Building durable responses to gender inequality in Indonesia

Gender equality is a critical driver of socio-economic prosperity, yet progress is being reversed by external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and political changes including democratic regression, globally and in Asia. These setbacks, particularly in areas such as economic opportunities and political empowerment for women, have increased the time needed to close the global gender gap by an entire generation.

This project addresses a crucial gap in knowledge by examining which aspects of gender equity and women's empowerment interventions prove most resilient against shocks and changing political contexts.

Building Durable Responses to Gender Inequality in Indonesia is the first longitudinal and comparative study of its kind. It will produce new knowledge on how women remain resilient over time and the pathways through which durability is achieved in improving women's wellbeing and gender relations in communities, as well as inclusive policies and institutions. The project pays particular attention to the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in supporting these processes.

The research team will conduct fieldwork across 14 villages in Indonesia – 12 with CSO interventions and 2 without. The project aims to determine if and how women maintain or improve their power and influence at home and in society despite external shocks, and which aspects of gender equality programmes prove most durable over time and why.

The team will assess key factors contributing to advancement or regression in women's position, influence, wellbeing, and resilience. They will also evaluate how subnational contexts constrain or enhance gender equity efforts, and identify ways that CSOs, governments, the private sector and international agencies can strengthen the durability of gender equity interventions.

The project will generate a robust, comparative evidence base benefiting civil society partners, academics, policymakers and development practitioners in Indonesia, Australia and beyond. Findings will directly inform policy and programme design, helping organisations better design and deliver interventions that contribute to women's empowerment.

MDAP's expertise will be essential for survey design, data management and visualisation. They will support the development of a dual-language survey for over 1,000 respondents, create data entry portals, and develop interactive digital platforms to present findings. MDAP's capabilities in data stewardship, virtual and augmented reality, and web development will ensure efficient data collection and create immersive experiences for stakeholders, enhancing engagement and dissemination of project findings.