Empowerment evaluation of a Swedish gender equity plan

BACKGROUND Empowerment is essential for gender equity and health. The city of Malmö, Sweden, has formulated a development plan for gender equity integration (GEIDP). A 'Policy Empowerment Index' (PEI) was previously developed to assess the empowerment potential of policies. OBJECTIVES To pilot-evaluate the GEIDP's potential for empowerment and to test the PEI for future policy evaluations. DESIGN The GEIDP was analyzed and scored according to electronically retrieved evidence on constituent opinion, participation, capacity development, evaluation-adaptation, and impact. RESULTS The plan's PEI score was 64% (CI: 48-78) and was classified as 'enabling', ranging between 'enabling' and 'supportive'. The plan's strengths were: 1) constituent knowledge and concern; 2) peripheral implementation; 3) protection of vulnerable groups; and 4) evaluation/adaptation procedures. It scored average on: 1) policy agenda setting; 2) planning; 3) provisions for education; 4) network formation; 5) resource mobilization. The weakest point was regarding promotion of employment and entrepreneurship. CONCLUSIONS The PEI evaluation highlighted the plan's potential of constituency empowerment and proposed how it could be augmented.