Cornell trains gender-responsive researchers in Africa

From left, Maria Nassuna-Musoke, Peace Musiimenta and Margaret Mangheni, all from Makerere University, look at wheat growing in the Ithaca Community Gardens with Devon Jenkins, GREAT project support specialist in IP-CALS, during a recent visit to Cornell. Gender matters most to the 13 teams of two to three researchers each from 10 African countries who will participate in training on "Gender Responsive Cereal Grains Breeding" at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, Aug. In the joint Cornell and Makerere University project Gender-responsive Researchers Equipped for Agricultural Transformation (GREAT), researchers will learn how to identify the needs of women and men when setting priorities, implementing projects, and measuring and communicating project outcomes. They will also broaden their understanding of the integral role of gender in their work as scientists and agricultural development professionals. "In sub-Saharan Africa, the livelihoods and food security of a majority of people, especially in rural areas, depend to some extent on cereal and grain crops," said Margaret Mangheni, associate professor at Makerere University, who leads the project at Makerere. "GREAT training will improve the outcomes of agricultural research for smallholder women farmers, entrepreneurs and farmer organizations across SSA." "Our goal is for agricultural researchers working across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by considering gender, and prioritizing gender equality goals in their work," said Hale Ann Tufan, adjunct professor with International Programs in Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, who leads the project team.