Abstract
This study examined the institutional constraints affecting the implementation of gender mainstreaming policy in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study was motivated by the gap between existing gender policy commitments and the limited progress achieved in practice. Specifically, it identified the key institutional constraints influencing policy implementation and assessed their effect on implementation outcomes. A mixed-method approach based on a concurrent triangulation design was adopted. Primary data were collected through questionnaires administered to 400 respondents, of which 380 were successfully retrieved, alongside semi-structured interviews with nine key informants. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were analysed using Grounded Theory. The findings revealed that inadequate policy enforcement, limited budgetary allocation, weak institutional capacity, poor political commitment and ineffective coordination remain the major obstacles to effective gender mainstreaming. The study concludes that the existence of gender policies alone is insufficient to guarantee successful implementation unless public institutions possess the capacity, resources and commitment required to enforce them effectively. It recommended strengthening institutional capacity, increasing financial support, improving policy enforcement, enhancing inter-agency coordination and establishing effective monitoring systems to ensure that gender mainstreaming policies produce meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
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