A Gendered trend in Scientific and Technological Research among the Developing Countries

Abstract

The United Nations Development Programme -UNDP- (2005) reported a strong relationship between gender disparity and poverty in Africa. This report corroborates Social Institutions and Gender Index -SIGI- (2012) on a widespread accord around the world that national development, growth and poverty reduction has pre-requisite in gender equality. Technological learning and innovation are vital for economic growth and development and have been ascertained as basic and determinant of long-term improvements in income and socio-economic development among developing countries. Building a favorable environment where incentives promote transactions that transfer technology, many developing countries have authorized national policies and supported international and multilateral agreements to stimulate technology transfer. However, technological convergence and development are still primitive among the developing countries with only a few being successful in building strong science, technology, and innovation capabilities. One of the major reasons of low technological innovation in the developing countries could be traced to persistent gender disparity. UNESCO (2009) revealed that the average share of women in technological research is 33% in Africa and 28% in sub-Saharan Africa, a region where Nigeria belongs. This study reviewed some gendered historical reports on scientific and technological research among the developing countries.