Unpacking and repacking gender-transformative research: Reflections from a method-design workshop
Photo: Ploy Phutpheng/UN Women
In the heart of Lima, a recent workshop on gender-transformative research methodologies (GTRM) was not your average academic gathering. For three days, this vibrant workshop was a hands-on, dynamic event focused on one mission: developing impactful methods for gender-transformative research for development.
The workshop (27–29 September 2024) was organized by the CGIAR Community of Practice on Gender Transformative Research Methodologies (GTRM-CoP) which has been working since 2022 to build capacity and interest in gender-transformative research in CGIAR and the wider research-for-development community.
The event engaged a diverse group of gender scientists from various CGIAR centers: the Alliance of Bioversity-CIAT, ICARDA, IFPRI, IWMI, CIP, WorldFish and IITA, as well as several independent consultants and university staff.
Moving beyond gender analysis to structural issues
The aim of the workshop was to design and refine methods that move beyond gender analysis and drive genuine change by addressing the deeper, structural issues that perpetuate gender inequality in the world.
The methods can be piloted and used in the new CGIAR Science Programs and in other agricultural research-for-development projects which drive impact towards SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
The workshop encouraged participants to engage in critical discussions and collaborative learning, combining introspection, discussion on what ‘transformative research’ means, forum theatre and conceptual presentations on topics such as transformative evaluation, next to method-design sessions. Afrina Choudhury (Wageningen University) shared: “It was wonderful to see us moving beyond our usual ways of working to find new areas where gender-transformative approaches can be applied and researched, bringing hope that we’re striving for structural and systemic change.”
The methodological focus was on seven tools which target different scales and contexts. All tools are fundamentally participatory, putting participants in the driver’s seat. Participants are involved in the processes of creating data that can change their lives in ways that they want, rather than participating in surveys or discussions that external actors use to develop gender-transformative projects. Most of the methods under development are based on existing research methods and development approaches. The aim was to strengthen the development, the research or the gender component for these methods to become fully-fledged gender-transformative research methods.
“The workshop provided an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the essence and application of GTRM as we were able to connect and engage in meaningful reflections on critical questions on our current practices and future pathways,” said Pierre Jirón (Research Associate, International Potato Center).
A particularly exciting aspect was the workshop’s exploration into fields not usually associated with transformative gender research, such as sustainable finance and entrepreneurship. This expansion brings hope that the field is progressing from conventional engagement with women, to thinking about gender in structural and systemic ways.
Tina Yap, a community worker and PhD candidate at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said, “The discussed participatory methods with a gender-transformative lens enabled me to re-evaluate my existing practice with Indigenous People[s] in the villages and helped me in reconnecting GTRM to land rights, productive economics and self-determination.”
Next steps: a GTRM toolbox for researchers
As the workshop wrapped up, there was great excitement for what lies ahead. The group outlined a roadmap for publishing the GTRM Toolbox, an accessible resource that will share the methods co-developed during the workshop with the wider research community.
Expected to launch by April 2025, the toolbox will provide guidelines on each method; why, when and how to use it; the resources needed; and any tips gathered along the way. We also aim to continue adding new methods to the toolbox over the years to come.
The launch of the GTRM Toolbox will enable a broader range of researchers to adopt and adapt these methodologies in their own research environments. We hope that this collaborative, evidence-based resource will be a valuable asset for researchers worldwide who are working toward a more gender-equitable future.
Meet the Gender-Transformative Research toolbox
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The Gender-Transformative Research Methodology (GTRM) Toolbox |
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1. Gender Action Learning System 2.0 (GALS 2.0) Sphere Household, Community Purpose Adding a research component to the existing GALS approach, this tool creates a pathway for monitoring gender-transformative changes within households and communities. By integrating research, GALS 2.0 allows for the systematic collection of data, making it possible to measure shifts in gender roles and dynamics over time. |
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2. Gender-Transformative Impact in Sustainable Finance (GT Impact SF) Sphere Finance Organizations, Agri-Investors, Agri-SMEs Purpose This tool targets sustainable-finance institutions and agri-SMEs, pushing investment funds toward gender-equitable processes and outcomes by developing gender-responsive metrics. By guiding funds towards investment in gender-transformative projects, GT Impact SF supports investors to prioritize initiatives that actively promote gender equality, particularly within the agricultural sector. |
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3. Collectives for Voice, Vision, and Validation Sphere Community Purpose Created to empower women’s collectives in decision-making, this tool facilitates transformative change by encouraging women to take active roles in community planning. It provides structured support for women to voice their needs, articulate their visions, and validate their contributions within their communities. This tool also helps challenge normative constraints and structural barriers that women face. |
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4. GTAs and Agentic Strategies for Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiatives Sphere All Levels (Household to Organizational) Purpose This tool is designed to strengthen inclusive business models for women entrepreneurs. It aims to address structural barriers within entrepreneurship by integrating gender-transformative actions (GTAs) and women’s own agentic strategies within innovation governance approaches, thereby enabling women to build resilient and sustainable enterprises. |
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5. Q-Emic Methodology for Co-Designing GT Interventions Sphere Community, Producer Organizations Purpose The Q-Emic Methodology is rooted in participatory processes that ensure local voices are integral to intervention design by uncovering participant perspectives on a particular matter—such as gender norms. It adapts a research methodology called Q-methodology to help communities co-create initiatives tailored to their unique needs and goals. |
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6. Q-methodology in multi-stakeholder platform Sphere Multi-stakeholder platforms and similar collectives Purpose The second application of Q-methodology is to design and implement gender-transformative action plans within multi-stakeholder settings. GESI Action Co-Design helps stakeholders identify gender and social inclusion goals, fostering collaboration among diverse groups to achieve normative change. |
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7. Systems-Transformation Analysis for Planners (STAR-Plan) Sphere National, Subnational, Community Planning Purpose STAR-Plan is a systems-based tool for gender-transformative development planning. By integrating gender into the existing planning process at regional or national levels, STAR-Plan enables policymakers to consider gender dynamics in development frameworks, addressing inequalities from a structural perspective. |
(This GTRM development workshop was organized by the GTRM-CoP (Community of Practice on Gender Transformative Research Methodologies) and funded by the Methods Module of the CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform. We are grateful for their support.
The blog was written jointly with contributors listed in alphabetical order.
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