ICARDA’s in-house seminar on Gender-Responsive Research for Development

What are the gender aspects in the five key managerial tasks of setting objectives, organizing, making timely decisions, controlling the achievement of milestones and promoting the strengths of the staff,’ asked Dr. Karin Reinprecht.

As the Program Coordinator of CRP Dryland Systems, she led a seminar and discussion on ‘Management and Organization Leading to Gender-Responsive Research for Development’ on 4November 4, 2015. Even though the participants were few, the discussion that ensued raised some pertinent issues like having gender audits in organizations and devising performance indicators that make organizations gender fit.

The importance of management styles to remove prejudices based on gender was discussed. Viability criteria and indicators to measure performance were also deliberated upon. Taking a look at diagnosing the gender-responsiveness of research organizations, Dr. Reinprecht emphasized on promoting the strengths of the staff. Studies show that managers (most people) unconsciously promote people, in whom they recognize themselves. In cases, where there are many men in senior research positions, this could be a barrier to young women researchers. Therefore it is crucial to consciously identify the strengths of all, women and men, team members and promote their strengths.

CRP Dryland Systems has developed a set of Guidelines for Integrating Gender into Biophysical Research which proposes simple and practical steps for taking gender into account throughout the research project cycle. It seeks to facilitate the empowerment of rural women, the promotion of gender