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Gender-based Analysis Plus

Background

Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) is an analytical tool used to assess how diverse groups of women, men, trans and non-binary people may experience policies, programs and initiatives. The “plus” in GBA+ recognizes that analysis needs to go beyond biological (sex) and socio-cultural (gender) differences to include other identity factors, such as race, national and ethnic origin, Indigenous origin or identity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic condition, place of residency and disability. As a centre for excellence for GBA+, the Department plays the following role:

Foundational GBA+ training is available in both official languages to government officials and the general public through the Department’s online course, Introduction to GBA+, on the Department’s website. Additional training is available through Canada School of Public Service’s GBA+ Premium course (an intensive in-person learning program) and with the Centre for Intercultural Learning of Global Affairs Canada for the development and delivery of tailored GBA+ training.

In November 2018, the Department hosted the first GBA+ Forum with the objective of facilitating an international dialogue on improving the effectiveness and impact of GBA+, and creating a space for sharing best practices, challenges and successes. More than 1,000 in-person and online participants from all levels of government, and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, academics, leaders from the private sector and international stakeholders, took part in this event. Input received during the Forum provided valuable insights into how the Government of Canada can continue to advance gender equality and inclusion, in collaboration with governmental and civil society partners and stakeholders.

Current status

GBA+ is recognized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and other international bodies as a world-class methodological instrument and an important mechanism to support gender equality objectives and is positively-impacting the Government of Canada’s programs, policies and services.

Federal departments and agencies are currently required to integrate GBA+ into all Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board Submissions and budget proposals. Further, GBA+ is now included in key legislation, including, the Impact Assessment Act, Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Accessible Canada Act.

Various governance structures have been put in place to support departments and agencies and ensure they remain accountable for their GBA+ requirements. This includes a GBA+ Champions Network, an Interdepartmental Committee on GBA+, and Federal-Provincial-Territorial GBA+ Task Teams. Further, capacity to undertake robust GBA+ continues to grow and the availability of disaggregated data allowing for quality analysis is increasingly available.

GBA+ – Concrete impacts on policies, programs and services

GBA+ and Airport Security

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) applied GBA+ to the Primary Inspection Kiosks, which were created to improve border services for international travellers at Canada’s busiest airports. Throughout the planning phase, GBA+ was used to inform the design and operation of the kiosk, to ensure that no group would be unfairly disadvantaged by the technology. GBA+ was used to develop a mitigation strategy, where travellers with match scores below a requirement are subject to visual inspection.

GBA+ and concussion research

Research has found that sex (gender) and age are key variables in explaining the incidence, symptoms and recovery from traumatic brain injury. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research asks researchers who apply for funding – including that related to concussion research – to indicate if and how sex and gender are integrated into their research design.

GBA+ and climate change

GBA+ has been applied to key initiatives in Canada’s approach to climate change, as research shows that climate change impacts people differently depending on multiple intersecting factors. For example, as part of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan, the Government is partnering with Indigenous and coastal communities to develop a world-leading marine safety system that meets Canada’s unique needs. GBA+ is helping to ensure that under-represented groups in Canada’s Arctic, including diverse groups of Indigenous Peoples and women, play an active role in the design and delivery of emergency response and waterways management. In addition, GBA+ has been applied to Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, in recognition that women living in poverty disproportionately experience the impacts of climate change.

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