ACTION AID WOMEN’S RIGHTS TO SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS PROJECT by Christina Kwangwari 1

Project location Rwanda- Southern Region, Nyanza, Gisagara Ghana- Northern Region, Nanumba North and South and Talensi/ Nabdam district in upper east Project period - January December 2015 Funding – Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign affairs under the funding leadership and opportunities for women Target – Women smallholder farmers 2

Project implemented by Implemented by: - ActionAid Ghana in partnership with Songtaba, Bonatadu and Widows and Orphans Movement, - ActionAid Rwanda in partnership with Faith Victory Association and Resseau de femmes ActionAid International secretariat 3

The main challenges addressed by the project Climate change effects on food and nutrition insecurity Poor and unsustainable water management Poor access to resources including access to land, water for women smallholder farmers Lack of access to land, seeds and other productive resources by women smallholder farmers Women’s time poverty and unpaid care work Organization and mobilization of women smallholder farmers 4

2nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015

Project’s integrated approach 6

Main results from FLOW-women’s rights to sustainable livelihoods project Mobilisation and organisation of women into women smallholder farmer groups 7

Mobilisation and organisation Successful mobilisation of women smallholder farmers into women farmers groups many of which have now registered as cooperatives and are formally recognised. 5,400 women organised and now engaging with community and national leaders to advocate for access to resources and recognition of unpaid care work. 8

Addressing unpaid care work Reduction, recognition and redistribution of Unpaid Care Work - In Rwanda, time spent on Unpaid Care Work (UCW) was reduced by at least 15%. Women supported with rainwater harvesting tanks can fetch water twice a week only as they are only fetching safe drinking water. In Rwanda, time women spent on UCW is significantly reduced as a result of piloted childcare centres and men’s involvement on UCW. 9

Addressing unpaid care work In Ghana, women’s unpaid care work was reduced by 10%. In Ghana, time women spent on Unpaid Care Work has reduced s result of community meetings, male involvement in child care centres and REFLECT group meetings. Data was collected over three years through time diaries. 10

Minutes per dayMinutes per day

Addressing unpaid care work Rwanda government has included unpaid care work in the family policy and is considering some of the requests from the women smallholder farmer groups In Ghana some local authorities have promised to factor in boreholes and budget to reduce time spent on fetching water 12

Climate resilient sustainable agriculture toolkit 13

Climate resilient sustainable agriculture Climate resilient sustainable agriculture interventions Soil fertility improvement- This was achieved through access and control of animal droppings, green manure, soil covering, compost, and use of leguminous plants thus improved production leading to increased food security. In Ghana at baseline, 90% of the target women smallholder farmers in the project interviewed asserted that soils are of weak quality and largely infertile, leading to very low yields. Food security improvement - In Ghana, 90% of interviewed female headed households were food insecure, compared to 65% of male-headed households at baseline. In Rwanda, 92% of members (2,208) noted that due to their participation in the project they have more food at home and 61% (1,464) responded that they have more food left for sale. Nutrition - As a result of the project’s approach women, children enjoyed improved nutrition security. Livelihoods diversification which includes animal rearing, kitchen gardens, grain banks led to improved access to animal protein, milk, vegetables and cereals for home consumption. Some of the groups composed of people living with HIV/AIDS testified, iimproved health as they are able to access nutritious food at a very low cost and in their communities, 14

Climate resilient sustainable agriculture Community seed and grain banks - Women have set up community seeds and grain banks which has significantly increased their control over seed. 10 seed banks in Ghana, 9 seed and grain banks in Rwanda Women have used grain banks to store their food as well as grain for sale. The grain is stored in grain banks until sold during a time when farmers can make the most profit. Improved incomes and poverty reduction as a result of sale of surplus of agricultural products such as eggs, grains, vegetables, Mucuna seeds, Okro, pepper, “Aleefo”, green pepper and “ayoyo”. For examples, a woman can earn Ghana cedis a week from the sale of Okro and pepper. The income is used to address family needs such as school fees, health and food requirements. 15

Livelihood diversification – livestock rearing - 16

Livelihood diversification 17 Farming, processing, kitchen gardens

Improved access to land Improved access to land- Women have signed MOU on land access improving their rights to land in Ghana Kulipeliag Chief 18

Recommendations to AU members Women’s access to finance, market and extension services The African Union and NEPAD through CAADP need to develop a mechanism to guarantee the participation of women smallholder farmers in the AU Women and Gender Programme on climate change, as well as resource allocation for investments in research and extension for climate resilient sustainable agriculture. In this regard we recommend developing a programme to empower women smallholder farmers to have control over productive resources such as land and seeds systems. We urge member states to increase spending on extension services for sustainable agriculture. This will include recruitment of more female extension officers, support for farmer field schools, and training for extension staff and increased outreach for women farmers’ in order to maximise their food security and food production. Integration of unpaid care work - We recommend the development of a clear framework that integrates unpaid care work through support for rural infrastructure, water, health, child care centers and energy saving technology. We urge for the adoption of climate resilient sustainable agriculture by the AU’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) in collaboration with the African Union Gender Directorate in line with the Malabo declaration on climate change mitigation and adaptation 19

Recommendations We reiterate the need for the African Union to put in place full gender monitoring mechanism of the 2003 Maputo Declaration on Food and Agriculture by member states, the CAADP results and ensure that financial resources are allocated to sustainable agricultural investments at a national level. In this regard we urge member states to invest in gender disaggregated data collection on food and nutrition security to inform appropriate gender programmes within national agriculture plans. We implore that the African Union members and AU agencies set up a clear gender goal and targets for women’s empowerment on food and nutrition security within the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Results framework This will ensure that financial resources are allocated to address the challenges that women smallholder farmers face and help close the gender gap in agricultur 20

Thank you! 21