This poster was presented by Lone Badstue (MAIZE / WHEAT / CIMMYT) for the pre-Annual Scientific Conference meeting organized for the CGIAR research program gender research coordinators on 4 December. The annual scientific conference of the CGIAR collaborative platform for gender research took place on 5-6 December 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Platform is hosted (by KIT Royal Tropical Institute). Read more: http://gender.cgiar.org/gender_events/annual-scientific-conference-capacity-development-workshop-cgiar-collaborative-platform-gender-research/

1. Led by CIMMYT
with main partner IITA
Introduction
Farming takes place in the midst of complex social relationships, at household level, group and
community level, market system level and the wider society (Figure 1). Gender is a key structuring
element in this context, often intersecting with other social identities such as age, caste and ethnicity,
and enabling or constraining opportunities and outcomes differently, for different social groups.
Power relations at each of these levels affect the extent to which women, and men, can access, use
and benefit from innovations in agriculture. MAIZE recognizes that in order to design and undertake
agricultural R4D that is both technically and socially robust, it is necessary to understand and take
into account how agri-food systems operate across different social enabling environments.
MAIZE Phase II aims to consolidate the systematic application of quantitative and qualitative gender
and social research methods in the context of maize agri-food system (AFS) research. Priority areas
for gender research under Phase II include: (i) technology development, including on trait
preferences, e.g., related to labor- or input-saving, risk reduction, and nutrition and processing
qualities; and (ii) technology diffusion and adoption, including access to information, bargaining and
decision-making capacity, favorable and inclusive enabling environments, and value chains.
The integration of gender in MAIZE is conceived as a process of continual improvement, in which
research design and practice, and research management frameworks and procedures are designed
to complement and reinforce each other. The MAIZE Gender Strategy follows a two-pronged
approach: (1) integrative gender research using gender analysis as part of other technical research,
e.g., socioeconomic research, maize improvement or crop management; and (2) strategic gender
research to further expand the knowledge base concerning gender specifically in relation to maize-
based AFS and livelihoods. Both of these avenues contribute to inform and deepen the relevance of
other MAIZE research themes, as well as overall CRP priority setting and targeting, in order to
enhance the impact of maize agri-food systems R4D.
Figure 1: Gender amidst complex social relationships.
Flagship gender
objectives Selected research questions
FP1: Enhancing MAIZE’s R4D
strategy for impact
To strengthen the evidence base
on gender in maize-based
systems and livelihoods; and
ensure that foresight and
targeting, adoption and impact
studies, as well as maize-related
value chain development
interventions, are informed by a
gender and social inclusion
perspective.
• How do gender relations and access to resources influence
adoption of new maize technologies by women and men of different
age groups? And how does the introduction of new technologies
influence gender relations?
• What is the capacity for gender-responsive technology generation
and dissemination of R&D partners, including advisory services,
input and service providers, and seed enterprises?
• What are the gendered impacts of maize R4D, who benefits, and
how?
FP2: Novel diversity and tools
for increasing genetic gain
To ensure that perspectives of
male and female end users are
taken into account in up-stream
targeting and decision making.
• How can downstream gender research and analysis of the
technology development-deployment continuum guide upstream
targeting and decision making?
• How can we ensure that efforts to increase genetic gain benefit
both men and women maize farmers and consumers in particular
contexts?
FP3: Stress tolerant and
nutritious maize
To document and understand
gender-differentiated preferences
for specific traits in maize
germplasm, and the factors that
influence them, as well as the
implications hereof in relation to
priority setting and targeting of
maize breeding strategies.
• What are the needs, preferences and constraints of men and
women maize farmers with regards to maize varietal traits? Are
these similar or different for men and women farmers? To what
extent are these considered in maize variety development?
• What shapes men and women farmers’ ability to access, use and
benefit from improved maize varieties?
• How do small- and medium-size seed companies and agro-dealers
address gender as a customer attribute? What constraints are
faced by agro-dealers and by women farmers?
FP4: Sustainable
intensification of maize-based
agri-food systems for
improved smallholder
livelihoods
To ensure that sustainable
intensification of maize-based
systems and livelihoods take
gender and social disparities into
account and deliver positive
benefits to both men and women
of different social groups.
• What are the factors underlying the differences in male and female
maize farmers’ technology adoption and productivity? And how can
this information be used to design gender-positive interventions?
• What types of institutional arrangements and business models can
enhance the ability of poor women farmers, youth and marginalized
groups to access and benefit from more efficient and labor-saving
technologies?
• How do social and gender norms constrain/enhance individuals’
ability to engage in agricultural innovation processes? And what are
effective measures to address barriers to social inclusion in
technology development and dissemination?
Key gender concepts
The concepts underlying WHEAT’s gender agenda include:
• Gender equality entails the concept that all human beings are free to
develop their personal abilities and make choices without the limitations set
by stereotypes, rigid gender roles or prejudices. Gender equality means
that the different behaviors, aspirations and the needs of women and men
are considered, valued and favored equally. It does not mean that women
and men have to become the same, but that their rights, responsibilities and
opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female.
• Empowerment implies people – both women and men – taking control over
their lives by setting their own agendas, gaining skills (or having their own
skills and knowledge recognized), increasing their self-confidence, solving
problems and developing self-reliance. It is both a process and an outcome.
• Agency refers to the capacity to make strategic life decisions and act upon
them.
• Gender-transformative approaches actively strive to examine, question
and change rigid gender norms and the imbalance of power as a means of
achieving development goals as well as meeting gender equity objectives.
• Gender-responsive (or -aware) approaches are designed to meet both
women’s and men’s needs.
The MAIZE gender strategy impact logic
Contribution towards a CGIAR-wide gender
research framework
Thematic: gender and social dimensions of innovation processes in maize-based AFS, with particular
emphasis on sustainable intensification, maize improvement and seed sector development; strong
focus on institutions as barriers to/enablers of gender equality
Approach: continual improvement, mixed methods, collaboration, dialogue
Process: building evidence and capacity for improved outcomes and impact
NGOs, research
institutes, donors,
govt.
Market system
Group & community
Adopting
household
Adopting
woman or man
Gender Equality and Social
Inclusion in MAIZE
Sustainable intensification
frameworks with social
equity and gender analysis
integrated
Research Outputs Research Outcomes Impact
Framework for gender-
responsive maize seed
sector development
Tools and approaches for
gender-responsive value-
chain development
Gender-sensitive guidelines
re: variety and other
technology promotion; and
farmer decision support
information
Innovative, gender-
responsive crop and farm
management practices
Trait pipelines for R4D
addressing characteristics of
special importance to women
Sex-disaggregated data sets
re: farmer preferences,
technology adoption, crop
management, etc.
Gender-differentiated maize
trait preferences
documented and informing
MAIZE breeding strategies
Sensitization of NARS and
local seed enterprises re:
gender in varietal
development and promotion
Peer-reviewed articles,
policy briefs and tools for
gender-responsive maize
R4D
MAIZE research priority
setting and targeting
informed by gender research
and analysis
Increase yields and reduced
vulnerability of female and
male maize farmers through
increased gender equality and
adoption of appropriate, high
quality maize seed and
improved management
practices, developed with
special consideration of their
needs and preferences
Increased gender
responsiveness of maize R&D
partners reflected in gender-
responsive business models
and practices; and inclusive
maize-related value chains
and institutional arrangements
that increase gender and
social equity in the distribution
of benefits from sustainable
intensification and increased
market integration
Improved livelihoods of
smallholder families due to
improved equality of
opportunity and outcomes
between women and men
maize farmers