Gender training for community groups

The “participatory gender training for community groups” aims to sensitise both farmers and field staff for gender norms, roles and relations, and helps inform, monitor and modify development project interventions. 

The activities and discussions within arose from science-based learning theories, with the intent of radically flattening predominant top-down communication structures. They are designed to be culturally grounded and regionally adaptable, while also enabling a transformative experience for participants.

Workshop participants reflect on their perceptions of sons and daughters, critically review the roles and expectations on men and women when it comes to agricultural and domestic tasks, and develop bargaining skills that can be used to address unforeseen scenarios after the workshop.

This manual can be used by any community mobiliser or NGO staff member who wants to hold a discussion with community members, or even fellow colleagues, on gender norms, roles, and relations. Furthermore, methods can be used by researchers for a gender analysis. Most of all, farmers and staff can reflect around their capabilities, value systems and existing practices to make suitable contributions and become effective partners in intervention processes.

The gender training was developed and piloted by Stephanie Leder (CGIAR Research Program on “Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)/ International Water Management Institute (IWMI)).

It was implemented within the iDE-lead BRACED-Anukulan project to all community mobilisers serving 100 villages in West Nepal.