Training on Integrating Gender In Scientific Research To Enhance Adoption Of Technologies

Scientific research may not be completely objective if it is not gender sensitive. This is because gender norms affect who does the research, how research is prioritized, how the research is designed and conducted, and how data is interpreted and shared as well as the impact of the research at the community level and globally. Also, many countries have adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that besides having a gender equality goal every other goal has a gender dimension in it. To establish the implementation of these goals, development research is led by science. Therefore, if science is gender biased then the research will not produce the right results. For research to ensure equal benefits between men and women, it is imperative to integrate gender dimensions into your research right from the proposal planning stage and throughout the entire cycle of research. This means being gender sensitive beginning from proposal development, implementation all the way to realizing the impact of research. Similarly, gender norms and gender inequality within the cultural context where scaling is taking place influence uptake of technologies. Therefore, failing to take into account gender differences in needs, preferences, roles and responsibilities, decision-making, access to and control of resources that includes (land, labor, inputs, credits and revenue), and power imbalances can limit the adoption of technologies and also lead to research  providing recommendations that are not gender inclusive. Consequently, the research can result in the development of policies, legal frameworks and laws that are gender biased thereby perpetuate gender inequality. Integrating gender into scientific research will improve the quality and relevance of research, and lead to new ideas and ways of thinking about issues, and new interpretations of data. This will contribute to innovation, and will improve the outcomes of the research for both women and men, and for entire society at large.