Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming in SCARDA

This paper presents findings from a review of SCARDA’s gender and diversity (G&D) mainstreaming activities. This is based on an examination of how SCARDA G&D principles were adopted and mainstreamed by sub-Regional Organisations (SROs) and Focal Institutions (FIs) both in SCARDA activities and in the institutional practices of members. The paper shows that SCARDA has worked to complement and support existing activities of SROs and FIs to increase women’s participation in their institutions, particularly in key strategic roles such as research management and leadership. However, there were a number of constraints that SROs and FIs experienced which limited their impact on addressing key G&D issues in their institutions. Based on the experience of SROs and FIs in mainstreaming G&D through SCARDA, recommendations are presented in to help support target institutions and partners in G&D mainstreaming in the future.