2019–20 Departmental Plan - Gender-based analysis plus

General information

Governance Structures

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's strategy to ensure that Gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) is integrated into departmental decision-making processes during the 2019–20 fiscal year includes:

  • AAFC has established a departmental Policy Statement on GBA+, a GBA+ Champion, a GBA+ responsibility center, and a GBA+ assessment questionnaire: The policy established in February 2015 states, "Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is committed to integrating gender-based analysis into policy development and program delivery in a way that reflects Canadian values and government commitments in advancing gender equality". The Assistant Deputy Minister in Strategic Policy Branch sits as the Department's GBA+ champion and the Strategic Integration Unit in Strategic Policy Branch is the Department's GBA+ Responsibility Centre. The Champion plays a vital role in providing leadership and coordination while the center provides guidance on GBA+ application within the department. The GBA+ assessment questionnaire provides a framework to guide analysts conducting GBA+.
  • Recommended Training: Completion of Status of Women Canada's GBA+ online course is recommended to everyone in the Department. A 1.5 hour GBA+ training workshop has been developed and was piloted as part of a larger training session on how to write Memoranda to Cabinet and Treasury Board Submissions.
  • An enhanced range of available Gender Disaggregated Data: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Research and Analysis Directorate is working with Statistics Canada to produce a number of gender-disaggregated statistical categories from Statistics Canada's 2016 Census of Agriculture. The Department's GBA+ Responsibility Centre refers lead analysts completing GBA+, as well as anyone looking for data regarding women in agriculture, to the Research and Analysis Directorate for assistance in obtaining the necessary data to support their analysis. Ongoing collaborative efforts within the Department strive to enhance the range of gender-disaggregated data available to support GBA+.
  • GBA+ Intradepartmental Working Group: To increase the capacity and awareness of GBA+ within the Department and to ensure there are adequate resources dedicated to GBA+, the intradepartmental working group aims to share departmental efforts related to GBA+, and engage analysts across the department on GBA+ implementation and capacity enhancement projects.
  • GBA+ communications: Development of a departmental Knowledge Workspace site to serve as a central hub for GBA+ tools and resources related to women in agriculture is underway.

Accountability mechanisms to ensure that GBA+ is integrated in departmental decision-making processes include:

  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Cabinet Affairs, Treasury Board and Budget proposal submission processes:  Completion of the GBA+ Assessment Form by policy leads is a mandatory element of the development of Memoranda to Cabinet and other policy or program proposals (i.e., Treasury Board Submissions, budget proposals, etc.). The Department's GBA+ Responsibility Centre meets with lead analysts early in the kick-start process to outline the GBA+ requirements and provide guidance to ensure that intersecting factors are considered.
  • Senior Management: Director General, Assistant Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister are responsible to approve gender-based analyses included in Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board Submissions and budget proposals.

Monitoring and Reporting mechanisms  to assess and communicate the extent to which GBA+ is included in decision-making within the Department  include:

  • GBA+ Responsibility Centre: Plays a monitoring and challenge function to ensure that detailed GBA+ assessments are completed and that key considerations are incorporated in the development of all policy, program and budget proposals. Liaises with Status of Women Canada and briefs senior management on necessary information and upcoming events.
  • Cabinet and Interdepartmental Affairs: Oversees the Memorandum to Cabinet process to ensure completion of all components, including the application of GBA+ in the decision-making process.
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Finance and Resource Management Services: Oversees the Treasury Board Submission process to ensure completion of all components, including the application of GBA+ in the decision-making process.

Human Resources

The planned total number of full-time equivalents dedicated to GBA+ implementation in the Department in 2019–20 is 1.5.

  • This makes up the GBA+ Responsibility Centre and accounts for other work in the department to develop and expand the range of gender-disaggregated data to support GBA+.
  • The number of total planned full-time equivalents may evolve as the department continues to consider how to advance GBA+.

Planned Initiatives

Departmental initiatives in which GBA+ will be applied and monitored in 2019–20 are outlined below:

  • Launch of A Food Policy for Canada: A Food Policy for Canada will set a long-term vision for the health, environmental, social, and economic goals related to food, while identifying actions we can take in the short-term.
    • Potential Results for A Food Policy for Canada: The policy is expected to support the advancement of gender equality and inclusion more broadly, including, children and youth, Indigenous Peoples, and those most at risk of experiencing food insecurity.
    • A Food Policy for Canada will be informed by a detailed GBA+ which was strengthened by various consultations conducted during the development of the policy. 78% of the approximately 45,000 respondents to the online consultations were women.  
    • Information from related programs will be used to identify data gaps and further support GBA+.
  • Development of the Departmental GBA+ Network: In order to more effectively implement GBA+ throughout the Department, efforts are underway to recruit advisors across each branch to support GBA+. The network will work to normalize GBA+ across all departmental activities, beyond GBA+ requirements for Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board Submissions and budget proposals, and ensure GBA+ is being conducted earlier in the development of policies and programs.
  • Continue to monitor the AgriDiversity Program: AgriDiversity is a $1 million per year program, under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, aimed at underrepresented groups, including women.
    • Potential Results for AgriDiversity: to help more youth, women, Indigenous Peoples and persons with disabilities access the resources to build or enhance their entrepreneurial capacity and business skills, allowing them to better participate in the sector, modernize their operations and improve their productivity. 
    • A GBA+ specific indicator could include the number of approved projects focused on women in agriculture.