Learn French: Nous songeons à lui pour le projet. - We are considering him for the project.

Normally, for verbs followed by à, you place the indirect object pronoun before the verb (like nous lui parlons). However, a special group of verbs—including songer à (to think about / consider)—doesn't allow this when referring to a person. Instead, you must keep the preposition à after the verb and follow it with a stressed pronoun, which is why it becomes songer à lui.

Since lui before a verb can mean "to him" or "to her," does à lui here also cover both genders?

No, it strictly means "him" in this context. When lui is an indirect object pronoun placed before a verb, it can indeed mean either "him" or "her." But after a preposition like à, it functions as a stressed pronoun, and the stressed pronoun lui is exclusively masculine. To say "We are considering her," you must use the feminine stressed pronoun: Nous songeons à elle.

What if we were considering it (like a new strategy) instead of a person? Do we still use a stressed pronoun?

No. The rule of keeping à and adding a stressed pronoun applies specifically to people. If you are thinking about or considering a thing, a place, or an idea, you replace the entire à + [thing] structure with the pronoun y placed directly before the verb. So, "We are considering it" translates to Nous y songeons.

Could I use instead of for this sentence?