ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the impact of security framework expectations on the implementation of transnational counter-terrorism (CT) programming. In a globalized world, where CT impact has dramatically increased over the past two decades, a human security approach is necessary to assessing and addressing causes of insecurity at the individual level. However, due to its theoretical foundations, most security policy maintains gender-blind state security goals. This often introduces a fundamental conflict between programming purpose and goals. While normative commitments have been made to including women more equally in security processes, attempts to do so are often hampered by the lack of gender data. There is still not enough gender data being gathered to conduct gender analysis on security policy in a way that convinces most security practitioners that gender inequality is an important issue contributing to insecurity. Ultimately, this is a paradox – because without the gender data there is nothing with which to evidence the need to gather more gender data. The challenges of this fundamental conflict between purpose and goals are illustrated through analysis of the gender-blind United States Agency for International Development’s Kenya Transition Initiative countering violent extremism programming.
