This GBA Plus Resource Guide is a national effort across all seven umbrella organizations that represent the immigrant and refugee sector in their respective provinces and regions. The project was led by the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA) in partnership with Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA), Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies (SAISIA), Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations (MANSO), Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), Atlantic Region Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (ARAISA), and Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA).

The purpose of this National Project is to support the settlement and integration sector in addressing the diverse needs and intersecting identities of newcomers by enhancing the capacity of settlement agencies to apply Gender-Based Analysis (GBA) Plus approaches to their policies and programs. By embedding these principles into their organizational structures, policies, and service delivery, this guide provides essential tools and resources for organizations to begin or refine their GBA Plus implementation in their daily operations.

Content Warning: English French

This guide was created to support your organization in deepening its understanding and application of GBA Plus, intersectionality, and equity-based practices. Engaging with these topics, especially when applied to real-world experiences, can be challenging. Before engaging with the content, take a moment to review the content warning, tips for navigating the material, and support resources.

How to Use the Guide: The GBA Plus National Resource Guide is composed of many different resource tools. Refer to the Resource Overview to help find resources most helpful to you! The Resource Overview offers a brief description of each tool, including its intended audience and estimated duration.

GBA Plus National Resource Guide Overview:  English French

Foundational GBA Plus Knowledge: 

The courses and resources in this section are designed to help introduce and strengthen your understanding of Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) and intersectionality, and how to apply these concepts within the newcomer serving sector. GBA Plus helps you consider how various factors like gender, race, age, and disability intersect to shape people’s experiences. Internally, management can use these insights to guide the direction and priorities of their organization, ensuring that policies and workplace culture support equity for all staff. Externally, organizations can apply an equity lens to their policies, programs, and services to ensure that newcomers, with their diverse and intersecting identities, are treated fairly and equitably.

Organizational Strategies for Implementing GBA Plus: 

This section provides organizations with templates and resources to help them strategically assess their internal structures, policies, and staff diversity. These tools are designed to support leaders in identifying gaps and opportunities, equipping them with the knowledge and strategies needed to foster a more equitable and inclusive workplace. The section is divided into two key areas: one focused on evaluating internal readiness to implement equity initiatives within the workplace, and the other on developing practices for equitable data collection, ensuring that decision-making is informed by accurate, representative information. Together, these resources will guide an organization along its GBA Plus journey, ensuring more equitable access to opportunities, programs, and services.

Internal GBA Plus Readiness Tools:

Equitable Data Collection and Management Tools: