Pastoralists and agropastoralists living in fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCAS) face unique challenges, with women and girls often experiencing heightened marginalization. Addressing women’s empowerment in these contexts was the focus of an action research initiative carried out by three locally-led projects in Nigeria and South Sudan. The projects were funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and led by SPARC, aiming to generate actionable insights while providing immediate benefits to the communities involved.
The initiative highlighted the value of locally-led action research in delivering tangible, real-world outcomes. By engaging directly with communities, the projects were able to design interventions that responded to local realities, building trust and access among both women and men. This approach proved essential in contexts where shifting entrenched gender norms requires careful negotiation and community buy-in.
Flexibility in research design emerged as a key lesson. In FCAS, volatility and unpredictability are common, so funders’ willingness to adapt progress milestones and disbursement schedules allows researchers to respond effectively to changing conditions without compromising the quality or relevance of their work.
Another important insight was the need for research proposals to clearly outline how they will gain the trust and access of both women and men. This is critical for projects aiming to influence gender norms, as inclusive engagement strengthens outcomes and ensures interventions are culturally appropriate and widely accepted.
Finally, the initiative underscored that funders should tailor expectations to the type of implementing organization. Understanding the capacities, constraints, and context of locally-led organizations can support better outcomes and more sustainable impact, reinforcing the importance of funding models that are responsive, flexible, and grounded in local knowledge.
