Assessing the Use and Impact of GenderUp: Lessons for Gender-Responsive Innovation Design and Scaling

Yami, Mastewal; McGuire, Erin; Enokenwa Baa, Ojongetakah; Nortje, Karen

Assessing the Use and Impact of GenderUp: Lessons for Gender-Responsive Innovation Design and Scaling

Autores

Yami, Mastewal

McGuire, Erin

Enokenwa Baa, Ojongetakah

Nortje, Karen

Editor

International Water Management Institute

Descripción

The GenderUp tool was developed by Responsible Innovation in collaboration with CGIAR and partners as a responsible scaling method designed to support inclusive and responsible innovation strategies in agri-food systems. The tool has been used over time to support project teams anticipate risks, address power dynamics, and adapt scaling approaches to ensure equitable and socially responsible outcomes. This evaluation report was conducted under the CGIAR Scaling for Impact (S4I) Program, and it assesses GenderUp’s use, reach, outcomes, and challenges. The tool has been applied and used in over 20+ countries across 38 diverse organizations and institutions resulting in over 100 trained facilitators. Evidence suggests strong uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa where GenderUp has been used by both women (60%) and men (40%). The evaluation highlights that GenderUp has i) relevance for GESI tools users (43%) and or when combined with scaling activities ii) been integrated into different project stages by combining other tools such as biophysical modelling (adaptability) iii) increased capacity for designing gender-responsive interventions, influenced budget allocations toward gender-related activities (impact). These high-level insights have shifted mindsets toward inclusion, participatory research and institutional practices as evidenced by documented cases in this report. The tool remains a valuable reflective and capacity building tool for enhancing responsible scaling practices. Under the S4I program, this tool will be applied as a co-design instrument for innovation uptake with stronger institutional integration and systematic tracking of outcomes.