Gender Equality for Development (GEfD)

Gender Equality for Development (GEfD) is a part of the Knowledge Bank. GEfD facilitates technical collaboration and knowledge exchange with countries that request Norwegian expertise on gender equality.

The objective of GEfD is to strengthen partners’ capacity to design and implement policies that promote women’s rights and participation in economic and social life.

Programme Document Gender Equality for Development 2024–2028

Bufdir’s Role in GEfD

Bufdir holds a cross‑sectoral responsibility for gender equality in Norway and contributes to GEfD in areas where we have expertise:

• Use of research and statistics in policy development and implementation
• Coordination and accountability mechanisms across sectors
• Broad engagement of stakeholders, including civil society, social partners and research institutions

How We Work

GEfD is primarily based on a peer–to–peer approach through long term institutional partnerships driven by partner countries’ needs.

Partner Countries

Bufdir has been engaged in institutional cooperation in several countries:

• Ethiopia (completed 2021)
• Nepal (completed 2024)
• Uganda (ongoing in 2025)
• Zanzibar (initiated 2026)

In 2025, Bufdir also initiated dialogue with the Fisheries Commission in Ghana to strengthen gender mainstreaming in the fisheries sector.

Knowledge and Analysis

In addition to institutional partnerships, Bufdir contributes through:

• Collection and dissemination of knowledge on gender equality
• Support to Norwegian embassies and to other programmes within the Knowledge Bank