Please answer ONE of the following questions (please note additional guidelines for all essays on the
next page):
1. How have women’s organisations assisted in promoting human (resource) development
capabilities, as well as empowerment, in organisations and/or in societies more widely? Your
discussion should critically assess theoretical debates about the nature and complexity of
empowerment in diverse geographical regions. (You are encouraged to draw on case examples
of NGOs/INGOs and Civil Society Organisations).
2. This essay comprises two parts: a) briefly assess why the Millennium Development Goals have
failed to deliver on equality promises; and b) critically examine the viability of the Sustainable
Development Goals with respect to their gender goals and commitments. In so doing, explore
how appropriate governance, reporting, multiple social actor collaboration, and measurement
strategies can be implemented to attain equity by 2030 (with regard to part (b) you can present
either a broad argument or focus on one country/region to use as an example when composing
your answer).
3. Critically examine why Gender National Action Plans (GNAPs) are important for social
transformation and economic growth. Choosing TWO country’s Gender/Equality National Action
Plans: a) assess what is meant by GNAP in each country context; b) critically assess the national
systems and institutional structures (or ‘mechanisms’) each country has put in place that are
tasked with ensuring that country actually works toward gender equality; and c) suggest practical
strategies that can improve gender representation/participation, especially in areas of political
leadership and decision-making (not necessarily at national level, but consider these factors at all
levels of organisations and society).

4. “[D]espite the [breadth of Rwandan national ICT-related] efforts regarding the inclusion of both
women and men in the domain of ICT, Rwanda still shows a number of weaknesses. For example,
the ICT sector remains mostly male-dominated. Gaps have been identified at the level of how ICTs
are used to promote rights for women and girls, empower women for different kind of activities,
increase women’s participation in decision making and provide women’s employment in ICT and
related sectors.” (Mumporeze and Prieler, 2017: 1288).
Making particular reference to a country case study of your choice, critically review Gender and
ICT skills development. Include in your discussion, the particular role of organizations in
facilitating knowledge and skills development among women and girls.
5. Explain how globalization is a gendered process and why its impact varies, or is uneven, across
different countries or regions (or organizations), and thus results in unequal opportunities and
constraints for women and men. Suggest practical HRD policies that can counter the inequities of
globalization processes in order to incorporate voices of the marginalised and encourage all
stakeholders to strive for equality and social justice. Your discussion should include two countries
or take a regional focus. It may also focus on one policy area such as poverty, work, health,
environment, property, violence or take a more general perspective.
6. “You cannot change norms if you are only talking to women and girls about changing the norms
that restrict their voice and agency. You have to broaden that conversation” (from ‘Empowering
Women & Girls’ panel discussion; video link available on Blackboard).
Discuss, by using examples from developing country/economy contexts, or choose a specific
country or region, and pay particular attention to: a) the risks or obstacles faced by challenging,
questioning, or even defying social norms or mores; b) the contemporary role of men in Gender
and Development; and (c) in broadening ‘the conversation’ suggest, with justification, what items
should be on the current agenda of such a discussion?