AfriTrade Consulting Group was commissioned by the Africa Center for Health Systems and Gender Justice to design and develop a comprehensive scorecard assessing the representation and influence of women’s voices in health research and development processes across relevant institutions and initiatives. This timely assignment addressed persistent gender inequities in health innovation ecosystems, where women, despite being primary users and beneficiaries of health interventions, are often underrepresented in priority-setting, funding decisions, clinical trials, and knowledge production.
Using a rigorous, evidence-based approach, we developed a scorecard that incorporated measurable indicators of participation, leadership, inclusive decision-making, and the integration of gender perspectives into research design and outputs. Extensive desk reviews informed the scorecard with global and regional best practices, including frameworks from WHO and UN Women. These were combined with targeted stakeholder consultations with researchers, policymakers, civil society organizations, and gender advocates to ensure contextual relevance and practical applicability.
The development process included establishing transparent scoring methodologies, weighted criteria, and user-friendly analytical tools that enable institutions to self-assess, benchmark performance, and identify actionable improvement pathways. We facilitated validation workshops to refine the tool and ensure alignment with the principles of gender-responsive policymaking and institutional accountability. The final scorecard serves as a powerful advocacy tool to drive systemic reforms, enhance accountability in health research governance, and promote more equitable and effective health outcomes.
This engagement further deepened our technical expertise in gender analysis, participatory tool design, and evidence-based advocacy, underscoring the firm’s dedication to mainstreaming gender and social inclusion across policy, research, and development landscapes in Africa. By delivering an innovative accountability resource, we continue to support transformative efforts toward gender justice in health systems strengthening.
