Gender Staffing Program at Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
For three years (1997-1999) CGO (formerly the Simmons Institute for Leadership and Change) implemented a large gender and organizational change project for an international consortium of agricultural research centers. The research centers are based in both developed and developing countries. They are supported by a membership group of 50 donor agencies, called the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), representing governments, United Nations Agencies, and private foundations from around the world.
The Gender Staffing Program provided cutting edge knowledge, information on best practices, technical expertise and consultancies, and funds to support centers interested in strengthening gender equity and organizational performance. Work focused on strengthening recruitment of highly qualified women scientists and professionals; providing executive development for women professionals; ensuring equal opportunities for advancement and career development; and developing work environments that are equally supportive of the productivity, advancement, and job satisfaction of both men and women. Action research projects aimed at the dual agenda of strengthening organizational effectiveness and gender equity were carried out with two centers in Mexico and the United States.
A 1998 review of gender staffing within the CGIAR showed that the centers had made significant progress and that the Program had a major impact. The number of women professionals and scientists increased 25% in 6 years; significantly more women are in leadership and senior management positions; improved practices for recruitment, performance, assessment, and promotion systems have been adopted by more than two- thirds of the centers; and several centers have succeeded in creating work environments that are perceived by both men and women to be more hospitable and supportive.
The Program produced 18 working papers and six newsletters; these can be ordered from the CGIAR Secretariat at the World Bank.
Selected newsletters from the project were published as briefing notes by CGO: CGO Insights No. 1 and CGO Insights No. 2.