Presentation during IITA R4D week 2015 (23 - 27 Nov. 2015).

1. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
Gender Awareness and Dynamics in the Workplace
23 November 2015
(R4D Week 2015)

2. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
IITA R4D WEEK
2015
Gender Awareness and
Dynamics in the Workplace
23 November 2015

3. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
GENDER MAINSTREAMING: THE JOURNEY SO FAR
 It began with a firm commitment of the Board and Management to
promoting gender equality in the Institute – in its corporate life and all
its research programs and activities.
 The Institute’s 2012-2020 Refreshed Strategy includes a strong
note on gender mainstreaming and developing gender-responsive
approaches and interventions for various activities.
 A Gender Workshop was held during the R4D Week 2013 focusing
on how gender perspectives could be further integrated into the
Institute’s R4D agenda. The workshop concluded on the need for
gender mainstreaming at the institution level to create a gender-
friendly work environment and in R4D for more impact.

4. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
GENDER MAINSTREAMING: THE JOURNEY SO FAR
An Institute-wide assessment of gender awareness and knowledge
was carried out through a Gender Mainstreaming Survey conducted
in 2014.
 A major finding from the survey was the low level of awareness
and misconceptions on gender. Therefore, arrangements were made
to organize an awareness seminar and a workshop for in-depth
exploration of gender mainstreaming approaches.
 An awareness seminar was held on 1 September 2015 followed
by a workshop (in two batches) on developing capacity for gender
mainstreaming. Our facilitator for the seminar and workshop was
Prof Jane Bennett.

5. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
GENDER MAINSTREAMING: THE JOURNEY SO FAR
 Work is ongoing on the development of a Workplace Gender Policy,
and the production of a 2-paged Factsheet.
 Closely related to maintaining a gender-friendly work environment in
which the dignity of the individual is upheld, the Institute launched the
Harassment and Discrimination Policy and held awareness seminars in
May and June across locations in Nigeria. Staff in the stations
participated through webinar.
 As part of the institutional structure for providing support to those who
may be victims of harassment and/or discrimination, an introductory
training for dignity advisors was held in September for some staff who
have been approached and have indicated willingness to serve. Further
steps will be taken in this regard.

6. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
GENDER MAINSTREAMING: THE JOURNEY SO FAR
We are advancing on creating a workplace that:
 promotes diversity, equality, equity and inclusiveness and
respects the dignity of individuals;
 is free from all forms of discrimination based on ethnic,
social, or political background, color, nationality, religion, and
gender; and
 in which every member of the institute can realize his or her
potential for excellence.
We therefore continue to promote gender awareness at various
fora and this year’s R4D Week presents a great opportunity. And
so…

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Charity Mutegi received the Norman Borlaug Award for Field
Research and Application 2013 from the World Food Prize
Foundation.
Charity received this award in recognition for her work in various facets of
aflatoxin management in Kenya, which included awareness raising,
capacity building, establishing risk assessment data, and extending and
potential deployment of a biological control product called aflasafe, for
managing aflatoxin.

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PRESENTING OUR FACILITATIOR
Here with us again is Jane Bennett, a Professor of Gender Studies
and currently Director of the African Gender Institute, University of Cape
Town, South Africa.
Prof. Jane Bennett has written many books, co-authored and edited
many others, peer-reviewed a lot of articles and contributed quite a
number of chapters to various books.
 She has presented papers on gender and sexuality in international
fora and facilitated a number of workshops on related themes.
It is my pleasure to introduce to you an eminent scholar, a gender
advocate, professional consultant and facilitator …Prof. Jane Bennett.

9. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium