About This Course

Science Granting Councils (SGCs) are key to advancing intersectional gender transformation, as central role players in national systems of innovation. In the African region, SGCs have begun initiating institutional change through introducing gender transformative policies and grant-making practices, although this work is in many instances nascent and requires further support. The proposed project will support the overarching goals of the Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) which, currently in its second phase (SGCI-2), is strengthening the capacities of participating SGCs across the continent towards advancing gender transformation. Participating SGCI Councils are based in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Our proposed project will support mainstreaming an intersectional transformative approach in SGCs’ development, implementation and monitoring of gender policy, programs and research, as a critical next step that could lead to lasting, systemic change in STI.

The overall aim of the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) is to support participating SGCs to become more gender-responsive and inclusive; to support research and research environments that are gender transformative and inclusive; and promote STI policies and practices that are gender transformative and inclusive. To support this goal, activities within the proposed research project will address three broad areas identified in the call document: (i) promoting the equality and status of women in research; (ii) diversity and inclusivity beyond gender equality; and (iii) the sex, gender and inclusivity dimension in research design and content..