Gender-based analysis plus
Section 1: institutional GBA Plus governance and capacity
Governance
Polar Knowledge Canada integrates a GBA Plus lens to decision-making process with a particular focus on supporting Inuit employment and procurement. This approach aligns with the agency’s mandate and demonstrates its commitment to Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement.
Additionally, Polar Knowledge Canada applies a GBA Plus lens across all Treasury Board submissions, budget proposals, Cabinet documents, and in policy development and program implementation.
Capacity
Polar Knowledge Canada collects disaggregated data on projects supported by its Transfer Payment Programs. This information is gathered from funding recipients through surveys, which enable the agency to assess 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.
It is important to note that Polar Knowledge Canada does not track individual participants. Instead, the agency tracks instances of participation, as reported by funding recipients in their project surveys. This approach allows for an understanding of representation across key groups while maintaining participant anonymity.
Human resources (full-time equivalents) dedicated to GBA Plus
Polar Knowledge Canada does not have any employees dedicated to GBA Plus. As such, there are no full-time equivalents assigned to 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, these tasked are carried out on an as-needed basis by current staff. Additionally, when reviewing funding recipients, the agency considers broader employment equity, diversity and inclusion elements.
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 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 groups to be monitored
Northern communities
Research and related activities in the polar regions involve significantly higher logistical, staffing, and travel cost compared to southern regions. Northern-based organizations often face additional challenges, such as limited staff capacity and experience with grant writing.
To help address these barriers, Polar Knowledge Canada’s Knowledge Management and Engagement offers a streamlined grant application process specifically designed for northern-based organizations. This simplified process enhances access to funding research and other initiatives, supporting greater participation from northern communities.
Regional distribution of grants across Polar Knowledge Canada’s mandate area is improving particularly with the opening of an office in Whitehorse. However, further attention is needed to strengthen outreach and supports in regions such as Yukon and Nunatsiavut.
Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous and traditional knowledge across the North is disappearing as older generations of Elders and Knowledge Keepers are lost. To help preserve this vital knowledge, Polar Knowledge Canada’s Knowledge Management and Engagement team provides grants to research institutions and northern-based Indigenous organizations to conduct interviews and document Indigenous knowledge related to the land, wildlife and the environment. However, participation in these activities is not without challenges. Key barriers include the cost of conducting interviews and translation, as well as language accessibility. Addressing these barriers is essential to ensuring that Indigenous Knowledge can be meaningfully documented and shared with future generations.
Indigenous Youth
High school graduation rates across the 3 territories remain below the national average graduation levels in the ten provinces. To help address this, Polar Knowledge Canada’s Knowledge Management and Engagement team provides in-kind operational support and grants to Northerner-led summer camps in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
These camps aim to foster Indigenous youths’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers while incorporating traditional learning methods. Youth participants engage in hands-on activities and learn from Elders, supporting the intergenerational transfer of knowledge in culturally meaningful ways.
Key program impacts* on gender and diversity
Through the Polar Regional Grants Program, numerous research projects led by Northerners or Northern organizations have been supported. These locally driven initiatives are better positioned to align research questions with regional priorities, build capacity and ensure the socio-economic benefit of research remain within the North.
In addition, many of the supported projects provide opportunities for youth engagement, contributing to long-term capacity building and knowledge transfer within Northern communities.
Key program impact statistics:
| Statistic | Observed results* | Data source | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of POLAR-funded projects led by Northerners | 69% | Polar Regional Grant administrative data | |
| Gender distribution of Indigenous participation in POLAR projects |
Women: Not available Men: Not available |
Polar Knowledge Canada annual project survey | Due to changes to the annual project survey, this data was not collected in 2024-25. |
| Percentage of POLAR-funded projects that involve youth | 92% | Polar Regional Grant administrative data |
* 2024-25 or most recent
Other key program impacts
Indigenous youth who participated in the Tundra Science and Culture Camp reported gaining new ideas for future career paths, along with a deeper understanding about wildlife, geology, and archaeology. These experiences help inspire interest in science while reinforcing cultural knowledge.
In a separate initiative, Indigenous groups in the Northwest Territories were interviewed to document their traditional knowledge on berry harvesting. Participants highlighted that this activity fosters a strong connection provided to the land and supplemented food availability from local sources as food costs continue to 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 annually through a project results survey, submitted by externally funded grant recipients. Additionally, a repository to track engagement activities is currently in development, which will enhance the agency’s ability to gather and manage this data more effectively.
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 groups to be monitored
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.
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 to 1. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of POLAR-led and supported Arctic projects that involve Northerners |
19% of contributions 50% of grants |
Polar Knowledge Canada annual project survey | None of the 34 Universities under the Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP) are led by Northerners. Of the 299 projects within the NSTP program, 16 are northern led, for a percentage of 5.4%. |
| Gender distribution of Early Career Researchers involved in POLAR projects |
Women: Not available Men: Not available |
Polar Knowledge Canada annual project survey | Due to changes to the annual project survey, this data was not collected in 2024-25. |
| Gender distribution of recipients of training and employment initiatives |
Women: Not available Men: Not available |
Polar Knowledge Canada annual project survey | Due to changes to the annual project survey, this data was not collected in 2024-25. |
| Gender distribution of youth participants |
Women: Not available Men: Not available |
Polar Knowledge Canada annual project survey | Due to changes to the annual project survey, this data was not collected in 2024-25. |
* 2024-25 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.
Definitions
Scales
Gender scale
- First group: predominantly men (80% or more men)
- Second group: 60% to 79% men
- Third group: broadly gender-balanced
- Fourth group: 60% to 79% women
- Fifth group: predominantly women (80% or more women)
Income ‑level scale
- First group: strongly benefits low-income individuals (strongly progressive)
- Second group: somewhat benefits low-income individuals (somewhat progressive‑)
- Third group: no significant distributional impacts
- Fourth group: somewhat benefits high-income individuals (somewhat regressive‑)
- Fifth group: strongly benefits high‑income individuals (strongly regressive)
Age ‑group scale
- First group: primarily benefits youth, children or future generations
- Second group: no significant intergenerational impacts or impacts on generations between youths and seniors
- Third group: primarily benefits seniors or the baby boom generation