Conference Agenda

Research projects, in African contexts as elsewhere, have moved away from purely academic enquiries into participatory studies that aim to be a two-way exchange between researchers and participants. In the case of projects centered around gender related norms and constraints, innovative activities have been co-designed with local researchers and communities, which have the potential to question prevailing gender norms and attitudes and become vehicle for transformative change. Showcasing presentations by three different research for development or action-oriented research projects in various African contexts, this session aims to provide the opportunity to examine and self-reflect on the potential for these projects to lead or not to gender transformative approaches.

Uganda as many African countries is patriarchal characterized by male dominance with deep-rooted socio-cultural norms and beliefs that privilege male access, entitlement and control over productive resources and opportunities. This has had negative implications on women empowerment especially in rural agricultural communities. The presentation will draw on an action research that seeks to strengthen women smallholder empowerment and resilience to agricultural shocks in two districts (Alebtong and Isingiro) in Uganda. This is a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) and mixed methods study that is testing a mix of gender transformative interventions around climate smart technologies and business entrepreneurship among rural farmers. Our study uses project specific women empowerment in agricultural index (pro-WEAI). We will discuss the potential for applying gender transformative innovations in addressing the deep seated patriarchal social and gender norms that continue to limit women’s engagement in agricultural interventions. We envisage what it will take for these innovations to ultimately contribute to women’s empowerment in the project districts.

Community conversations, or dialogues, are socially transformative, change-oriented community engagement processes. Livestock and rangeland resources are central to pastoral communities’ livelihoods around the world. In Kenya, interventions to improve rangelands include participatory rangeland management (PRM). However, prevailing gender norms and practices restrict women’s access, control, and ownership of resources. While changes in gender relations have been documented and show that women’s roles in governance and resource decision-making are increasing, inequalities in resource ownership and management persist (Bullock, et. al, 2022). Community conversations may alleviate inequalities in pastoral communities and improve resilience in the face of climate change. An initial piloted conversation approach, in which the findings of the previously mentioned study were discussed, further revealed how gender influences PRM impacts, namely unequal benefit distribution and limitations upon women’s capacity building opportunities. Analysis of key topics informed a community conversation strategy. We will present our findings and experiences using community conversation approaches. Lessons learned about social interventions, such as gender transformative approaches will be shared.

Training at community level is more effective and inclusive when incorporating participatory methods in which participants are involved as knowledgeable actors – thus moving away from top-down approaches. In training of trainers (ToT) approaches, knowledge is passed along and diffused at every level of training – thus empowering the trainers and trainees at the same time – but the challenge is that, when literacy levels decrease from one level to the next, the trainers need to render information through different modalities than those through which they have received it. A new research project from the University of Florida attempted to overcome this issue though creation and diffusion of training materials in which the amount of written text is decreased and that of illustrations is increased at each level. The aim of the ToT was to infuse gender awareness and communication skills among animal health service providers and rural communities in selected regions of Nepal, Senegal and Uganda. Through a qualitative analysis of Focus Group Discussions with participants at each stage, we describe and reflect on the potential and limits of such an approach to transform perceptions and attitudes about gender roles and norms.