This guide is designed to assist LED practitioners – staff from international organizations, international development agencies and local authorities– in identifying and addressing the sometimes different needs and priorities of women and men, facilitating their full participation at every stage of the LED process, and contributing to gender equality objectives and outcomes. Using this guide will enable practitioners to: understand why gender equality should be pursued at the local level; be aware of the barriers to women’s participation that may be encountered; and identify and implement strategies for addressing gender concerns throughout the LED process. Since gender mainstreaming should be context-specific, the recommendations made must be considered as indicative guidelines rather than recipes for action. Under each section, reference is made to tools, further readings and checklists that can be used in project design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.