1. Promoting Gender Equality in Foreign Agricultural Investments: Lessons from Voluntary Sustainability Standards Authors: Kathleen Sexsmith & Carin Smaller March 2016

2. Objectives of the paper Using a conceptual framework for investments and gender, consider… …how Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) and Responsible Investment Frameworks (RIF) have integrated gender concerns into their codes for conduct… …provide evidence of the gender impacts use this evidence to recommend what can be done to improve gender equality.

3. Conceptual framework: 5 dimensions of gender inequality Statutory land rights Customary land rights Access to land Access to credit, inputs, training and extension Access to productive resources Reproductive work and care Labour burden and time use Reproductive labour burden Earnings and working conditions Division of labour Occupational Health & Safety Employment Negotiations with investors Producer groups Household Decision-making

4. VSS and RIF analyzed Voluntary Sustainability StandardsResponsible Investment Frameworks Common Code for the Coffee Community (4Cs) Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) Fairtrade International Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investments (PRAI) International Federation for Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) Rainforest Alliance (Sustainable Agriculture Standard) Guiding Principles on Large-Scale Land Based Investments in Africa Utz Certified IFC Performance Standards

5. Gender Analysis of Voluntary Standards No reference to gender related to land rights A few references to women’s access to credit, inputs, and training and extension services No mention of the reproductive labour burden Pretty good guidance on earning and employment conditions, gender-specific workplace needs and OH&S Not much mention of women’s role in decision-making Overall not much reference to gender issues, with the exception of employment

6. Gender Analysis of Responsible Investment Frameworks Include advocacy of statutory and customary land rights Scattered references to access to credits, inputs, training and resettlement assistance Only one mention of women’s reproductive labour burden Focus on creating jobs and not on the potential inequalities that may arise There is detailed guidance on the involvement of women in decision-making, including during the consultation and negotiation phases A bit better, particularly on land rights and decision-making, but still overall weak

7. Does adherence to VSS lead to better gender outcomes? In Mexico and Central America, certification has improved women’s statutory rights. But generally detrimental to customary rights. Access to land Can improve women’s access to credit, inputs and training, but men are more likely to receive the benefits and do not necessarily pass knowledge on. Access to productive resources Good examples in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico of project funds used to reduce labour burden. Also improves access to healthcare and insurance. Reproductive labour burden Increases earnings and jobs for women Creates access to OH&S training, reduces exposure to hazardous chemicals Entrenches gender divisions, particularly with contract farming Employment Strong male bias in cooperatives but important signs of improvement. Can improve gender power inequalities in the household. Decision-making

8. Is there better evidence from the RIFs? Gender committee set up on an oil palm plantation to promote women’s rights, including right to equal pay and reproductive rights A comprehensive grievance process was been put in place on another plantation to handle gender related complaints Assistance to overcome bureacratic barriers to female employment in Mozambique Preferential hiring policies through acceptance of lower entry requirements in Ethiopia Only anecdotal evidence

9. Conclusions Overall the gender impacts from VSS and RIFs are not strong Incomes and job creation the most important benefit A few success stories All actors need to make gender a requirement as part of the “social contract” for agricultural investments Governments need to put it in their rural development strategies and in contracts with investors Companies need to put it in their corporate policies & contracts with producers or governments Communities need to put it in their development agreements and as part of development project initiatives Monitor gender impacts on a regular basis and make changes to the business model or operations

10. Thank You! Carin Smaller csmaller@iisd.org