This discussion is based at a practical level from the viewpoint of a practitioner involved in the development-consulting sector. It aims to highlight the challenges in responding to and implementing gender mainstreaming strategies at the field level while meeting project targets set out by donors. The ‘conversation’ below is not meant to be a comprehensive academic piece on gender mainstreaming, but ‘thinkingpoints’, broad observations and a record of experiences made over the course of responding to the terms of reference set out for projects. The particular focus of this paper is to look at issues in ensuring effective gender mainstreaming in governance projects such as public sector reform, corporate and financial reform (for example taxation reform, pensions reform, banking reform) and legal and judicial reform.