The Policy is aligned to the international and regional instruments including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) ; Beijing Declaration and Plan of Action ; the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015, AU Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa and AU Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, among others.

At the local level, it is aligned to the national protocols such as the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP II) and Vision 2020. Gender equality will form a critical area of concern in the GAD Policy. Within this context the policy aims at achieving the national vision, mission, goals, objectives and guiding principles.