Building Capacity to Integrate Gender into International Extension Programs

Dr. Kathleen Earl ColversonUniversity of Florida

MODERNIZING EXTENSION AND ADVISORY SERVICESCONFERENCE CENTER

JUNE 3-5, 2015WASHINGTON, D.C.

Why integrate gender into pluralistic extension systems?

Because…

“The failure to recognize the roles, differences and inequities between men and women poses a

serious threat to the effectiveness of the agricultural development agenda.”

Gender and Agricultural Sourcebook (2009)

“Gender Constraints to Agricultural Inputs”Women have:

Less access to land, less money to buy land, using more borrowed or illegal land

Fewer head of livestock than male-headed households

Higher number of orphans living in female-headed households than male headed

Fewer agricultural inputs, such as improved seed and fertilizer, used by female-headedhouseholds

Less access to extension services and improved technologies

USAID, 2003

Most front-line extension workers have little to no idea how to integrate gender effectively or tools available.

So…..what can we do to create greater gender equity across pluralistic rural advisory services?

Capacity Development is Critical! Workshops were conducted in Tanzania (Sokoine

Agricultural University); Uganda (Makerere University); and Mozambique (USAID MEAS); Ethiopia (USAID Africa Rising) from 2011-2014.

Workshop purpose(s): A) to increase awareness of the importance of gender

issues in agricultural extension programs B) provide practical tools and approaches to integrate

gender C) demonstrate strategies for integrating gender in

project planning and agricultural value chain analysis

Workshop pre and post assessments…. Extensive interactions with in-country partners prior to

workshop to determine audience needs, skills/abilities related to integrating gender. Consider context!

Each participant received a pre-workshop assessment prior to workshop – 15 questions, electronically administered. Workshops were tailored to participants’ needs

After workshop, each participant received the same assessment to quickly determine knowledge gained and areas for workshop improvement

“Integrating Gender into Agricultural Programs”Pre-Workshop Evaluation

Rate your ability to complete the activities listed below using the following scale:

3=To A Great Extent 2=Somewhat 1=Very Little 0=Not At All

_____Differentiate between gender and sex.

_____Analyze the connections among Extension work, gender, and agricultural productivity.

_____Identify some basic tools for conducting a gender analysis.

_____Describe how gender analysis tools can be applied to Extension work.

_____Compare and contrast techniques to engage mixed and single gender groups.

_____Identify methods for monitoring and evaluating gender responsive programming.

_____Assess when and how to apply gender analysis tools and participatory techniques to various Extension situations.

Participants varied… Extension agents – local and regional University researchers NGO field workers Government extension agents Gender focal points from other organizations Community Based Organization representatives Students 136 total participants in four workshops

Be prepared!

Sample Results from Gender Workshops

At Sokoine University (Tanzania) the average scores on the pre-evaluation was 20.6, post evaluation was 41.2. As a group the percentage increase was 100%.

At Makerere University (Uganda) the average scores on the pre-evaluation was 24, post evaluation was 41. As a group the percentage increase was 73%.

Overall results from four workshops Greatest changes in knowledge pre and post workshop:

A) Ability to apply a specific gender analysis tool to specific extension situation B) Ability to demonstrate an interactive gender energizer to introduce gender

concepts C) Ability to determine when and how to apply selected gender analysis tools

and techniques to different extension situations D) Ability to determine when to engage mixed or single sex groups in extension

activities E) Ability to identify methods for monitoring and evaluating gender responsive

programming

Recommendations for improved gender integration:

Train additional female extension workers

Consider meeting times and locations - childcare provision should also be considered to encourage attendance

Consider cultural context - may be necessary to build women’s confidence in single sex groups first before engaging them in mixed sex groups to ensure their participation later

Ensure that gendered division of labor will not adversely affect women with project introduction

Explore innovative ways to engage male extension workers

THANKS!

Questions???

Comments?

More info: www.meas.orghttp://ingenaes.illinois.edu/http://tinyurl.com/paheerb