Gender Equality How think tanks are making a dierence
Stuart Freedman / Panos
The think tank approach
Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, and decent work, as well as representation in political and economic decision-making processes, is a key component of the international development agenda. With the aim of building sustainable and inclusive economies, countries across the world have committed to achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls through the Sustainable Development Goals. Policy research organizations, or think tanks, combine rigorous research with locally rooted engagement, and are in a unique position to contribute to this agenda by: • Advocating for equal opportunities for women in research; • Carrying out research on gender related topics such as violence against women, access to public services and jobs, or maternal and child health; • Integrating gender considerations into their research from start to finish; • Engaging in policy processes that foster gender equality; and • Considering gender across their organizational policies and practices. Through the use of credible data, as well as citizen and policy engagement, think tanks supported by the Think Tank Initiative (TTI) are fostering gender equality and creating real change in their societies.
Ryan Brown/UN Women
Empowering female researchers Grupo Sofía is a network of female social science researchers in Peru that promotes the empowerment of women in academia by creating spaces for women to share their experiences. Grupo Sofía is led by academics and researchers from two universities (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and Universidad del Pacífico) and two think tanks: Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo (GRADE) and Instituto de Estudios Peruanos (IEP). With the support of TTI, Grupo Sofía has organized events and seminars addressing the challenges and opportunities for women in research. Grupo Sofía provides public outreach activities that engage researchers, including men, as allies to support women’s empowerment in the workplace, and administrative staff in universities and think tanks who can create a safe and supportive environment for women to succeed in their academic careers. It also works to change public perceptions of women’s contributions to knowledge and public debate by targeting policymakers and the media. Only 1/3 of university professors and researchers in Peru are female. The proportion of women is lower (approximately 1/6) in careers such as economics. – National University Census (CENAUN) 2015
Accessing maternal and child health In Nigeria, where many women die during pregnancy and childbirth, accessing maternal and child healthcare is a severe challenge. This is particularly true for women in Nigeria’s underserved rural communities. The Centre for Population and Environmental Development (CPED) is addressing this issue by adopting community-based participation strategies that encourage knowledge generation and decision-making by women. Using this approach, they are researching care service delivery in the Delta State, sharing ďŹ ndings with local policymakers, and working with local stakeholders to strengthen community care.
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Sustainable Development Goal 5 is about achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, which includes equitable access to health care.
Brian Sokol / Panos
Ending violence against women Combatting violence against women, both in the public sphere and in the home, has long been on the public agenda in India. In 2015, the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA) initiated a study on Delhi’s governance structures, reviewing problems with fiscal policies and public spending in order to find ways to address violence against women. In this research, they focused on preventive measures such as policing, public bus services, and night shelters, as well as responsive services provided by public hospitals to women who have experienced violence. Working with a wide range of stakeholders from civil society and government, including women’s groups, they shared findings throughout the research process in order to consult with others working on the issue, and are now developing a budgetary framework for looking at policy measures in relation to violence.
Gender-based violence is one of the biggest causes of injury and death to women worldwide, causing more deaths and disability among women aged 15 to 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents, and war. – Oxfam New Zealand
Gender in organizations The Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC) in Pakistan has successfully integrated gender as a cross-cutting theme throughout its organization; this is outlined in its mission statement and organizational objectives, as well as in its gender research program. As an example of this program’s success, SPDC’s research has demonstrated how violence in public spaces may limit women’s participation and performance in Pakistan’s workforce. These findings informed Pakistan’s Protection Against Harassment at the Workplace Act, which now includes measures against the harassment of women in public spaces beyond the workplace. As a further example of their organizational commitment to gender equality, they are undertaking multi-country research on the tangible and intangible socio-economic costs of violence against women. They are also engaging policymakers through the provision of training on gender-responsive budgeting, and are incorporating gender as a cross-cutting theme in their widely-read Annual Review of Social Development in Pakistan. Gender discrimination continues to persist and male employees of offices and factories are reluctant to accept a female as their superior, and rarely as the chief executive. – Khalida Ghaus, SPDC - Managing Director Sanjit Das / Panos
Impact around the world Policy research organizations around the world are conducting rigorous research, influencing policy, and raising awareness on a wide range of challenges relating to gender: • As part of a campaign aimed at transit users, San Salvador’s new mass transit buses are plastered with posters demanding the respectful treatment of women and girls, especially while on public transportation. This campaign was launched after research by Fundación Salvadoreña para el Desarrollo Económico y Social (FUSADES) uncovered the extent to which buses can be spaces of violence and assault for women in El Salvador. • In 2016, the Government of Bangladesh infused its Five Year Plan with findings from the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD)’s research on women’s participation in political systems. This research also addressed the abilities of women to negotiate legislative reform in the areas of education and gender-based violence. • The Indian Institute of Dalit Studies (IIDS) has carried out more than 15 research studies on gender related topics, addressing representation in local governance, labour market discrimination, violence, health inequalities and migrant women from northeast India. The Institute has constituted a specialized unit, the Gender and Social Exclusion Studies Unit, that explores the interface between gender and caste, ethnicity, and religion, as well as how this impacts access to education, health, livelihood opportunities, and political participation. Brian Sokol / Panos
Local research for impact The Think Tank Initiative is helping to strengthen 43 policy research institutions in 20 developing countries over 10 years through a mix of core funding and support for capacity development. The result: these organizations are better positioned to deliver high quality research, operate more sustainably, and engage meaningfully with key stakeholders.
thinktankinitiative.org @TTI_ITT