Gender-based analysis plus

Section 1: institutional GBA Plus governance and capacity

Governance

Polar Knowledge Canada applies a GBA Plus lens to decision-making and prioritizes an approach that focuses on Inuit employment and procurement to support implementation of Polar Knowledge Canada's mandate and its obligations under Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement.

Additionally, Polar Knowledge Canada applies a GBA Plus lens to all Treasury Board Submissions, budget submissions, Cabinet documents, and in policy and program architecture and implementation.

Capacity

Polar Knowledge Canada collects disaggregated data on projects supported by its Transfer Payment Programs. The department collects information from funding recipients through surveys, which helps Polar Knowledge Canada to understand the impacts and results of its funding. The gender disaggregated data collected through these surveys includes reported instances of participation in projects by the following groups: northern-based individuals; Indigenous Peoples; early career researchers; technicians and support staff; and youth.

With respect to Polar Knowledge Canada’s GBA Plus data collection and reporting, it is important to understand that the department is unable to track individual participants. Rather, Polar Knowledge Canada tracks instances of participation, as reported by funding recipients in their project surveys.

Human resources (full-time equivalents) dedicated to GBA Plus

Polar Knowledge Canada does not have any employees dedicated to GBA Plus. This means there are no full-time equivalents (FTEs) in our Agency engaged in activities such as reviewing GBA Plus content, organizing training or awareness events, acting as a GBA Plus Champion or Focal Point, or conducting related research. However, we have employees who would undertake this task on an as-needed basis. When Polar Knowledge Canada does a review of its Grant and Contribution recipients, other employment equity, diversity and inclusion elements are considered.

 

Section 2: gender and diversity impacts, by program

Core responsibility: Polar Science and Knowledge

Program name: Knowledge Management and Engagement

Program goals: This program coordinates funded research and in-kind support to enhance and address knowledge gaps in northern and Indigenous communities. The program establishes systems for capturing and sharing collective knowledge on regional, rural information through collaboration, and engagement activities with northern stakeholders.

Target population: Northern-based individuals, Indigenous Peoples, Early Career Researchers, Technicians/Support Staff, and youth  

Distribution of benefits

	Group
By gender	Third group: broadly gender-balanced
By age group	First group: primarily benefits youth, children or future generations

Specific demographic group outcomes

Northern communities

Research and related activities in the Polar Regions incur additional logistical, staffing and travel cost compared to the south. Since northern-based organizations often have limited staffing and knowledge towards grant writing, Knowledge Management and Engagement program provides a streamlined application process for grants to northern-based organizations for research activities and other initiatives. The streamlined grant application process removes barrier by northern organizations to access grant funding. Regional distribution for Knowledge Management and Engagement program grants across Polar Knowledge Canada’s mandate area is improving, but more focus is needed towards Yukon and Nunatsiavut.

Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous and traditional knowledge across the north is disappearing as Elders and Knowledge Keepers are passing away. Knowledge Management and Engagement provides grants to research institutions and northern-based Indigenous organizations to conduct Indigenous Knowledge interviews to document their knowledge of the land and animals. Barriers to participate in this activity includes cost and language.

Indigenous Youth

High school graduation rates across the 3 territories are below the average graduation levels in the 10 provinces. Knowledge Management and Engagement offers in-kind operational support and grants to Northerner-led summer camps to foster Indigenous youths’ interest in science and STEM careers in Northwest Territories and Nunavut while learning from Elders, which is the traditional way for knowledge to transfer between Elders and Indigenous youth.

Key program impacts* on gender and diversity

Key program impact statistics:

Statistic	Observed results*	Data source	Comment (Maximum 25 words per statistic)
Percentage of POLAR-funded projects led by Northerners	76%	Polar Knowledge Canada annual project survey
Gender distribution of Indigenous participation in POLAR projects	Women: 28% Men: 68%	Polar Knowledge Canada annual project survey
Percentage of POLAR-funded projects that involve youth	51%	Polar Knowledge Canada annual project survey

* 2023-24 or most recent

Other key program impacts

Indigenous youth participants in the summer camp said that they have new ideas for future career paths and better understanding about wildlife, geology, and archaeology. Indigenous groups in the Northwest Territories were interviewed to document their traditional knowledge on berry harvesting. Interviewees noted that this activity provided connection to the land and supplemented food availability from local sources as food costs rise.

Supplementary information sources

Indigenous Knowledge of Berries in the Northwest Territories:  https://arcticnet.ca/project/indigenous-knowledge-of-berries-in-the-northwest-territories/

GBA Plus data collection plan

GBA Plus data is collected through an annual project results survey, submitted by externally funded grant recipients. A database is under development along with enhanced transfer payment application forms to collect gender-based plus data. Polar Knowledge Canada expects to begin collecting additional data starting May 2025.

 

 

Program name: Science and Technology

Program goals: This program aims to anchor a strong research presence in Canada’s Arctic. It focuses on science, monitoring, and technology development and transfer.

Target population: Northern-based individuals, Indigenous Peoples, and youth  

Distribution of benefits

	Group
By gender	Third group: broadly gender-balanced
By age group	First group: primarily benefits youth, children or future generations

Specific demographic group outcomes

Northern communities

With limited degree-granting post-secondary institutions located in the Northern territories, investments for Northern research are predominantly made through academic institutions in the provinces. Polar Knowledge Canada is providing opportunities for Northerner participation and leadership in research. Training opportunities for Northerners are increasing workforce capacity in the research sector, but women are under-represented. Polar Knowledge Canada’s transfer payment programs enable funding to Northern and Indigenous governments, organizations, individuals, and businesses.

Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous knowledge and worldviews are underrepresented in research fields. Polar Knowledge Canada is creating opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and their knowledge to participate in many facets of research, including informing research design. However, Indigenous women are still under-represented in this domain.

Women in the research sector

Women have traditionally been underrepresented in academic and research sectors broadly, and Arctic research in particular. Polar Knowledge Canada has achieved near general balance in project leadership as well as for support and technical roles. Female early career researchers outnumber their male peers 2:1 and Polar Knowledge Canada has achieved relative gender parity in youth engagement.

Key program impacts* on gender and diversity

Key program impact statistics:

Statistic	Observed results*	Data source	Comment (Maximum 25 words per statistic)
Percentage of POLAR-led and supported Arctic projects that involve Northerners	91%	Polar Knowledge Canada annual project survey
Gender distribution of Early Career Researchers involved in POLAR projects	Women: 60% Men: 38%	Polar Knowledge Canada annual project survey
Gender distribution of recipients of training and employment initiatives	Women: 27% Men: 65%	Polar Knowledge Canada annual project survey
Gender distribution of youth participants	Women: 31% Men: 58%	Polar Knowledge Canada annual project survey

* 2023-24 or most recent

Other key program impacts

Not available

GBA Plus data collection plan

Annual project results surveys are distributed to project leads for both internally led projects and for externally funded projects. A database is under development along with enhanced transfer payment application forms to collect gender-based plus data. Polar Knowledge Canada expects to begin collecting additional data starting May 2025.