Empowering change through sound evidence: insights from collaborative, gender-centred applied education research in sub-Saharan Africa

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

Advancing a gender-focused approach of equity, the Gender at the Centre Initiative (GCI) stands as a strong alliance built on a firm foundation of empowering governments, local education actors and civil society to champion gender equality in and through education. Rooted in the Gender-Responsive Education Sector Planning (GRESP) model, GCI applies a holistic approach that aims to develop gender-transformative education systems by addressing barriers to gender equality on both the supply and demand sides. Working through a dynamic multi-stakeholder alliance, GCI partners with Ministries of Education, Local Education Groups, civil society organizations, and youth activists to foster a political commitment to gender-transformative education, promote gender-responsive sector planning and policies, and stimulate community dialogue on girls’ education, gender equality, and harmful gender norms.

In its role as the technical lead for GCI, IIEP-UNESCO has developed a range of initiatives that enhance countries’ capacity to shape gender-responsive education policies, strategic planning, and efficient management through the production and use of robust data and evidence. GCI’s evidence-generation activities collaboratively generate rigorous, data-supported evidence and advanced analytical tools that identify, facilitate, and advocate for the implementation of effective gender-responsive solutions to address Africa’s critical educational hurdles.

GCI’s efforts are also aimed at broadening the knowledge base for improving the quality and expanding the reach of applied, gender-focused education research on a global scale.

This formal panel will showcase GCI’s applied research agenda in the context of the transition from the pilot to the full implementation phase of the Initiative. The objectives of the session are to:

• Share results from the first years of implementation of the Gender at the Centre Initiative
• Present the Gender at the Centre Initiative applied research and development approach through two concrete examples
• Stimulate discussion on collaborative research in the field of gender equality in and through education

This proposal responds to the conference theme “The power of protest” in its fundamental adherence to a rights-based approach to equity and inclusion, particularly the equal right of every child and young person, regardless of gender, to a high-quality and equitable education. The Gender at the Centre Initiative asserts in its mandate the absolute importance of hardwiring gender equality into all education policies and plans. This requires commitment, advocacy, patience, creativity, and at times, protest in order to hold accountable those responsible for fulfilling children and young people’s right to education.
Our presentations will respond specifically to the sub-theme question ‘In what ways can education be a catalyst for change?’ through our call for gender transformative action. The role of education in keeping alive a sense of agency and possibility for future activist work also resonates with our support for global and national movements which hold governments accountable to protect and promote the equal right to education.

Three presentations are envisioned:
• The first, by IIEP’s GCI Programme Lead Fabricia Devignes, will introduce GCI’s approach, achievements, and lessons learnt after three years of implementation. Working closely with government and other stakeholders in 8 focus countries has highlighted the importance of addressing gaps within key institutions and policies and investing in stakeholders’ capacity at multiple levels and in diverse roles to achieve sustainable change. GCI has piloted targeted technical assistance, multi-country online training, the initiation of communities of practice as well as strategic applied research and development. The latter will be a key focus of this panel and the R&D workstream will be presented as a crucial element in strengthening governments’ capacity to conceptualise and carry out their own R&D in response to their specific contextual challenges. The objective of this workstream is to contribute to the generation of evidence, accompanying governments in the design and implementation of policy strategies that have the potential to combat norms and practices which hinder inclusive quality education for all.

• The second presentation will be focused on GCI’s “Women in Learning Leadership (WiLL)” programme. Numerous studies have shown that school leaders’ management practices play a crucial role in learning. Furthermore, greater representation of women at all levels of education decision-making has a proven impact on reducing gender gaps in education. Our research suggests that in some contexts, student outcomes rise when schools are female-led. Carolina Alban Conto, IIEP Research and Development Manager, will present findings of a multicountry study on French-speaking Africa developed by IIEP-UNESCO and lessons learnt from country activities in Benin and Madagascar.

• The third presentation, by Tuamanaia Foimapafisi, Research and Development Specialist at IIEP-UNESCO, will introduce a new workstream recently launched by GCI: “Addressing school failure through data systems, policies, and early prevention tools. An encouraging pathway towards improved girls’ education in sub-Saharan Africa”. The growing concern around out-of-school children in sub-Saharan Africa is at odds with the scant attention paid to the phenomenon of school drop-out as a gradual process, with relatively few interventions proposing targeted responses to the specific factors leading to it. Currently underway in three countries (Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone), this project seeks to lay the groundwork for the development of empirical knowledge and tools for an evidence-based design of a strategy to adapt and implement Early Warning Systems effectively, equitably, and sustainably.

Attendees will be invited to ask questions and comment on the relevance and coherence of GCI’s approach and the two research strands presented within the overall GCI mission of mainstreaming gender equity in and through education.

The discussant, Susan Grant Lewis, will bring her own wealth of experience in research and practice within the field of gender equality in education.

Sub Unit

• General Pool

Chair

• Martin Benavides, IIEP-UNESCO

Individual Presentations

• Achieving Gender Equality in and through Education: The Gender at the Centre Initiative Transition from Pilot to Targeted Strategic Approach - Fabricia Devignes, UNESCO IIEP

• Women in Learning Leadership (WiLL): Unpacking Women’s School Management and Leadership Practices to Enhance Learning - Carolina Alban, UNESCO IIEP

• Addressing school failure through data systems, policy analysis, and early prevention tools. An encouraging pathway for girls’ education in sub-Saharan Africa - Tuamanaia Foimapafisi, PDK UNESCO IIEP; Carolina Alban, UNESCO IIEP

Discussant

• Suzanne Grant Lewis, Education.org