the lack of monitoring mechanisms to evaluate the effect of gender equality initiatives was identified as a major barrier by over of responding countries and lack of gender analysis skills by almost of respondents see figure as such building capacity in gender institutions and across the public sector in these areas appears to be critical to address the remaining equality gaps these staff members are usually located in line ministries and agencies and are mainly responsible for administering specific laws or regulations related to gender equality collecting data developing sectoral plans training and developing gendersensitive personnel policies the gender unit serves as the focal point for ensuring that questions of gender equality and mainstreaming are brought to the executive table and for supporting the executive in exercising its leadership on this issue