MEST Launched Capacity-Building Workshop on Bridging Gender Gaps in Research and Evaluation
The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), through its Research Statistics and Information Management (RSIM) Directorate, commenced a two-day capacity-building workshop in Accra aimed at addressing gender disparities in research and evaluation.
The workshop, which was held under the theme “Equistem: Bridging Gender Gaps in Research and Evaluation,” took place from Tuesday, 11th March 2025, to Wednesday, 12th March 2025. It brought together key stakeholders, researchers, policymakers, and gender advocates to discuss challenges and explore innovative strategies to promote gender inclusivity in scientific research and evaluation processes.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of RSIM at MEST, Mr. Cephas Adjei Mensah, officially launched the workshop on behalf of the Honorable Minister. In his address, Mr. Mensah emphasized the critical importance of ensuring that both men and women had equal access to opportunities, resources, and platforms for advancing research and evaluation. He noted that addressing gender gaps in these areas was essential for building an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable scientific community that reflected the diversity of society.
The workshop featured a series of presentations, discussions, and interactive sessions, focusing on identifying the key barriers women faced in research, evaluation, and scientific innovation. Attendees also explored best practices and successful case studies from both local and international perspectives to implement gender-sensitive research methodologies and foster a more inclusive research environment.
Day 2 of the Capacity-Building Workshop continued the focus on addressing gender disparities in research and evaluation, providing participants with further opportunities to engage in collaborative problem-solving and capacity-building activities. Day 2 deepened the discussions on how to implement and sustain gender-inclusive research practices, aiming for impactful and lasting change.
The workshop aimed to create a space for networking, sharing knowledge, and empowering participants with the tools to contribute to reducing gender disparities in research and evaluation. By the end of the workshop, MEST hoped to have laid the groundwork for a national strategy that would embed gender equality into Ghana’s scientific and research landscape, ultimately driving more inclusive and impactful innovations across all sectors.
This initiative formed part of MEST’s broader commitment to ensuring that gender equity remained at the heart of its policies and programs, advancing both scientific excellence and social justice in Ghana.