Emerging from debates from gender in development process, gender Smart Developmentrnconsiders equal participation of women at all levels of development projects through equalrnaccess to resources, opportunities and decision-making roles. Scholarly evidences from therntrajectory of emerging debates have shown that development projects fail to achieve theirrnobjective due to lack of gender inclusiveness. Gender smart intervention is an approach thatrnconsiders gender as a core in the processes of program design, start-up, implementation,rnmonitoring, evaluation and learning. Such intervention therefore bridges the gender gaprnleading to gender smart development.rnThe objective of the study is to assess whether the Pastoral Community Development Project IIrn(PCDP II employed gender smart intervention. The evidence on the outcomes was collectedrnfrom five beneficiary kebeles from the two woredas where the project is implemented. Bothrnprimary and secondary data were collected on selected activities and outcomes of the project.rnThe primary data were collected using in-depth interviews administered for 45rnrespondents. The secondary data were collected from project documents (reports, plans andrnminutes).rnFindings from this study showed that both men and women are involved in the project andrnbenefit from the basic services delivered by PCDP II. In specific evidence, female members ofrnthe 5 kebele have access to finance (2.9 %) and are engaged in income generating activitiesrn(2.7 %). Female members were empowered through tailored trainings on their roles andrnresponsibilities in various committees. However, females who were participating arernchallenged low level of literacy and shortage of time (females also shoulder domesticrnresponsibilities of household provision).rnIn conclusion, the project development approach was gender smart in making males andrnfemalesâ€™ part of the overall activities and benefit from the project outcomes. Females are at therncenter of the project through access to resources, opportunities and decision-making. The studyrnconcluded with the recommendation that the ongoing gender smart interventions should bernencouraged and shared with relevant stakeholders to replicate it beyond pastoral regions.rnHowever, facilitation of consultations must focus on capacity building for female participationrnand the gender smartness of the project intervention should be monitored and evaluated on thernbasis of agreed-indicators to achieve the goal of redressing gender gaps