13 African countries are collaborating as part of the Gender Equality and Inclusivity (GEI) Project. They aim to broadly examine and address intersectional gender and equity challenges in the research funding grant cycle, while also looking at their individual contexts. For example, in Côte d’Ivoire, there’s a low representation of women in STEM, particularly when it comes to funding (30% women vs. 70% men). 

Through the Fund for Science, Technology and Innovation (FONSTI), they aim to change the scientific research ecosystem to promote inclusion. Dr Annette Ouattara, from FONSTI, explains that when they’ve launched calls for submissions, very few women apply, so they’ve initiated a set of activities to help women participate at the same level as men. 

They’re establishing a mentorship system for women and young girls to ensure consistent support for their development. They’re also focusing on capacity-building through a workshop programme to incorporate gender and inclusivity dimensions in the design, execution, and valorisation of research projects and results. 

FONSTI has developed an institutional policy that they’re in the process of finalising in their efforts to increase women-led projects and reduce the gender gap in access to research funding. 

Ouattara says that for the future, they’re identifying institutions to develop relationships to secure support for women’s empowerment as well as support for minorities and people with disabilities. They want everyone in Côte d’Ivoire to help researchers and innovators understand the importance of gender equality, inclusion, and intersectionality (GEII) and having equal representation of women in STEM. 

FONSTI believes in the capacity of women and that to achieve national development, everyone has a part to play, particularly in science. 

This series of posts highlights the work of the GEI Project – to find out more about the project, click here. 

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