The MA programme in Gender and Development Studies was launched in the ODL mode in July 2010. After successful completion of the first year courses, a learner has an exit option and would earn a Postgraduate Diploma in Gender and Development Studies.

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The programme is likely to be of interest to academics and researchers; trainers, facilitators, supervisors; staff of organizations working in the area of gender and development; government personnel; personnel working in banks/ financial institutions/ Corporate sectors.

Development policies and practices have a differential impact on women and men. This necessitates an understanding of the “gender gap” in access to resources, privileges, entitlements and choices. Consensus has evolved around the need to explore the “gender gap” in key development sectors and how this gap can be bridged. There is now greater emphasis on mainstreaming gender perspectives into the development process. This will contribute to building a gender-sensitive rubric of development, recasting development theory and action in the “direction of improved living standards, socially responsible management and use of resources, elimination of gender subordination and socioeconomic inequality as well as to promote the organizational restructuring required to bring about desirable change.”

Exploration of gender issues has become an important activity for most non-governmental organizations. Increasing emphasis is being laid in Governmental agencies on establishing gender-differential impacts and taking positive, affirmative action towards gender equality and equity. It is now widely acknowledged that gender considerations need to be reflected in all development plans, programmes and policies. There is growing concern over the isolation of women in so-called “soft” sectors in education, employment and development rather than mainstreaming gender concerns across all organizations, institutions and activities. While the concerns are clearly articulated, national goals and the UN Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved without concrete effort towards gender equality.

Achieving gender equality and gender equity requires multi-pronged approaches and strategies. One of the key approaches and strategies revolves around design and development of suitable educational programmes that equip practitioners and policy makers with the requisite knowledge and skills to make a valuable contribution in this sphere. The Master’s programme would make an excellent foundation for analyzing, critically assessing existing development interventions and promoting gender-sensitive/gender-based research and action. The strong focus envisaged on positive affirmative action would be of considerable significance.

Programme Objectives

The programmes seek to enable learners to:

• analyze extent of gender-sensitivity of development interventions;
• conduct gender analysis;
• critically analyze gender differentials in selected development sectors;
• identify appropriate research designs and methodologies for a range of research problems;
• suggest positive affirmative action in development planning and practice to promote gender equity and equality

Programme Cordinators

Prof. Annu  J  Thomas  Email : athomas@ignou.ac.in

Prof. Savita Singh Email : savitasingh@ignou.ac.in