Scaling-out gender transformative approaches in agriculture research for development

Abstract

This paper looks at the spread and socialization of gender transformative approaches (GTA) within a network of research and development organizations that focus on gender and agriculture. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 respondents from 19 development and research organizations who work in the agriculture sector and have some interest or engagement with GTA, and we analyzed the scaling drivers and patterns within and beyond this immediate network. The findings show a rapidly growing interest in GTA across the ecosystem, especially among organizations with a strong commitment to helping achieve gender equality. GTA are scaling out across the ecosystem in a nonlinear way, through both direct and indirect strategies. Factors such as the mandate and agency of an organization, as well as the persistence and passion of individual stakeholders appear to be important drivers in influencing how GTA are spreading. Despite the enthusiasm and high momentum for doing gender transformative work across the organizations, this study also surfaces serious reservations about how rapidly the terminology and/or tools related with GTA are being adopted, while there remain widely varying levels of understanding, gender expertise, and funding for the type of intensive effort that is required to achieve a true paradigm shift in the sector.

Keywords:

• Gender transformative approaches (GTA)
• scaling innovations
• agriculture research for development (AR4D)

Acknowledgments

The authors express their appreciation to the anonymous peer reviewers of the journal who offered very useful guidance. We also express gratitude to Dr. Miranda Morgan and Dr. Steven Cole for their invaluable expertise and contributions to shape the revisions of the manuscript. Additionally, the authors extend their sincere thanks to the respondents who generously shared their insights through key informant interviews.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 https://www.fao.org/joint-programme-gender-transformative-approaches/overview/gender-transformative-approaches/en#:∼:text=The%20gender%20transformative%20approach%20challenges,which%20men%20can%20feel%20overburdened

2 Gender mainstreaming, not to be conflated with a gender approach, "involves the integration of a gender perspective into the preparation, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, regulatory measures and spending programmes, with a view to promoting equality between women and men, and combating discrimination." https://eige.europa.eu/gender-mainstreaming/what-is-gender-mainstreaming

3 AR4D organizations use scientific research to build resilience and increase food and overall livelihood security of small holders in rural communities.

4 https://www.cgiar.org/innovations/gender-transformative-approaches/

5 CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis, it has 15 research centers globally with presence in 89 countries.

Additional information

Funding

Funding support for this work was provided by the CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agrifood Systems (FISH) (funded by contributors to the CGIAR Trust Fund). This work was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Initiative on Resilient Aquatic Food Systems for Healthy People and Planet and funded by CGIAR Trust Fund donors.