Gender-Responsive Project Management (GRPM)

Gender-responsive project management (GRPM) refers to the design of inclusive projects that provide equitable benefits across genders (EIGE, 2022; Fesenko et al., 2017; ILO, 2020), ensuring that both men and women have equal opportunities to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from a project.

Gender inequality remains a global challenge, with women disproportionately affected by poverty and holding fewer economic opportunities (Götzmann & Bainton, 2021; ILO, 2018; UN Women, 2024). Although integrating gender considerations in projects is crucial, only a limited percentage of development projects adopt gender-responsive approaches For instance, APM (2024) data shows that only 30% of project professionals are women, and only 27.13% of projects in the EU include gender-focused practices (European Parliament, 2022). Lack of intentional gender integration in projects can risk reinforcing inequities, especially impacting women and gender minorities (Thomas & Buckle-Henning, 2007; UN Women, 2021).

Studies suggest that GRPM can improve project outcomes by ensuring equitable benefits across genders and by enhancing participation and completion rates, particularly in resource-limited settings (McKinsey, 2021; Westerman, 2021). By failing to incorporate gender-responsive practices, development projects may inadvertently perpetuate existing inequalities, limiting the impact and sustainability of project outcomes (Doss et al., 2018). This imbalance highlights the importance of systematically integrating gender-responsive strategies into project management to encourage more inclusive development.

The persistence of gender inequality restricts economic opportunities for women and hinders broader societal development. Without intentional efforts to address these disparities, development projects in particular risk reinforcing structural inequities. Therefore, there is a need to explore how GRPM can be effectively implemented to improve both gender equity and project outcomes (Chattopadhyay & Duflo, 2004; Agarwal, 2019). Proposals submitted for this project should aim to bridge the gap in current project management practices and research, supporting organisations in embedding gender-equitable practices into their project lifecycles.

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Applications for October 2025 intake closes on 1st July 2025 and applications for Jan 2026 intake closes on 1st October 2025.