What is Culturally Relevant Gender-based Analysis (CRGBA) Plus?
“Gender-based analysis GBA Plus (GBA) Plus is a tool for conducting systematic intersectional analysis that goes beyond recognizing biological (sex) and socio-cultural (gender) differences to consider other factors, such as age, disability, education, ethnicity, culture, economic status, geographic location (including rurality), language, race, religion, and sexual orientation.”[1] Importantly, intersectional analysis also includes an examination of systems and structures of power, including colonialism, racism, and patriarchy, and how these shape the experiences of individuals.
A culturally relevant gender-based analysis (CRGBA Plus) is a fluid and ever-evolving analytical tool for intersectional analysis that is used to support the development of culturally responsive and inclusive policies, programs, and other initiatives. Culturally relevant GBA Plus builds on GBA Plus by explicitly focusing on the unique historical and contemporary realities of Indigenous Peoples. It emphasizes the distinct experiences of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people and considers the historical and ongoing context of colonization and its impacts. By recognizing and addressing these injustices, policies, programmes, and projects can be designed to repair past, and prevent further, harm. Further, CRGBA Plus seeks to address all relevant social, political, health, and economic impacts of policies, program and initiative development on equity-seeking communities. The five key concepts that drive CRGBA Plus include intersectional, distinction-based, gender-diverse, Indigenous-led and trauma informed analysis.[2]
In practice, CRGBA Plus is a process for understanding how populations are impacted differently by an initiative; then tailor it to better address their needs, and then anticipate and mitigate all of their barriers to accessing it.[3]