Mainstreaming Gender in the Research Grant Process

• Print

"An equal world is an enabled and empowered world” goes the 2020 theme of International Women’s Day. These were the inspiring words which aptly ended the presentation of Ms. Maricar Rovira-Chan, the Gender and Development (GAD) consultant tapped by the DOST-National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP) for the two half day learning sessions on the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG). The online training held on 8 and 12 October 2020 via Zoom was attended by 25 female and 25 male employees, including the members of the NRCP GAD Focal Point System (GFPS).

The training poster (left photo) and the NRCP management and staff led by Exec. Director Dr. Marieta Bañez-Sumagaysay (top, middle frame) during the online training (right photo).

The learning and development activity refreshed the knowledge of all NRCP employees about the fundamentals of the HGDG, a gender analysis tool used in integrating gender perspectives in development programs and projects among government agencies, donor organizations, and other stakeholders. The participants also learned how to use the GAD Checklist and how to translate results of the HGDG in the GAD Plan and Budget (GPB). The use of GAD Checklist ensures that the 10 core elements of a gender-responsive program design are observed.

The good news for research grant-giving bodies like NRCP is that it can use the funding facility checklist in attributing the budget of its Grants-In-Aid (GIA) program in the GPB. This step will make it more efficient for the Council to integrate gender in its research grant process. However, while GIA program guidelines may be assessed using the funding facility checklist, sector-specific GAD checklist will still apply for projects that will be submitted to the Council for GIA funding. It is also important to pay attention to the elements where the proposed program or project has rated low. To address this, the program or project design should be revised and the mitigating strategies to increase the GAD score should be included in the GPB. The GAD consultant also reminded that attribution is only applicable to program and projects and not activities.

The NRCP has been implementing the HGDG in the review of project proposals and monitoring of project implementation. This initiative of the Council is part of gender mainstreaming in its processes pursuant to the Republic Act No. 9710 otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women (MCW).

Details

Written by Cherry Gonzales

Published: 06 October 2020

Hits: 4012