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Capacity Building of Participatory Research and Gender Analysis

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Strategy

Program Strategy for Capacity Development

Definition

Developing capacity to use gender analysis and participatory approaches is basic to technology development will benefit disadvantaged rural groups, particularly women. Equally, capacity development must enhance knowledge and skills of assessing impact of these methods to affect an organizational process of learning and change to mainstream the use of gender analysis and participatory approaches.

The major themes and focus areas for capacity development are:

• Gender analysis concepts and methods
• Research approaches built on the sound use of gender analysis and equitable participatory approaches
• Concepts, methods, skills and tools for mainstreaming gender analysis and equitable participatory research through organizational change
• Methods, tools and procedures for impact assessment, participatory monitoring and evaluation for institutional learning and change

Key Lessons

One of the main lessons from the PRGA Program first phase is that many researchers have some conceptual understanding of social or gender issues but feel at a loss as to how to practically implement PR&GA practices in the field, and in a socio-culturally appropriate manner. PR&GA is not learned overnight, or in one short training program. There is a need to continually build skills and practice over a period of time and provide support and inputs to an iterative learning process which includes challenges and difficulties along the way.

There is an incredible diversity of culture and language among the various partners of the Program. Societal, cultural, religious and language differences abound, and while there may be opportunities for cross-cultural learning between these groups, there are also advantages to training programs which are socio-culturally relevant and in a common language. Efforts to build a socio-culturally appropriate training program can help build a favourable environment for sharing and learning, as well as have more cultural relevance in discussing social or gender issues and methods.

Objectives

The Program's objectives for capacity development are:

• To build and enhance the capacity of researchers in partner institutions in the CGIAR and NARS to practically apply PR&GA to agricultural and natural-research management research and to mainstream these approaches in their institutions.
• To support partners to develop approaches and methodologies suitable to the regional contexts.
• To develop appropriate training processes and materials.
• To develop or enhance peer-support and networking among researchers involved in the use of these methods from among partner institutions in the CGIAR and NARS.