Njiru Nelly, Galiè Alessandra, Omondi Immaculate, Omia Dalmas, Loriba Agnes, Awin Peter
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya.
Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Agric Syst. 2024 Aug;219:104023. doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104023.
Owning livestock can support women's empowerment and progress toward gender-equitable agri-food systems. Gender inequality, however, can reduce women's ownership of livestock and access to animal vaccines. Gender accommodative approaches (GAAs), and more recently gender transformative approaches (GTAs), are increasingly implemented in development interventions. However, their impact on women's empowerment has not been systematically tested. Here, we describe the 'Women Rear Project', implemented in northern Ghana between 2019 and 2023, and assess the impact of GTAs and GAAs on women's empowerment, ownership of livestock, and access to animal vaccines.
We sought to systematically assess changes conferred by GAAs and GTAs on gender norms and women's empowerment and access to animal vaccines.
Using a mixed-methods approach, in 2021 and 2023 we collected quantitative and qualitative data regarding women's empowerment, gender norms, and access to animal vaccines. Qualitative data regarding women's and men's conceptualizations of gender norms and women's empowerment were obtained via focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Quantitative survey data were obtained from 500 households, using the Women's Empowerment in Livestock Index (WELI). Quantitative data on livelihood indicators were also collected, using the Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey (RHoMIS) tool. We systematically assessed changes between baseline (2021) and endline (2023) in local conceptualizations of empowerment in the livestock sector, the effects of GTAs and GAAs on such conceptualizations, and how empowerment was experienced by women and men and the implications for women's access to animal vaccines.
Local conceptualizations of empowerment in 2021, among both women and men, emphasized financial independence, decision-making autonomy, self-reliance, and problem-solving skills. In 2023, this conceptualization of empowerment had expanded to include the ability to act without external restrictions; women were empowered by managing resources, running successful businesses, and making decisions in consultation with their husbands. Furthermore, women in communities where GTAs had been enacted scored significantly higher in empowerment compared with women in communities where only GAAs had been introduced. Gender norms impacted empowerment indicators, with respect among household members and autonomy in income both contributing to disempowerment. Gender norms also affected respondents' reporting. Women's access to livestock vaccines was more positive in GTA/GAA communities. We recommend efforts are made to reduce restrictive gender norms and enhance women's empowerment and access to resources such as animal vaccines.
We offer recommendations for pathways toward women's empowerment and healthy livestock via inclusive innovations in agri-food systems.
拥有牲畜有助于增强妇女权能，并推动建立性别平等的农业食品系统。然而，性别不平等会减少妇女对牲畜的拥有权以及获得动物疫苗的机会。性别包容方法（GAAs）以及最近的性别变革方法（GTAs）越来越多地应用于发展干预措施中。然而，它们对妇女赋权的影响尚未得到系统检验。在此，我们描述了2019年至2023年在加纳北部实施的“妇女养殖项目”，并评估性别变革方法和性别包容方法对妇女赋权、牲畜拥有权以及获得动物疫苗机会的影响。
我们试图系统评估性别包容方法和性别变革方法在性别规范、妇女赋权以及获得动物疫苗机会方面所带来的变化。
采用混合方法，在2021年和2023年收集了关于妇女赋权、性别规范以及获得动物疫苗机会的定量和定性数据。通过焦点小组讨论和关键信息访谈获得了关于男女对性别规范和妇女赋权概念化的定性数据。使用牲畜养殖妇女赋权指数（WELI）从500户家庭获取定量调查数据。还使用农村家庭多指标调查（RHoMIS）工具收集了关于生计指标的定量数据。我们系统评估了基线（2021年）和终线（2023年）之间在畜牧部门赋权的本地概念化方面的变化、性别变革方法和性别包容方法对此类概念化的影响，以及男女如何体验赋权及其对妇女获得动物疫苗机会的影响。
2021年，男女对赋权的本地概念化都强调经济独立、决策自主权、自力更生和解决问题的能力。2023年，这种赋权概念已扩大到包括不受外部限制采取行动的能力；妇女通过管理资源、经营成功企业以及与丈夫协商后做出决策而获得权能。此外，与仅引入性别包容方法的社区中的妇女相比，实施了性别变革方法的社区中的妇女在赋权方面得分显著更高。性别规范影响赋权指标，家庭成员之间的尊重以及收入自主权都会导致权能被削弱。性别规范也影响受访者的报告。在实施性别变革方法/性别包容方法的社区中，妇女获得牲畜疫苗的情况更为积极。我们建议努力减少限制性的性别规范，增强妇女权能以及增加她们获得动物疫苗等资源的机会。
我们为通过农业食品系统中的包容性创新实现妇女赋权和健康牲畜养殖的途径提供了建议。
