Abstract
Background: This paper present findings on current strategies utilised within selected Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training and Science in Africa’ (DELTAS Africa) consortia to promote gender equitable scientific career progression for researchers, as well as participants’ recommendations for change. Findings are drawn from a wider research study nested within this health-based scientific research capacity strengthening initiative that was aimed at gaining an in-depth understanding of the barriers and enablers of gender equitable scientific career progression for researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We adopted an exploratory qualitative cross-sectional study design. The main method of data collection was in-depth interviews (IDIs) with trainees/research fellows at various career stages affiliated to three purposively selected DELTAS Africa Research Consortia. In addition, key informant interviews (KIIs) with consortia research leaders/directors, co-investigators, and management team were also conducted to corroborate information gathered from the IDIs, and to provide additional insights on the enabling factors/actions and policy processes that were currently in place or proposed to enhance gender equitable career progression. In total, fifty-eight IDIs (32 female and 26 male) and twenty KIIs (4 female and 16 male) were conducted. Interviews were carried out between May and December 2018 in English. Data were analysed inductively based on emergent themes, and aligned to the developed integrated conceptual framework. Results: Three overarching themes were identified. First: micro level efforts - individual coping mechanisms and familial level support. Second: Meso level efforts -existing enabling mechanisms at the institutional level. Third: proposed solutions for positive change towards enhancing gender equitable career progression at micro, meso and macro levels. Conclusions: These findings have implications for future research capacity strengthening programming, including DELTAS Africa II initiative (2021-2025); they provide valuable insights on potential strategies and actions aiming to narrow gender inequities in scientific career progression in the context of sub-Saharan African research institutions.
Highlights
Gender inequitable scientific career progression is a global problem (The Royal Society, 2011), which has been extensively investigated in the global north, with existing literature providing little comparative evidence from the global south (Campion & Shrum, 2004)
Key informant interviews (KIIs) with consortia research leaders/directors, co-investigators, and management team were conducted to corroborate information gathered from the in-depth interviews (IDIs), and to provide additional insights on the enabling factors/actions and policy processes that were currently in place or proposed to enhance gender equitable career progression
The findings reported in this paper illustrate a range of efforts made by the individual researchers themselves alongside family support and those of the DELTAS Africa partner institutions and consortia towards enhancing gender equitable scientific progression
Summary
Gender inequitable scientific career progression is a global problem (The Royal Society, 2011), which has been extensively investigated in the global north, with existing literature providing little comparative evidence from the global south (Campion & Shrum, 2004). We present and discuss findings on support mechanisms and coping strategies utilised by women and men researchers, existing enabling mechanisms at institutional level for enhancing gender equitable career progression, and participants’ own recommendations for positive change in policy and practice These findings could be used by institutional and consortia research leaders, principal investigators, and funders to inform programme planning for DELTAS II (2021–2025), and related research capacity strengthening initiatives, as they provide valuable insights on what strategies and actions they could tap on and implement in narrowing barriers to gender equitable scientific career progression. Reviewer Status AWAITING PEER REVIEW Any reports and responses or comments on the article can be found at the end of the article
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