The central aim of this programme was to influence norms and institutions at global and local levels to more effectively tackle the challenge of achieving gender equality.

Addressing priority issues for the Swedish International Development Co-operation on gender equality – sexual rights, health and gender-based violence, women’s economic empowerment and working conditions, as well as equal political participation – the programme built on IDS’ track record in convening dialogues, influencing debates and connecting those representing marginalised groups in the south with global policy spaces.

The programme achieved results in relation to:

• Challenging stereotypes, values and structures that hinder gender equality
• Understanding better the structures of constraint that limit the achievement of gender equality and what is needed to bring about and sustain change
• Building alliances between actors, networks and movements in different policy arenas, to become more effective in influencing global and local policy processes

This programme was operational from October 2011 to June 2015 and was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

Our reflective final report, Streams of Influence: Understanding our Influence on Gender, Power and Sexuality, tells the story of how the Gender, Power and Sexuality Programme sought to bring about positive changes on gender equality imagined and then experienced the process of influencing.