The Systemwide Program on Participatory Research and Gender Analysis

The CGIAR has established a systemwide program, coordinated by CIAT, to treat participatory research and gender analysis as strategic research methodologies for generating agricultural technologies for poor farmers. The simple and compelling rationale behind this goal is, if agricultural research is to achieve impact that benefits poor people, then farmers must participate directly in technology development. The participation of women is especially important, because their access to appropriate technology critically affects household food security and children's well-being. This program, known as the Participatory Research and Gender Analysis for Technology Development and Institutional Innovation (PRGA), works by targeting an area, pooling the resources and experiences of numerous organizations of that area in a common effort to accelerate the development of participatory tools. These tools would then be incorporated into research and development programs on plant breeding and management of crops and natural resources.

The PRGA in Asia

The PRGA is involved in several aspects of research and capacity development in Asia, with a special focus on the eastern Himalayan region. Partner countries in this region are Nepal, India (Sikkim and NE India), Bhutan, and China (Yunnan). Partner organizations include national agricultural research institutions (NARIs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), IARCs (CIAT, CIMMYT, and CIP), and regional networks of research and development professionals (e.g., North East Network).

Numerous training workshops for social and gender analysis and participatory research have been conducted in the region, including in Southeast Asia with the collaboration of the UPWARD network coordinated by CIP. An important component of the capacity development initiative involves building networks of skilled practitioners in the region who subsequently become "mentors" through regional alliances.

The program's main research foci in Southeast Asia are:

• Impact assessment of participatory approaches in plant breeding and natural resource management (NRM).
• Gender analysis to better understand gender issues in their socio-cultural context and how they affect differential access to resources.
• Organizational assessments to explore opportunities and constraints to mainstreaming gender-sensitive participatory methods in public research organizations.
  

CIAT Contact

Barun Gurung
Anthropologist
PO Box 783
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Phone: +856 (21) 770090
Fax: +856 (21) 770091
E-mail: b.gurung@cgiar.org