Gender & Agriculture TOPS Capacity Strengthening Maputo, September 2011

Why is it important to consider gender when we plan MYAPs?

Women’s role in agriculture  Per FAO, 43% of agricultural labor in developing countries provided by women  In Mozambique, 90% of women involved in agriculture; provide 62% of labor  While women provide significant amounts of agricultural labor, traditionally they have less control over resources and less access to training and inputs  Improving gender integration in agriculture can lead to long-term improvements in food security

Connectors between agricultural development and nutrition  Increased food for home consumption  Increased income to spend on food  Reductions in market prices because of increased production  Shifts in food preferences: greater diversity, more nutritious choices  Shifts in control of resources in household Strong link to gender for all these connectors

Women and Food Security  Women are more likely to direct household resources to food, healthcare and education than men are  Increased income is more likely to lead to improved food security if women make resource decisions  Women often have responsibility for feeding household members, especially children. Nutrition education can be directly applied to improve household food security  Women are often among the most vulnerable to food insecurity  The health and nutrition of pregnant/ lactating women directly impacts the next generation

If all of these factors are so important, what are the constraints that prevent greater female participation in agricultural projects?

Constraints on female participation  Low education and literacy levels  Traditionally, men make resource decisions  Weak land rights, limited access to agricultural extension, equipment and technology, or credit  Women have roles that keep them close to the household: fetch water, wood, cooking  Time/ energy dedicated to childbearing and childcare  Forums for agricultural development may not be appropriate for women, either in terms of security or their ability to fulfill other household duties  In some cultures, difficult for women to speak up in presence of men

How do we improve gender integration in agriculture?

Essential elements  Understanding the context: Analysis of gender roles in the community (be aware of “do no harm” issues) Analysis of gender roles in the farming system/ along the value chains  Reaching out to women during design, monitoring and evaluation  Including men in identifying constraints and solutions

Homestead Food Production  Applicable for households with limited land access  Often complementary with women’s traditional roles/ area of responsibility  Small livestock often traditionally kept by women  Good way to increase dietary diversity and targeting specific nutritional needs (e.g., Vitamin A deficiency)  Homestead production can be seen as falling into the women’s sphere, and thus women can have more control over production/ money from sales (if good capacity building of men)

Integrating Women into Value Chains 1.Provide opportunities for women to gain access to inputs and market information 2.Assist women to overcome mobility constraints and social barriers 3.Assist women’s groups to purchase equipment to expand processing 4.Improve participation of women in association leadership roles 5.Build horizontal linkages that favor women and women’s enterprise participation 6.Encourage more women-owned enterprises to join trade associations

Other opportunities for incorporating women  Access to microfinance; women sometimes specifically targeted  Payment systems via mobile phone can make it easier to reach female producers and for women to retain control over income  Technology can enable greater female participation; e.g., treadle pumps

13

This presentation was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Mercy Corps and Save the Children and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.