Thais Costa
Gender Tool eLearning
We are developing an e-Learning gender module together with IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, to ensure their projects are gender inclusive from start to finish.IDH engaged Butterfly Works to develop an e-learning platform, along with interactive learning tools and videos, to facilitate the dissemination of the Gender Toolkit. This initiative aimed to enhance the organization's understanding and application of gender perspectives within its team. By fostering an inclusive learning environment, the project sought to embed gender-sensitive approaches into IDH’s operations, ensuring long-term impact and integration.
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My Role:
As the project lead, I co-facilitated design research sessions to understand the needs of different user groups and country-specific requirements. I co-developed the learning experience based on the Gender Toolkit content, prepared user testing guidelines, and conducted the user testing process. Additionally, I ensured seamless collaboration between stakeholder groups, fostering alignment and effective implementation throughout the project.
Company/ partners
Output
Design of an eLearning platform for Gender mainstreaming for IDH teams.
Location
Global teams
Date
2021
The design challenge
The project design challenge focused on addressing the gap between the theoretical understanding of gender analysis and its practical application by staff members, particularly in relation to IDH’s gender toolkit. Gender remains an abstract concept for many, with biases and assumptions hindering its discussion and understanding across diverse teams. The challenge was to make gender more tangible and relevant by providing a structured training approach.
This includes utilising tools and the eLearning platform to onboard and educate staff, emphasising the importance of gender in their specific roles and contexts. Additionally, the toolkit needed to be tailored to the unique needs of various target groups and regions, such as South Africa and Tanzania, where gender dynamics differ significantly.
A key aspect of this challenge was designing an eLearning platform that would support a cultural shift around gender, transforming it from a sensitive or overlooked issue into a priority integrated into the organisation’s operational processes. The objective was to shift the perception of gender as a “difficult” topic and cultivate a mindset where staff actively incorporate gender analysis into their work, leading to more informed, inclusive, and impactful project proposals.
The outcome
The key outcome of the project was the development of an e-learning platform for the IDH Gender Toolkit. To ensure its effectiveness, we conducted an initial design research phase, engaging representatives from various countries and sectors to identify user needs and the main challenges in applying gender principles within the organization. These insights shaped the creation of tailored learning pathways, followed by a user testing phase to refine the toolkit and training materials for diverse contexts.
By integrating user feedback, we strengthened the platform’s ability to foster a more gender-responsive approach across IDH. Additionally, Butterfly Works produced engaging learning videos and custom-made illustrations for the e-learning modules, enhancing accessibility and user engagement.
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​This collaborative and iterative process ensured that the learning experience was not only informative but also practical and relevant for real-world application.
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​Example animated videos.