Throughout this series, we’ve delved into some of the challenges associated with advancing systemic change around gender, particularly when it comes to the research grant cycle. The Gender Equality and Inclusivity (GEI) Project reveals that with collaboration and passion, gender inequality can be addressed using self-reflexive and evidence-based approaches. 

The last of the 13 councils to be featured is Botswana, a country that is committed to gender equality, inclusivity, and intersectionality (GEII) with the aim of achieving prosperity for all. Tirelo Ramasedi, who currently serves as the Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme Coordinator within Morupule Coal Mine, Botswana’s largest coal operation, and collaborator of the GEII team in Botswana, asserts “The world needs science and science needs women.” 

Ramasedi explains the importance of research, science, and technology in the country, not only to uplift the lives of citizens, but to enable the country to be competitive as part of the global community. 

However, Ramasedi admits that while Botswana has done significantly well in ensuring the legal rights of men and women in terms of gender equality, there has been reform fatigue over the years. This project aims to initiate capacity-building workshops for women and girls to promote their interest in STEM. They also want to develop links between schools and industry, as well as between school children and researchers/scientists through a mentorship programme. 

The Botswana team represented by the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge, and Technology aim to facilitate researchers through funding provisions and mainstreaming GEII. They hope to disseminate GEII policies and processes, particularly in disadvantaged communities, in order to achieve a knowledge-based economy by 2036. Botswana is a country committed to gender equality and sees gender representation as fundamental to progress. 

As the GEI Project reaches its conclusion, we are excited to reveal the final GEII Policy Framework that can be used to integrate GEII into the grant-making cycle.

Click here to find out more about the project.  

Funding for implementing GEII activities was provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the National Research Foundation, South Africa.