The Workshop Repositioning Gender-Responsive Participatory Research in Times of Change will be held June 16-18, 2010 in Cali, Colombia, at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) headquarters.

The purpose of the workshop is to revitalize participatory research that is gender responsive, building on the experience of skilled researchers and practitioners from the CGIAR Centers, academia, NARS, NGOs and donor organizations to redefine and update our view of the mechanisms needed to support it.

The Program on Participatory Research and Gender Analysis (PRGA Program) has aimed to improve the competence of the CGIAR system and collaborating institutions in mainstreaming the use of participatory research and gender analysis for 12 years. Over time, it has developed and gathered a substantial body of knowledge on both gender and participatory research at the level of farming communities, as well as, those used by institutions and programs serving them..

Obstacles and constraints to the institutionalization of gender sensitive participatory approaches were identified by the PRGA Program during its first phase (1997-2002). While progress has been made in several Centers with which the PRGA Program has worked, there is general consensus that much remains to be done within the CG system and in partner organizations such as NARS and NGOs. In addition, some participatory and gender work has gone unrecognized, both within the Centers and more broadly throughout the System.

Workshop Participants

The workshop will bring together professionals with recognized expertise in participatory research with a gender focus; one scientist from each CGIAR Center and about an equal number of representatives from non-CGIAR organizations; NARS, universities, NGOs and the donor community; more than 50 participants have been invited. The presence of partners will help keep the workshop's focus on the need for CGIAR Centre's research to be responsive to the needs of both men and women resource-limited farmers.

Description

The workshop design will use an interactive process emphasize the sharing of experiences. The discussions will draw on a pre-workshop demand analysis and contributions of invitees from the different centers, NARS and partner organizations. The workshop is designed in such a way as to draw on the experience of the participants to identify those areas where they can contribute to gender responsive participatory research and to work towards the best ways to integrate the field in the new Mega Programs.

Purpose

The purpose of the workshop is to identify mechanisms that support gender responsive participatory research by building on the experience of researchers and practitioners from the CGIAR Centers, academia, NARS, NGOs and donor organizations. The workshop will also provide inputs on issues related to gender responsive participatory research in the CGIAR and other partner organizations.

 Objectives

The main objective of the proposed workshop is:

To identify practical ways to revitalize gender-responsive participatory research that meets the needs of women and men small-scale farmers.

 In addition, the workshop will:

• Explore the relevance of gender responsive participatory research taking into account the results of the demand analysis conducted at the system level and also including other partner organizations.



• Design a strategy to support gender responsive participatory research in the new CGIAR including the context of the Mega Programs.

Outputs

 The workshop will generate:

• A strategy and action plan for supporting gender responsive participatory research.



• A mechanism of linking scientists and their partners in a community of practice to increase learning and feedback to upstream programs.



• An outline for the design of a proposal for leveraging the resources (human and financial) needed to implement the proposed action plan through 2014.



• A report detailing the results of the demand analysis, the workshop process and the proposed strategy and action plan.

Process and Workshop Format

The PRGA Program has commissioned a pre-workshop needs assessment with contributions of invitees from the different centers and an overall 'demand analysis,' based on the experience of the PRGA Program and its partner organizations. The assessment will feed into a strategy for revitalizing the PRGA Program. .

Presentations will include:

• A key note address on the future of gender responsive participatory research,
• A panel with presentations on selected key topics,
• Critical commentaries on the pre-workshop demand analysis,
• Design of strategies to include participatory research and gender perspectives in agricultural R&D (e.g. Mega Programs) and
• An Action Plan to support gender responsive participatory research in the new system.

There will be time allocated for regionally based group work and plenary discussions. The non-CGIAR participants will share their perspectives, knowledge and expertise in the various working groups. Group contributions will be presented and, in turn, will feed into a strategy and action plan.

An inclusive participatory process is at the core of the workshop philosophy. Rapporteurs will be appointed for each session to assist the facilitators and group leaders. Key elements of the strategy will be agreed upon in plenary. The Workshop facilitators and PRGA Program coordinator will circulate a draft of the plan to participants for final comment within two weeks of the workshop.