The World Bank aims to reduce gender disparities by enhancing women's participation in economic development. It assists member countries to design gender-sensitive policies and programs to ensure that overall developmental efforts are directed to attain impacts that are equitably beneficial for both men and women. The Bank's rural development strategy (Rural Development: From Vision to Action, 1997) recognizes the importance of integrating gender into all aspects of rural development as a crosscutting issue. This requires developing an appropriate framework for assessing progress in achieving broad-based and inclusive rural development.