The financing for development section of the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW) aims to provide gender information and resources on various inter-related issues in financing for development.
Essentially it argues that the existing international agreements on development do not make adequate commitments on gender equality. In particular, it reviews the scope, limitations, and plan of action of the Monterrey Consensus, and evaluates its direct and indirect effects on women. For example, it notes that the Consensus does not include suggestions to correct practices which exclude women from accessing loans, makes no references to the gender implications of trade, and fails to incorporate a gender perspective in the designing of proposals for a new international financial architecture. In response to these issues, INSTRAW collects gender statistics and develops conceptual frameworks, produces strategies for institutionalising gender, carries out training, advocates for the inclusion of gender in discussions at international levels, and supports the participation of stakeholders in these processes.
The website also provides a glossary of terms, with relevant links, and links to both INSTRAW papers and other key resources from various sources. It also includes lists of links to other organisations (including UN bodies, financial institutions, civil society groups, and information services). Finally, it includes a list of links to more information on international agreements related to financing for development.