In its commitment to intensifying gender mainstreaming efforts in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector research and development (R&D), the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) conducted its first face-to-face gender and development (GAD) training series from September 11 to 16 and October 2 to 6, 2023 in Tagaytay City.
Attended by the members of the Council's national research networks from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the training aimed to discuss the basic GAD concepts in the AANR context, familiarize the participants on the use of gender analysis (GA) tools and frameworks, and capacitate network researchers on GA and gender statistics.
The training series was divided into two phases: the first focused on "Gender Analysis (GA) and Use of GA Tools for Research and Development Management and Implementation," while the second centered on "Collection and Use of Sex-Disaggregated Data (SDD) and Gender Statistics." The first phase emphasized the methods for conducting GA and utilizing GA tools to create gender-responsive research outputs and outcomes. The second phase focused on the collection and use of SDD and on the entire process of generating gender data, from utilization to dissemination.
In his opening remarks, Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD) Director Ernesto O. Brown, discussed the interconnected concepts of GA and the collection of SDD. He also emphasized the role of GA in ensuring conscious integration of gender dimension in the Council’s R&D system and the importance of collecting and using SDD in revealing gender issues for more inclusive developments in the AANR. Dr. Brown concluded with a reminder that the training series is instrumental to “achieving gender equality and empowerment in AANR that contribute to the bigger goals of achieving a more just and sustainable society”.
GAD experts and members of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) National GAD Resource Pool, including Ms. Monette S. Santos, Dr. Blesshe L. Querijero, and Dr. Milagros A. Rimando, served as resource persons for the training series. Ms. Santos is a retired Senior Science Research Specialist of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB); Dr. Querijero is a former DOST-wide GAD Mainstreaming Coordinator from 2007 to 2013 and Associate Professor IV of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), and Dr. Rimando is retired Director IV of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
In Phase 1, Ms. Santos covered fundamental GAD concepts and issues in the context of R&D projects in the AANR sector and various GAD policy imperatives. Dr. Querijero continued the discussion focusing on GA frameworks and tools, such as the Harvard and Moser Frameworks.
In Phase 2, Dr. Querijero revisited essential GAD concepts and the project development cycle. She explained SDD and offered insights on where to access quality GAD data. Dr. Rimando expanded the conversation on understanding a GAD database and its utilization and maintenance for generating gender-specific data. She concluded the training series by presenting examples on how gender data is analyzed, interpreted, and disseminated to target stakeholders.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Meliza Abeleda, SERD Assistant Director, encouraged the participants and emphasized the the crucial roles of project implementers of PCAARRD-funded projects in applying GA to the Council’s programs and projects to ensure greater social impacts. She also urged everyone to sustain their collaborative efforts toward gender mainstreaming in AANR R&D.
This training series forms an integral part of the capacity-building initiatives of the DOST-PCAARRD-funded and -implemented project, “Enhancement of Gender and Development Integration Towards a More Inclusive R&D in AANR.” The project is implemented under the Gender and Development and Special Projects Unit (GADSPU) of SERD.
Participants representing Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources sectors enhance R&D proposals to integrate gender analysis and statistics. (Image Credit: SERD, DOST-PCAARRD)
