Beyond Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+)

Canada’s well-established and globally recognized approach to Gender-Based Analysis Plus (“GBA Plus”) mainstreams gender and other intersectional considerations such as age, disability, education, ethnicity, economic status, geography (including rurality), language, race, religion, and sexual orientation when policies, programs and services and other initiatives are developed. The GBA Plus process is meant to build an understanding of who is impacted by the issue or opportunity being addressed by an initiative; identify how the initiative could be tailored to address the diverse needs of individuals impacted; anticipate and mitigate any barriers to accessing or benefitting from the initiative; and is embedded across many government processes. Yet, recent reviews have identified issues in the understanding and application of GBA Plus and the implications of centering gender while layering on other dimensions of identity.  The “layering approach” is not the one supported by the intersectional approach which recognizes discrimination as a distinct, compounded experience.

This report, Beyond Gender-based Analysis Plus, provides a review of the foundations, application, and challenges to implementing GBA Plus. It also reviews new approaches that have been developed to advance Truth and Reconciliation, anti-racism and more in order to inform the development of a new integrated approach to complement GBA Plus, with a focus on informing the design, implementation and evaluation of government policies, programs and services as well as training about GBA Plus. The approach is grounded in a commitment to human rights with emphasis on the ways in which bringing a gender and diversity perspective will enhance the effectiveness of policies, programs and services in meeting their objectives and the needs of Canadians.