This toolkit was developed in an attempt to bridge persistent gender gaps in tertiary education institutions in Africa. Focus is on staff recruitment, student welfare, curriculum development and the general institutional culture. Aimed at academic leaders, managers, staff and students, the toolkit comprises a literature review and ten modules on the following topics:
- forming policies and strategies
- gender sensitisation of tertiary institutions: the role of human resources development and management
- mainstreaming gender in the curriculum
- research and gender sensitive methods
- faculty and support programmes
- student access and retention
- gender violence and sexual harassment
- disaggregated data
- resource mobilisation for gender equity.
Each module provides practical guidelines on how to initiate a gender-mainstreaming programme and establish helpful processes to achieve the expected outcomes. Throughout, the guide offers activities to stimulate thinking and discussion about how gender inequities are institutionalised in each setting, and draws on examples of good practice from experience in various African countries.
The guide concludes with a description of initiatives taken in African higher education institutions and references to African gender mainstreaming resources.