The focus on gender emerged in order to illustrate how women’s disadvantage deposition is not a result of any deficiencies in them, but is a result of socially determined relations. Gender is therefore able to change as opposed to being biologically pre-determined. As gender is socially and culturally constructed, its roles can be transformed by social changes induced by economic transformation, incentives and legal and regulatory reforms. In the past, gender issues were largely perceived as women’s issues. New development approaches emphasize changes in men’s and women’s knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding roles and responsibilities in the home, the work place and the national and international communities.

The pace of women’s development within the GB, though not insignificant, has remained slow, partly conditioned by a variety of social and cultural dynamics of this part of Pakistan that define   women’s status and allow (or disallow) access to development opportunities. Although, in some communities’ women’s roles have extended to the point where they participate in community-level planning and implementation of development activities, some are taking up political roles in elected bodies, yet there are still many communities where women are largely confined. This invariably restricts their access to basic health, education, market and other public sector services.

Gilgit-Baltistan Rural Support Progamme (GBRSP) will encourage women’s voice and representation in their communities, villages and Union councils and increase their involvement in profitable economic activities. This is achieved through ensuring that women participate in Community Owned Local Institutions / Organizations and through small enterprises, and provision of vocational and leadership trainings.

GBRSP Gender team will follow its comprehensive devised gender strategy to address the gender concerns at organizational and at programme level. Awareness sessions will be organized for both internal teams, relevant stakeholders and at community level to raise awareness regarding gender and all its functions & terminologies.

GBRSP believes that there exists a close relationship between poverty and gender inequality. Poverty reduction and gender equality are mutually reinforcing mechanisms. Without poverty eradication one cannot get rid of gender inequality. Therefore, GBRSP has and will continue to work simultaneously on issues related to sustainable and inclusive human development along with addressing the issues of women’s empowerment and gender equality.