
Defence Team leaders can use the resources and exercises in these toolkits to build awareness of intersectionality and the capacity:
- to become more familiar with what GBA Plus is and how to apply it in day-to-day responsibilities to benefit everyone
- to recognize how GBA Plus is a key enabler of culture evolution and how applying it satisfies the core values of the Defence Team
- to work towards the GBA Plus Enterprise Approach ideal steady state, where Defence Team initiatives and outcomes are optimized by the full integration of GBA Plus considerations in evidence-based decision making
The Defence Team has been making great strides in applying GBA Plus in their respective areas, and these toolkits aim to support and amplify those efforts. By watching the videos and engaging with the resources and exercises in the GBA Plus toolkits, you are joining a broader movement for positive culture evolution through the application of GBA Plus in the defence and security environment.