Devolution and the multilevel politics of gender in Pakistan

Federalism and multi-level governance (MLG) have been theorized as having both negative and positive consequences for women’s representation and empowerment. This chapter compares the institutional design of local governments implemented in Pakistan in 2001 and 2013 and assesses the extent to which they achieved a favorable and secure environment for women to enter politics. The two attempts at introducing MLG in Pakistan are compared using Rincker’s (2017) framework of the gender policy trifecta in which she theorizes that women’s empowerment can be achieved only if all three aspects of the trifecta are implemented including gender quotas to increase representation, gender mainstreaming through women’s policy agencies and gender-responsive budgeting. The chapter shows, however, that in Pakistan more than the gender policy trifecta is needed: in particular, proper institutional design, political will and donor support to build state capacity are key necessary factors.