by Sandra Manuel
Abstract
In this paper, I critically examine the use of gender as a development tool within the international development system, highlighting its depoliticisation, instrumentalisation, and disconnection from local epistemologies, especially in Africa. Although gender has been part of development discourse since the 1995 Beijing Conference, in its practical application it is often reduced to a technical framework, sidelining its transformative potential. Drawing on African feminist critiques, particularly the foundational works of Ifi Amadiume and Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí, as well as contemporary analysis, the paper challenges the universalisation of Western gender constructs and emphasises alternative organising principles such as matrifocality and seniority. It also critiques the concept of "girling development" and the portrayal of women’s empowerment as a means to achieve economic growth rather than a pursuit of structural change. Focusing on a case study of Mozambique, I analyse how donor-driven agendas shape gender and sexuality research at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, limiting theoretical engagement in favour of policy-oriented work. Ultimately, I advocate for a gender research approach grounded in local realities and knowledge systems, which would encourage epistemic contributions from the Global South that can reshape global gender discourses.
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01_FA2025_Vol6.2-TGD_Feature-Article_Manuel_7-11-25