Sex and Gender in AT2030 V2 funded projects Involving Primary Data

Executive Summary

The UK International Development funded AT2030 programme, which focuses on improving access to Assistive Technology (AT) across more than 40 countries, has reached over 37 million people till the end of AT2030 V2. As AT2030 enters its third phase (v3), an evaluation of its past work from 2019-2024 (v2) highlights the need for improved inclusion of sex and gender-disaggregated data in its research outputs.

Objective

The study aimed to assess how AT2030-funded projects from 2019-2024 reported on sex and gender data, exploring the gaps and barriers in disaggregation and interpretation of such data.

Methodology

Data from peer-reviewed papers, influencing papers, and case studies under AT2030 were analyzed for reporting on sex and gender. Descriptive statistics were presented in three categories: no reporting, basic reporting, and disaggregated analysis.

Key Findings

Under-reporting of Sex and Gender: 43 out of 62 peer-reviewed papers did not report on sex or gender. Only 16% of peer-reviewed papers and 10% of case studies disaggregated or interpreted data by gender.

Barriers to Access: Women reported more barriers to AT access, including stigma, social isolation, safety concerns, financial inequities, and poorer access to high-quality products. Non-binary users faced greater stigma and financial barriers than their gender-conforming counterparts.

Facilitators: Social networks, customized AT products, internet connectivity, and role models like parasport athletes were key facilitators to equitable AT use among women.

Policy Implications: Women had less access to higher-quality products and were more affected by barriers like a lack of local policies and inaccessible environments.

Conclusion

AT2030's v2 outputs reflect significant gaps in sex and gender reporting, with only a small proportion of studies disaggregating data. Moving forward, mandatory gender reporting has been introduced for AT2030 v3, but broader changes in research methodologies are recommended to address intersectional barriers and ensure inclusive participation of disabled women and gender minorities.

Background

The UK International Development funded AT2030 programme tests ‘what works’ to improve access to life-changing Assistive Technology (AT) for all. Operational in 60+ countries and working with more than 70 global delivery partners, AT2030 has reached over 64 million people to date.

AT2030 creates deep community leadership and engagement to generate new evidence & insights, answering critical research questions and developing foundational methodologies to address intersectional challenges and research and evidence gaps. However, as AT2030 moves into its third iteration (v3) of funding, with GDI Hub as the organisation at the helm of delivery, reflection on AT2030-funded projects and learnings to date is valuable. Exploration can ensure equitable implementation of the subsequent phase and meet the programme’s core objectives in delivering life-changing AT across socio-demographics.