Guidance Note: Gender and Law

Temporary Special Measures to Promote Gender Equality

Nearly all developing member countries (DMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have adopted laws and policies to promote gender equality. However, there is often a reluctance to operationalize these, and/or a lack of knowledge of the appropriate mechanisms. This publication presents a case for the use of temporary special measures as a mechanism to correct gender imbalances and accelerate progress toward gender equality goals. Temporary special measures are a set of proactive measures that include gender-inclusive design features, quotas, and targets in ADB projects. This note is designed to increase understanding of the legal obligations of DMCs to achieve gender equality, and what this means for designing and implementing ADB projects.