GenderUp
A conversational method that supports teams in responsible innovation and scaling
What Is GenderUp?
GenderUp is a conversation-based training method designed to help innovation teams strengthen the inclusivity and equity of their scaling strategies. Rather than focusing only on adoption or uptake, GenderUp helps teams examine who benefits from innovation, who may be excluded, and why — and what can be done about it.
Developed by Responsible Innovations and refined through global application, GenderUp supports teams working across agriculture and food systems who want to scale responsibly, not just efficiently.
What Makes GenderUp Different
Many scaling approaches focus on technical or market barriers. GenderUp adds a critical layer by helping teams surface social dynamics — including gender and intersectional differences — that shape how innovations are experienced in practice.
Through guided discussion and structured reflection, teams explore how assumptions, roles, access, and decision-making affect outcomes. This process leads to more intentional strategies that reduce unintended harm and expand positive impact.
How GenderUp Works
GenderUp workshops are facilitated, interactive sessions that bring teams together to critically examine their innovation and its scaling pathway. Participants work through a series of structured conversations that help them:
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Clarify who the innovation is designed to serve
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Identify groups who may face barriers to benefiting
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Reflect on trade-offs that emerge as scaling progresses
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Co-develop actions that strengthen equity and inclusion
The outcome is not a checklist, but a revised scaling strategy that is more responsive to real-world complexity.
Who GenderUp Is For
GenderUp is used by innovation teams, development organizations, and practitioners who are preparing to scale — or who want to reassess an existing scaling strategy. It is particularly valuable for teams working in diverse contexts where social dynamics influence access, adoption, and long-term impact.
GenderUp is delivered by a global network of trained facilitators, with opportunities to train as a facilitator through the RI Academy. Teams typically engage with GenderUp by participating in a facilitated workshop, while practitioners may choose to train as facilitators supporting others through the process.
“I have gained more [information] about gender inequalities in the use of innovations where the women farmers are less likely to adopt new technologies compared to men farmers and the agricultural innovations can transform gender relations in negative and positive ways.”
GenderUp Workshops
GenderUp training workshops are designed for teams working to scale innovations responsibly and inclusively. Through facilitated discussion and practical exercises, participants explore how gender and social dynamics influence who benefits from innovation—and develop strategies to improve equitable impact.
GenderUp with the RI Academy
GenderUp is delivered through the RI Academy as its flagship training offering. Organizations and practitioners can engage with GenderUp through facilitated workshops or explore opportunities to train as facilitators as part of the Academy’s broader capacity-building work.
The GenderUp Process
Defining the Scaling Ambition
Teams begin by clarifying their current scaling strategy and identifying where adjustments may be needed as scaling progresses.
Exploring Relevant Social Dimensions
Participants examine social factors—such as wealth, status, age, religion, and other contextual dynamics—that shape how innovations are accessed and experienced within a given setting.
Understanding Intersectionality
Teams explore how social dimensions intersect, helping them recognize which groups may be prioritized or excluded through existing strategies and why.
Mitigating Negative Impacts
With these insights, teams revisit their original scaling approach and reconsider activities that may unintentionally create barriers or inequitable outcomes.
Integrating GenderUp
Finally, teams discuss how to incorporate a more inclusive scaling strategy into project plans, ensuring that lessons from the process translate into concrete action.
Participant Experience
Through GenderUp, teams move beyond surface-level inclusion to critically examine how their innovation will function as it scales. Participants leave with a clearer understanding of who their innovation reaches, where barriers may exist, and how decisions made during scaling shape long-term outcomes.
Rather than producing a fixed set of answers, GenderUp supports teams in developing a revised scaling strategy—one that is grounded in real-world complexity and better aligned with equity and inclusion goals.
As a workshop participant, you can expect an engaging, discussion-led session where facilitators guide your team to examine social dimensions, intersectionality, and barriers. The goal is to collaboratively evolve your existing scaling strategy into one that equitably benefits all intended users.
Become a Facilitator
GenderUp workshops are delivered by a global network of trained facilitators with experience across food and agricultural systems. Facilitators guide teams through the process using structured dialogue and applied reflection.
Practitioners interested in supporting others through GenderUp can train as facilitators through the RI Academy, joining a growing community committed to responsible and inclusive innovation.
GenderUp is delivered by trained facilitators. Those committed to social inclusion and responsible scaling may choose to become certified facilitators through RI Academy’s training offerings, enabling them to guide teams independently and support inclusive innovation processes.
Contributors
GenderUp was developed and refined through collaboration with researchers, practitioners, and facilitators working across diverse regional and institutional contexts. Contributors include members of the RI Expert Network and partners from universities, research institutions, and development organizations worldwide.
This collective approach ensures GenderUp remains grounded in evidence while being responsive to the realities teams face as innovations scale.
Developed through collaboration with CGIAR’s RTB program, NWO’s Senior Expert Programme, and a global group of researchers and practitioners including Wageningen University, UCDavis, IITA, and more, GenderUp builds on academic and field experience from experts around the world.
“What I appreciated the most about the GenderUp process was that we received actionable strategies to include people from different social groups in using our innovation. It also made me think deeply about how important small inclusion activities are in making our innovation more scalable in the future.”
Interested in becoming a facilitator or participating in a GenderUp workshop?
If you have any questions or would like to express interest in either becoming a facilitator or participating in a GenderUp workshop, please fill out the below form with more detailed information.
GenderUp Reports
& Case Studies
GenderUp is supported by research, tools, and case-based learning developed by Responsible Innovations and its partners. These resources provide additional context and examples of how GenderUp has been applied across different settings.
Diversification in East & Southern Africa
Explore the Ukama Ustawi Initiative’s Work Package 5 training workshop on inclusive and responsible scaling of agricultural innovations using the GenderUp methodology.
Gender (Up-Date)
This report outlines GenderUp’s progress towards intended outcomes – practical applications, method improvements, institutionalizing GenderUp principles, and research spin-offs.
Mechanized CA Innovation Packages: Zimbabwe Case Study
Explore the Ukama Ustawi Initiative’s Work Package 5 GenderUp workshop that engaged several stakeholders to scale the use of mechanized conservation agriculture with an inclusive lens.
Agroecology Initiative: Tunisia Case Study
This report aims to highlight discussions from the Gender-Up workshop on implementing the Controlled Designation of Origin (AOC) for olive oil in the El Kef region.