Doing research and ‘doing gender’ in Ethiopia’s agricultural research system

Abstract

This article presents data from an experimental gender audit that was completed of the national agricultural research system in Ethiopia. The results show how agriculture researchers understand and practice gender in Ethiopia and what the research outputs say about Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture Research (EIAR)'s ability to incorporate gender across the research process. The article applies gender mainstreaming theory and feminist research methods and methodologies to frame the analysis. This body of scholarship highlights crucial questions that go beyond the counting of male and female participants in research surveys and the recruitment of female informants, a problem at EIAR. The article argues that focusing on gender mainstreaming ignores the power relations that currently maintain the status quo and prevent a substantial approach to ‘doing gender’ from evolving. In order to improve gender equality in Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, EIAR needs to expand the methodologies currently used and include and raise awareness for feminist methods. This study adds to the emerging literature on Ethiopian women studies, gender mainstreaming, institutional reform, and gender research methods.

Keywords:

• Ethiopian women studies
• gender mainstreaming
• institutional reform
• gender research methods

Notes

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr Rehima Mussema (EIAR) for her vision and support and to Annet Mulema (ILRI) and Wole Kinati (ICARDA) for their methodological guidance and support. Thanks also goes to Wondimu Abebe for help collecting the data and to Dagmawit Giref for analyzing the online survey responses. Thanks also to the two anonymous peer reviewers who pointed us toward some useful literature and arguments.

Disclosure statement

The views expressed here are those of authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funders or associated institutions. The usual disclaimer applies.

Notes

1 The word ‘development institution’ is used to mean an organization that operates in low income countries and manages donor funded projects.

2 Adapted from Interaction’s gender audit manual: https://www.interaction.org/sites/default/files/Gender%20Audit%20Handbook%202010%20Copy.pdf

3 Interaction, ILO and SNV.

4 Only three FGD were held as it was difficult to obtain commitment from senior managers.

5 N.B. the Ethiopian government recognizes this and since 2015 has employed more women as extension agents.

6 Amharic for village.

7 See: https://www.abyssinialaw.com/blog-posts/item/1483-ethiopia-s-human-rights-treaty-reporting-to-the-un-treaty-bodies

8 A bibliometric analysis is the attempt to quantitatively assess the academic quality of journals or authors by statistical methods such as citation rates.

9 Some of the reviewers felt that a couple of documents should be given a half point.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Die Bundesministerium für Wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)-funded project the “Understanding gender in wheat-based livelihoods for enhanced WHEAT R4D impact in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Ethiopia” and the CGIAR research program on wheat agri-food systems (CRP WHEAT).