Gender mainstreaming seeks to ensure that the differentiated needs and priorities of rural women and men are taken fully into account in the project intervention.  The gender strategy of FOCUS aims towards economic empowerment, strengthening decision-making and representation, and reducing workloads for women and men among the target groups. 

The purpose of the strategy is to- 

a) Assess the differential access to opportunities and resources for men and women,

 b) Build their capacities to participate fully in the project activities such as land use planning, jhum and settled agriculture, livestock support and enable greater access to market and production and marketing of value chains and 

c) Ensure the dividends from project activities are equally shared between men and women. The strategy will also provide guidance on a gender inclusive approach at the organizational level. 

The strategy is a living document which will guide the overall project implementation for gender equality and women’s empowerment. It acknowledges that a project design can have different implications for men and women, until affirmative actions are embedded in the project and accountability is inbuilt towards gendered outcomes. 

As per Census 2011, Mizoram has population of 10.97 Lakhs, an increase from figure of 8.89 Lakh in 2001 census. Total population of Mizoram as per 2011 census is 1,097,206 of which male and female are 555,339 and 541,867 respectively. The total population growth in this decade was 23.48 percent while in previous decade it was 29.18 percent. Demographic details of FOCUS project districts shows that the selected districts taken together constitute 42.75% of the total geographical area of Mizoram; 28.13% of the state’s population and 32.83% of the total number of households of the state. Total population of the project district as per 2011 census is 359056 of which female and male are 175910 and 183146 respectively.