The aim of this study is to summarise and analyse the current practice of dealing with feminist development cooperation (FemDC) and the implementation of gender-transformative objectives and measures as well as the effects observed to date in German and international development cooperation, and to draw conclusions for German official development cooperation. The study focuses on the fields of food security, agriculture and rural development. Regionally, the focus is largely on the priority countries of the BMZ special initiative "Transformation of agricultural and food systems", i.e. primarily on Africa as well as South and Southeast Asia. 

The study, the results of which are based on an intensive study of the literature, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with a total of 75 representatives of  development cooperation organisations and the authors' many years of professional experience in development cooperation, comes to the following conclusions and recommendations for further work in German development cooperation: 

1. While the contents of the BMZ's strategy on feminist development policy have met with unanimous approval and have given gender work a new impetus in many development cooperation organisations, the term "feminist" often causes problems. These arise above all in the dialogue with partner organisations in the Global South, some of which show a negative attitude towards the term. For this reason, terms such as gender-transformative impact, social inclusion and gender mainstreaming are preferred. We believe it to be more important to root the content of the strategy in the best possible way and to utilise the new momentum for gender work instead of insisting on terms. 

2. For the implementation of gender-transformative approaches (GTAs) in societies in which gender equality plays only a subordinate role, if at all, development organisations need practical advice and guidance. Socio-cultural expertise, staff knowledge of the country and the collection and processing of socio-cultural and gender data are just as important for the design and implementation of GTAs as the recruitment of influential local personalities for gender issues and an appropriately long project duration that can facilitate social change. 

3. The rooting of gender in the internal and external structures of development cooperation organisations through qualified or trained staff should definitely be continued. These positions should have a sufficient time budget – which is not usually the case so far – to be able to participate in networking activities beyond their project or sector. 

4. The exchange of knowledge and experience with regard to GTAs should be further promoted in German development cooperation. This can take place in the form of actively working networks or by working out very useful documents such as gender analyses or methodological handouts which are publicly accessible beyond the immediate project context. 

Criticism of the gender mainstreaming pursued by most organisations, which is often inefficient and not geared towards structural change, and in response to the gender backlash, led to the demand to bring the political role of gender back into focus and to strive for gender- transformative effects. Gender-transformative approaches (GTAs) aim at changing the underlying causes of gender inequality in a sustainable and context-sensitive manner in order to permanently dismantle gender-specific power hierarchies. 

The study looks at gender transformative approaches in BMZ, GIZ, KfW, German NGOs, the European Union and ECOWAS as regional instituiotns, the international development bank and Rome based UN-organisation.s