Women’s activities in food production, community management, natural resources and biodiversity management, child education, and family care put them at the center of development. They are fuel and water collectors, food producers, and users of energy for households and transport. According to the World Bank, women's productive enterprises have lower levels of access to resources such as technology, information, inputs, credit, and training, causing female farmers to have 20 to 30percent lower productivity than males. Worldwide, businesses run by female entrepreneurs have lower levels of productivity than male-managed enterprises. Understanding the contributions women can make to science, innovation, technology, and engineering (SITE) research, policy, and programming—as well as the role SITE can play in supporting the lives and livelihoods of women and men—is critical for meeting global environment and development challenges. GenderInSITE is an international initiative to develop SITE-based approaches to meet these challenges. GenderInSITE promotes the use of the ‘gender lens’ to ensure that science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy and programs are effective, equitable, and sustainable—and that they reflect the aims, concerns, situation, and abilities of both women and men. Use of the ‘gender lens’ will contribute to innovative, effective, and equitable approaches to meeting the global challenges affecting the health of both the planet and the people.