This document outlines a gender strategy for the CRP Roots, Tubers and Bananas program. [1] It discusses how gender will be mainstreamed across the program's seven themes of research. [2] However, the centers currently have limited gender research capabilities due to a lack of dedicated staff and resources. [3] The action plan proposes investing in gender focal points, identifying areas where a gender lens can have high impact, and improving gender integration in priority setting and research.

1. CRP Roots, Tubers, and Bananas
For Food Security and Income
Gender Strategy
June 15, 2012
Graham Thiele
Director, CRP RTB

2. The program

3. A collaboration of:
+ a wide spectrum research-for-development
stakeholders & partners

4. Our crops
Banana Cassava Potato Sweetpotato Yam Other R&T
Plantain

5. Roots, Tubers, and Bananas?
• Major staples (among top 10)
• Cheap sources of energy & nutrients
(14-60% daily calories)
• Locally produced/traded (less subject to
global grain price fluctuations)
• Backbone of food & income security for 180
million– especially poorest of poor & women

6. Roots, Tubers, and Bananas?
RTBs share
Gender research
• Genetic complexity (> grains), marked
Space for
consumer preferences for particular varieties
• Vegetative propagation, similar seed systems
• Perishability, bulkiness and post harvest/value
chain options
Gender advocacy
• High potential: > yields & impacts
• Low profile: “women’s crops”
• Under-investment (!)

7. Gender integral in RTB Proposal
development

8. December 2011 – First draft

9. Gender strategy: mainstream gender
Theme Gender
1. Conserving & accessing genetic resources Women as keepers of seed & knowledge
2. Accelerating varietal development (higher Participatory breeding; understanding trade-
yields, added value) offs – gender dimensions
3. Managing pests and diseases Shifting roles; capacity strengthening;
women as family health guardians
4. Seed systems (low cost/hi quality) Biophysical & SE framework for seed systems
5. Cropping systems (more productive, Understanding gender roles in cropping
ecologically robust) systems
6. Postharvest technologies, value chains, and Market development with gender equity
market opportunities
7. Enhancing impact (partnerships, Including women in networks; women as
communications, capacity strengthening) transmitters of knowledge; M&E of gender

10. Strategy: mainstream gender
• Engender targeting and priority-setting
• Integrate gender-responsive approaches
& methods across themes
• focusing where gender needs special
research or gender sensitivity enhances
impact
• Ensure gender-responsive partnerships

11. Strategy: mainstream gender
• Strengthen communication and
knowledge sharing around gender
issues
• Strengthen capacity in gender analysis
and gender transformative methods
and approaches
• Design gender indicators and provide
monitoring support in outcome and
impact assessment

12. Reality
•Centers limited capability for gender research
•Key staff with gender skills committed to bilateral projects
•Centers overstretched to meet simultaneous demands for gender
support from multiple CRPs
•Only 3 enthusiastic but overloaded center focal points designated
(recently)
•No gender research scientist
•Gender weakly present in deliverables in product portfolio for 2012

13. Build on strengths
• Where gender integrated in research: e.g., participatory
selection
• Success stories
• Lessons learnt from those where gender not well integrated
• Identification of gender-responsive indicators
• Gender capacity strengthening for researchers

14. CRP Gender research action plan
1.Invest in gender focal points and researcher
• Assign additional resources for engaging gender focal points
• Use coordination budget for part time CRP gender researcher to
bring together center focal points
• Hold gender focal point meeting to refine action plan
• Include focal points and colleagues in 2013 Operational Plan
2.Identify key geographic/thematic areas where gender lens has
clearest pay off:
• More inclusive commodity and food value chains
• Seed system
• Participatory plant breeding
3.Bring gender lens to priority setting (now underway for all RTB crops)
4.Identify success stories with gender research to leverage support in
Centers and amongst partners
5.Improve and resubmit RTB Gender strategy
6. Engage with other CRPs and G&A research network

15. Thank you