Gender, a priority driver in the ODA

Professor Martin Broadley, Professor of Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Science, Senior Research Fellow (Agriculture & Food Systems) in the Research and Evidence Division of the Department for International Development (DFID), UK

Professor Broadley’s research seeks to increase the understanding of mineral nutrient dynamics in agriculture and food systems. His work includes collaborations with soil and crop scientists, human/animal nutritionists, and social scientists, and the development of long-term research and training partnerships with higher education and government research institutes in sub-Saharan Africa. The GeoNutrition project, funded through the GCRF Foundation Awards for Global Agriculture and Food Systems Research, was a key part of a longer-term vision to develop an Agriculture-to-Nutrition framework whose ultimate impact is to help to reduce mineral micro-nutrient deficiencies in Sub-Saharan Africa, thereby improving human health and well-being Pathways. One of the outcomes is an investment of £5M from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) for a substantial GeoNutrition research project with the aim of supporting policies to reduce micro-nutrient deficiencies by the Governments of Ethiopia, Malawi, and the wider region. EDI components to his research in Ethiopia and Pakistan, include the assessment of socio-culturally and economically related risks for women relating to micronutrition deficiency, and investigations into how gender affects purchasing choices. He expects that gender-related international research projects will be at a vantage point given that gender is a priority driver in the ODA.

Professor Broadley highlighted that ODA is a key area which is particularly well placed for thought leadership on international development in the Global South. Some of the key questions that this thought leadership would address are: What support is needed by the countries receiving ODA? How can UoN academics translate research projects and theories of change into effective and equitable partnership building and ensure inclusion? What ODA and EDI training ought UoN to be providing to support its researchers to ensure optimal policy impact of research project? Posing and seeking answers to those questions would also support the internationalisation agenda of UoN.