Synopsis Gender is a development issue because social considerations are not easily incorporated into institutions such as policies, regulations, markets and organizations. This process is often referred to as the mainstreaming of gender in development institutions. Escalating economic resilience of the poor is largely about enabling women to realize their socio-economic potential more fully and improve the quality of their lives. Women are often in a disadvantaged position in terms of access to assets, services, information and formal decision-making status. Given these disadvantages, it is usually necessary to plan specific and differentiated activities to ensure that all members of the community are capable of participating on an equal basis.