Advancing gender-responsive AI in higher education: a participatory rural appraisal of traditional and modern food processing innovations in Uganda

Abstract

This study explores how gender-responsive artificial intelligence (AI) can transform higher education participatory rural appraisal (PRA) research to advance Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 - Zero Hunger - by harmonising traditional and modern food processing practices in Uganda. Amidst rapid technological progress, AI’s potential remains disproportionately urban-centric, sidelining rural women who dominate Uganda’s traditional food systems yet face systemic barriers to accessing modern innovations. Through a mixed-methods approach including a systematic review of global AI applications in agriculture, analysis of national and international policy frameworks, and community-driven PRA case studies, this research uncovers critical gaps in gender-equitable AI adaptation within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Findings reveal that socio-economic disparities, limited digital literacy, and infrastructural inequities exclude women from AI-driven solutions, thus undermining Uganda’s progress toward sustainable agriculture. However, HEIs emerge as pivotal agents of change. This is because, by embedding gender-responsive AI into participatory research curricula, universities can co-design inclusive technologies that amplify women’s expertise in traditional food preservation while integrating modern efficiencies. This study proposes a tripartite strategy: (1) Gender-sensitive AI training programs tailored to rural contexts, (2) Low-cost, culturally relevant AI tools for decentralised food processing, and (3) Cross-sector partnerships linking academia, policymakers, and grassroots innovators to align AI initiatives with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) targets. This work challenges the global AI paradigm by centring marginalised voices and demonstrating how participatory, gender-responsive education frameworks can catalyse equitable technological adoption. Its actionable insights offer a blueprint for HEIs worldwide to harness AI as a tool for social justice, bridging the divide between tradition and innovation to build resilient, inclusive food systems.