Women educators and researchers leading change

The Problem

The impact of many global challenges is felt more strongly by women. Women are often employed in insecure, low-paid jobs and lack access to credit and technology, all of which limit their economic potential. Although women make up almost 40% of the global agricultural workforce they represent fewer than a fifth of landowners. 

Inequity is also evident in tertiary education and research. Globally, women make up only 33% of researchers, tend to be promoted at a slower rate than men, are underrepresented in academic leadership positions, and earn less than their male counterparts. While gaps in primary education have narrowed, in many countries fewer girls progress to secondary and tertiary education.

More equitable solutions will only be found if more women are leading research, building the evidence base, and shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs, public servants and professionals – particularly in science and technology where the gaps are greatest.  

What we do

We approach this work at several levels. 

• At the institutional level, we work with tertiary education institutions to identify and remove gender barriers, by making changes to their leadership structures, policies and processes to ensure that all their staff and students can succeed. We use a guided approach developed with the University of Dodoma in Tanzania.
   
• At the classroom level, our gender-responsive learning programme enables academics to create curricula and learning spaces where both women and men can learn effectively, progress through their studies, secure employment, and be better prepared for their subsequent careers. You can explore our framework and tools here.
   
• At the national level we support coalitions of changemakers to connect and strategize, to create more gender-equitable research and learning environments, and to share ideas and expertise across institutions and sectors.
   
• Through the Rising Scholars community, we support women researchers to develop the skills and networks they need to develop confidence and to navigate their careers.

Our impact

In East Africa, we enabled academics to make changes to their classrooms and to their curricula. Students' participation in class has increased, and women students report feeling more confident, more likely to speak up and more likely to take on leadership roles in class. Several universities established "gender multipliers" to support their colleagues to change their practice and Gulu University established a dedicated gender unit to drive changes to policy and practice.

The Ethiopia Gender Learning Forum, launched in partnership with the Ethiopian Academy of Science, has brought together champions from almost 30 universities, creating an important platform for dialogue and collaboration. Its members are working together to devise new strategies to ensure that their institutions and the system are enabling women to progress their careers.

In Uganda the Gender Equity in Research Alliance has taken a different approach. Launched in partnership with the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology, it is building a national network of women and men committed to driving change. Regional chapters are supporting local institutions to examine their structures and make changes to policies and systems.