The African Gender and Development Index 2011: Promoting gender equality in Africa African Women?s Report 2009: Measuring Gender Inequality in Africa: Experiences and Lessons from the African Gender and Development Index

After over 15 years of implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, African States have certainly become more aware of the need to eliminate gender inequality. This is evidenced from the numerous initiatives in legal, policy, institutional, communication and other programmatic initiatives which have evolved over the years. Nevertheless, governments have found it difficult to assess the actual extent of gender inequality in their societies, whether progress is being made and if so to what extent. To assist governments achieve the goal of measuring gender equality in a timely and efficient manner, the ECA has, developed a monitoring mechanism, the African Gender and Development Index (AGDI). This tool allows policy makers to assess their own performance in implementing policies and programmes geared towards ending women?s marginalization. It also aims to improve knowledge on African women?s issues and concerns, through analysis and visibility.