Promoting gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) within research funding systems is essential to ensuring that innovation benefits all segments of society. In many West African contexts, structural inequalities and unconscious biases have led to the exclusion of women, early-career researchers, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups from fully participating in and benefiting from research opportunities. This module provides Research and Innovation Funding Councils with practical strategies to embed GESI principles across both their internal operations and external grant-making processes. By institutionalizing GESI approaches, Councils can enhance fairness, expand access, and ensure that the research they fund is both socially responsive and developmentally impactful.
Module Overview
| Category | Summary |
| Objectives | – Define and apply key gender concepts.
– Address unconscious bias and promote inclusive leadership. – Integrate gender equity in funding calls and reviews. – Institutionalize gender mainstreaming. |
| Duration | Approx. 7.5 hours total (5 units @ 1.5 hours each) |
| Key Topics | – Gender concepts and importance in councils.- Unconscious bias and inclusive leadership.- Gender equity in funding.- Institutional reforms for GESI.- Sustaining gender mainstreaming. |
| Target Participants | Council leadership, HR and policy officers, grants managers, and diversity and inclusion focal persons. |
| Expected Outcomes | – Councils adopt gender-responsive policies.- Bias is reduced in decision-making processes.- Increased participation of underrepresented groups.- Gender mainstreaming action plans implemented. |
Training Objectives: By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
| 1 | Understand and define key gender-related concepts. |
| 2 | Recognize how power, privilege, and unconscious bias affect gender dynamics within Research and Innovation Councils. |
| 3 | Identify institutional entry points for mainstreaming gender within Council structures, personnel, and outcomes. |
| 4 | Apply gender-responsive strategies in funding processes, including proposal reviews and grant-making decisions. |
| 5 | Develop a Gender Mainstreaming Action Plan for internal Council operations. |
Training Outcomes: The expected training Outcomes of this Module Include:
| 1 | Participants can define key gender concepts and identify institutional gaps in promoting inclusion and equity. |
| 2 | Councils adopt and implement inclusive practices to address unconscious bias and promote gender-sensitive leadership. |
| 3 | Participants integrate gender equity considerations into grant-making processes, including call design, review, and selection criteria. |
| 4 | Participants develop Gender Mainstreaming Action Plans with concrete institutional reforms, indicators, and monitoring tools. |
Facilitation Methods and Procedures
1. Session Flow
a) Opening (5 mins): Frame GESI as essential for equitable research impact.
b) Presentation (30 mins): Explain gender concepts, unconscious bias, inclusive leadership, and institutional mainstreaming.
c) Activity (20 mins): Participants share examples of gender bias in research funding calls.
d) Case Study (20 mins): Review a council that successfully integrated GESI.
e) Group Exercise (30 mins): Revise a sample funding call to be gender-responsive.
f) Closing (10 mins): Summarize and assign action points.
2. Key Discussion Points
a) Gender equity in funding and peer review.
b) Strategies for mainstreaming GESI.
c) Overcoming institutional resistance.
3. Activities & Exercises
a) Bias Spotting: Identify non-inclusive language in sample documents.
b) GESI Action Planning: Create a plan for improving inclusivity in participants’ institutions.
4. Facilitation Tips
a) Be sensitive to different cultural perspectives.
b) Use neutral language while challenging biases.
5. Potential Challenges & Solutions
a) Challenge: Resistance to change.
b) Solution: Present evidence of GESI benefits to research quality and impact.
Training Content
Below are the study units under this module:
Unit 1: Understanding Gender Concepts and Why They Matter in Councils
Unit 2: Unconscious Bias and Inclusive Leadership in Councils
Unit 3: Gender Equity in Funding Calls and Peer Review
Unit 4: Institutionalizing Gender Mainstreaming
Unit 5: Addressing Challenges and Sustaining Gender Mainstreaming
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