Cost analyses are essential for promoting transparency and enabling data-driven decision-making, ensuring that limited resources are allocated optimally. There are different types of cost analyses, including cost-minimization analysis (Hirst et al. 2016), cost-utility analysis (Dernovsek et al. (2007), cost-economy analysis (Srivastava et al. 2019) and budget-impact analysis (Silva et al. 2017), cost–benefit analysis (CBA), cost–effectiveness analysis (CEA) and cost–efficiency analysis. This review focuses on CBA, CEA and cost–efficiency analyses because they are among the most common methods used for assessing costs of a project or program. By providing a detailed understanding of costs versus benefits, cost analyses help policymakers allocate funds efficiently to the most effective programs.
CITATION
CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion. 2025. Cost analysis: methods, tools and gender-integration guidelines. Project report. Nairobi, Kenya: CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion.
