CGIAR GENDER Platform Grants for evidence to inform policy in AFS

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Polder Tidings
(Other, 2023-07) Yadav, Sudhir; Mondal, Manoranjan K.; Batas, Mary Ann; Jagadish, S.V. Krishna; Mandal, M. A. Sattar; Ali, Mohammad; Sarker, Mou Rani; Singaraju, Niyati; Parvin, Rokhsana; Sarker, Shilpi Rani; Bhattacharya, Jayanta
This issue of Polder Tidings presents a comprehensive overview of the key accomplishments and lessons learned from the “Pathways of scaling agricultural innovations for sustainable intensification in the polders of coastal Bangladesh (SIIL-Polder: Phase II)” project. The publication highlights the project's achievements in leveraging the unique agro-ecological conditions of the polders to enhance agricultural productivity. The issue discusses the agroecological potential of coastal Bangladesh, emphasizing the need for innovative water management and irrigation technologies to enhance crop yields and agricultural productivity. It reflects on the lessons learned from seven years of adaptive research, noting the importance of integrating qualitative research to understand farmers' perspectives and the socio-economic dynamics influencing agricultural practices. Key articles delve into the impact of climate change on coastal agriculture, the role of technology in agricultural development, and the strategic importance of mega-infrastructure projects in driving economic growth in these regions. The magazine also features insights from stakeholders, the potential for youth engagement in agriculture, the significance of gender empowerment, and the experiences of SIIL scholars.
Exploring Women Empowerment Pathways in Water Governance for Better Livelihoods (GENERATE)
(Report, 2022-11-30) Singaraju, Niyati; Sarker, Mou Rani; Batas, Mary Ann; Akther, Rima; Dash, Mahanambrota; Mondal, Manoranjan K.; Puskur, Ranjitha; Yadav, Sudhir
The coastal polder zones in Bangladesh, home to around eight million people, see significant contributions from women in both domestic and production spheres. However, water management remains male-dominated due to limited female access to resources and restrictive social norms. This study examined gender and power dynamics in water governance and their impact on gender equality and women’s empowerment. From 139 polders, 56 water management groups (WMGs) were randomly selected in Khulna and Patuakhali, involving 1360 households. Findings showed that women engaged mainly in training and community service, while men handled infrastructure and production activities. Women actively participated in WMG meetings and decisions about sluice gate operations and membership fees, although leadership roles were male-dominated, with women rarely in critical positions like president or vice-president. Increased female participation improved agricultural production and household income, supported by government 30% quota policies. However, this did not translate into significant decision-making roles due to cultural norms and domestic burdens. Investing in women's technical and leadership skills can enhance their confidence and empowerment in community governance. Further research is needed to understand the impact of increased female participation on gender relations and power dynamics at household and community levels.
Synopsis: Improving agricultural value chain coordination and gender inclusiveness in Papua New Guinea
(Brief, 2022-08-23) Kosec, Katrina; Schmidt, Emily; Carrillo, Lucia; Fang, Peixun; Ivekolia, Mark; Ovah, Raywin
Maximizing efficiency throughout the entire agri-food value chain is critical to fostering greater economic growth and poverty reduction in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Investments in midstream value chain infrastructure (e.g., improved storage facilities, rural feeder roads, electricity, and cold storage transport) are crucial to strengthen linkages between producers and consumers. These investments should also promote inclusive development that benefits both men and women value chain actors. In this study, we analyzed three key value chains in Papua New Guinea—poultry, sweet potato, and fresh vegetables—aiming to guide policymakers and stakeholders toward ways to improve productivity, increase revenue, and bolster competitiveness and inclusiveness within the agriculture and livestock sectors.
Improving agricultural value chain coordination and gender inclusiveness in PNG
(Working Paper, 2022-08-22) Kosec, Katrina; Schmidt, Emily; Carrillo, Lucia; Fang, Peixun; Ivekolia, Mark; Ovah, Raywin
The welfare of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) population depends on domestic agriculture productivity and stability. As of 2019, value-added from the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors totaled approximately 17 percent of GDP. However, when considering the downstream value chain activities directly related to the agriculture sector (e.g., agriculture processing, domestic food trade and transportation, and domestic food commodity sales), the larger agri-food system in PNG contributes over 25 percent to the country’s overall GDP (Pradesha and Dorosh, 2022). Maximizing efficiency throughout the entire agri-food value chain is critical to fostering greater economic growth and poverty reduction within the country. Growing a globally competitive agriculture sector also demands investments and capacity strengthening in mid-stream value chain operations such as product aggregation, transport logistics, packaging and processing, and handling. It is important that these investments also promote inclusive development that benefits both men and women value chain actors. Previous research suggests that where women are economically empowered and have access to decent jobs in lucrative nodes (i.e., activities) of value chains, households have higher incomes and are less likely to be poor (FAO, 2011). In PNG, despite women’s greater share of employment in agriculture (60 and 52 percent of women and men work in agriculture, respectively), women participate less in higher-value agricultural production and trade activities (Chang et al., 2016; Omot, Chambers, and Spriggs, 2013; World Bank, 2022).
Beyond Quotas: Women in Water Governance
(Book, 2024-02) Sarker, Mou Rani; Batas, Mary Ann; Singaraju, Niyati; Akter, Rima; Das, Mahanambrota; Mondal, Manoranjan K.; Puskur, Ranjitha; Yadav, Sudhir
The polder zones of Bangladesh are home to about nine million people. The majority of this population is engaged in the agricultural sector. Women play a crucial role in agriculture and food systems, and their involvement in farm production and management is growing with increasing male out-migration. But effective water management poses a huge challenge due to tidal hydrology, salinity, waterlogging, and climate stresses such as cyclones and droughts. In response to the water challenges, the government of Bangladesh implemented a community governance approach in the early 1990s by establishing Water Management Groups (WMGs). In the policy, the executive committee of the WMGs must include 30% women members. The primary goal was to promote user participation in decision-making process in water management. Women need water for agricultural production and postproduction, but their participation in water governance has been undermined. Formal structures, including quotas, have an increased representation of women in WMGs. But effective participation in water management decision-making is restricted by cultural norms, time poverty, limited information access and constraints in land and financial access. Women’s participation in water governance has positive outcomes on water management, agricultural productivity, and livelihoods. To promote effective women’s participation in water governance in polder zones, a holistic approach is needed, encompassing: • Gender-sensitive campaigns • Recognition & redistribution of unpaid work • Equal land access • Control over income • Training and capacity-building
Gender gaps in the downstream nodes of the rice value chain in Uganda: evidence and remedies
(Conference Paper, 2023-10) Kinkingninhoun Medagbe, Florent M.; Mujawamariya, Gaudiose; Twine, Edgar E.; Musana, Brian; Akongo, Thelma Flavia; Nabikyu, Jane
Women are limitedly involved in post-production, downstream (DS) nodes of the rice value chain (RVC). In Uganda, only 8% of women own rice mills; women labourers to millers undertake marginal activities of cleaning, winnowing, etc. As rice marketing agents, women range between 5% and 30%, but their gains are not documented. The current study demonstrates gender differences in benefits derived from DSRVC nodes and factors that reduce gender gaps in remunerations. The study uses large-scale quantitative data from a survey conducted in 17 major rice growing and trading districts in Eastern Uganda covering 675 male and 187 female actors purposively selected at the key DSRVC nodes; the sample distribution represents gendered-engagement in DSRVC with absolute male dominance. The profitability analysis revealed, on average, an annual net income across the DSRVC of UGX 7,057,178 (1930 USD) in 2022, an increase, compared to UGX 5,821,751 (1590 USD) in 2021, male actors significantly gain twice or more the incomes gained by female actors; rice milling, and paddy collecting/marketing generate higher returns compared to other DSRVC business engagements. There were no gender differences in payments of labourers performing the same activity. An Oaxaca Blinder decomposition of income was done, revealing a disparity between men and women of 1.05. Among the predictors, experience in RVC with 39.04% contributed the most to the gap, then the number of years of schooling and being head of the household. For the DSRVC actors, the men's higher financial capacity, knowledge/skills/competencies, greater physical strength and the women's higher burden of reproductive activities and cultural norms explain the gender disparity in income. The remedial actions include facilitating women's access to suitable credit, sensitizing target communities on gender equality to access resources and markets, and training on businesses management for profitability. On-farm actions and facilitating access to extension service are also necessary.
Women’s empowerment in water governance in Polder Zone in Bangladesh
(Presentation, 2023-10-10) Sarker, Mou Rani; Singaraju, Niyati; Batas, Mary Ann; Mondal, Manoranjan K.; Das, Mahanam; Puskur, Ranjitha; Yadav, Sudhir
The polders in coastal zones of Bangladesh are vulnerable to climate risks resulting in low agricultural 3.50-5.00 DAY 2 · Tuesday, October 10 · Parallel sessions productivity and low incomes for the communities dependent on agriculture-based livelihoods in these regions. Bangladesh adopted a participatory approach to water governance in the 1980s to improve the equitable and sustainable use of water resources. With men migrating away for better income opportunities, women are more involved in agricultural production and dependent on water resources. However, there is limited evidence on the implications of participatory water management on women’s empowerment outcomes—whether it results in improved participation and agency of women in farm production and control over farm incomes. Addressing this gap, drawing data from 640 households in four polders of Patuakhali district using a mixed-methods approach, the study aims to examine the implications of participatory water management on women’s empowerment outcomes in three domains—agency, resources, and institutional structures adopted from the Empowerment in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) framework. The findings reveal that women’s agency outcomes improved with increased participation in joint decisionmaking and mobility. Women still had limited access to productive resources and control over farm incomes. Nevertheless, their access to credit and agricultural technology improved due to WMGs. The policies and interventions remained gender insensitive as they did not address the prevailing social barriers and pervasive cultural norms, thus exacerbating the existing gender inequalities in society. Therefore, we argue that unless the structural barriers are addressed, participatory water governance would not empower women in polder zones.
Participation in downstream nodes of the rice value chain in Uganda: Where are the women?
(Presentation, 2023-10-10) Akongo, Thelma; Mujawamariya, Gaudiose; Twine, Edgar
Evidence of women’s participation in value chains is greater on the production side, but scanty in downstream nodes, pointing to women being relegated to unprofitable activities. The consequence is suboptimal value chain performance with wide gender gaps in productivity, income, household food security, and poverty. This study sought to inform the development of gender-inclusive value chains. A qualitative investigation of the downstream nodes of the rice value chain (DS-RVC) was conducted in six districts of Eastern Uganda with 21 key informants and 93 women and 19 men in 14 focus group discussions (five mixed, nine women-only FGDs). Results confirm the limited participation of women in DS-RVC while men comprised up to 70% in all the nodes. Most women participated in wholesale and retail marketing and in lighter and unskilled activities including sweeping, cleaning, sorting, and pouring paddy into milling machines. Women’s engagement is constrained by additional reproductive and productive workloads, limited income and access to credit, and their risk-averseness toward engaging in bulk purchases. Norms are also restrictive, such as on their mobility and telephone usage and being physically unfit to operate heavy equipment. The factors favoring engagement in the DS-RVC are participation in networks, information access and skills-building, trust, respect, and cooperation— especially in joint marketing. Availability, access to and control and ownership of resources and assets are also important. Tailor-made training, subsidized processing machinery, soft loans, and improving working conditions and environment would increase women’s participation. Continuous gender sensitization for men and women would advance equitably working together.
The Stakeholder Consultation Workshop Report: Transforming the Rules of the Game: Gendered Livability in Peri-urban Dhaka
(Report, 2023-01) International Potato Center
Urban space is highly unequal, gendered, and divided. Urban policy and development planning often overlook the issue of food and water security for the most marginalized populations, who are often unregistered and considered as ‘temporary’ residents. In Bangladesh, the rural-urban migration of women is increasingly common. However, research on gender, food and water security in agricultural organizations often focuses on rural contexts where food is produced. To address this cross-sectoral knowledge gap, the research project titled ‘Transforming the rules of the game: Gendered livability in peri-urban Dhaka’ was implemented in 2022, funded by the CGIAR GENDER Impact platform. This study focused on understanding peri-urban food and water systems for young women garment workers in Bangladesh. At the end of the project implementation, the stakeholder consultation workshop was held on 12nd December 2022 in Dhaka with a total of 32 participants from the governments, local and international agricultural organizations, NGOs, universities, and the private sector. They brought varied expertise in areas including nutrition, food systems, environment, and urban development. After the welcome speech by Dr. Debashish Chanda from International Potato Center, the main event started with a joint presentation by Professors Dr. Sadika Haque and Dr. Bentul Mawa from Bangladesh Agricultural University. They spoke about their research findings with an emphasis on the impact of climate change and urban migration on the food governance system. They explained that the women garment factory workers’ residential areas have very limited public services in terms of waste management, water supply and medical services. Such women also have various concerns, for example, increasing food prices and their very limited options for food markets, and time constraints for household chores. The second presenter, Dr. Samina Lutfa from Bangladesh Agricultural University, showed how garment factory workers were involved in the global value chains that exploit women in the global south as cheap labour. She suggested that factory workers are easily replaceable and young women workers are exploited in the workplace. In the residential area too, they are very insecure in terms of clean water supply, food and nutrition. She also highlighted gender issues among garment workers such as women women being pressured to repay the debt of their family or in-laws. Such evidence indicates that women’s income earnings from factory jobs is not linked to women’s empowerment. Rather, it emphasizes gender inequality as patriarchal gender norms persist in both their workplace and the household. The panel discussion section began with Dr. Rudaba Khondoker from GAIN. She highlighted the importance of gender that intersects with other social identities based on which women are differentiated. Some gender-based exclusion and marginalization in urban food systems could be improved by changing regulations, lows and policies. Raising the collective voices to policymakers is therefore very important. Sharifa Parvin from FAO introduced their project “Support for Modelling, Planning and Improving Dhaka’s Food System”. 85% of Dhaka’s residents depend on wet markets and therefore it is important to engage with city corporation to improve food systems. She also expressed her interest to work on gender in urban food systems with 12 collaborating partners who are implementing the project on gender inclusion in food systems in Dhaka city. Dr. Yunus from the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies pointed out the vicious circle of child under-nutrition starting from women working in exploitative conditions, inadequate eating, and low salary. In current peri-urban factory working conditions women’s involvement in economic activities does not lead to their empowerment, which needs to be addressed. The session moderator, Dr. Lutful Hasan, honorable vice chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University, appreciated the valuable insights provided by the presenters on gender, urban food insecurity, malnutrition, hidden hunger, limited governance and livability for RMG workers. The workshop continued with group discussions and group presentations on specific topics including the need to establish a platform for gender and urban food system policy and inter-ministerial coordination, and gender sensitization in academia with gender as a compulsory subject for all. The session moderator, Dr. Wajiha Khatun from IFPRI, commented that gender plays a key role in food system transformation. She emphasized that if women lose power in the food system, there will be a negative impact on the food system. The honorable Director of IIFS thanked all the participants and ended the workshop session with concluding remarks. Participants agreed to continue to engage with this topic of gender and urban food systems through on-going research projects in Dhaka.
The Working Woman’s ‘Time Poverty’ in the Polders
(Newsletter Article, 2022-06) International Rice Research Institute
In the polders, women often provide unpaid labor in their agricultural activities. They are heavily involved in crop production, homestead gardening, gher operations, as well as livestock and poultry raising. However, the trend is changing; the number of women working in paid jobs in the polders is increasing.
FR2.3: What influences women's participation in water governance? Preliminary findings from Bangladesh
(Presentation, 2022-10) Singaraju, Niyati; Sarker, Mou Rani; Batas, Mary Ann; Akther, Rima; Dash, Mahanam; Mondal, Manoranjan K.; Puskur, Ranjitha; Yadav, Sudhir
The Bangladesh polder zones cover 1.2 million hectares of agricultural land and are home to around eight million people with women playing a critical role in agriculture and food systems. With limited access to and control over productive resources and incomes, women are disproportionately vulnerable to climatic risks. Their ability to make important decisions can have positive outcomes on the governance of natural resources, agricultural productivity, and livelihoods. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study aims to examine the extent and level of women's participation in water management groups (WMGs) and analyze the socio-cultural, political, economic, and biophysical contexts that influence participation. A structured-questionnaire survey of 720 households was conducted during April-June 2022 in four polders of the Khulna division. Focus group discussions with women and men members were conducted to reflect on the factors that influence women's participation in WMGs. Results reveal that while men contributed mostly to decisions on structure/equipment investment and the release and distribution of water that directly affected agriculture production, women were more involved in enlisting participants for training on homestead gardening, livestock and poultry, as well as leadership development. Both men and women highlighted that participation in WMGs resulted in access to innovations that improved crop productivity and incomes. Women members opined that participation gave them social recognition in the community. Despite these perceived benefits, more than 60% of women respondents believed that their participation in meetings and decisions in WMGs is constrained by unpaid domestic work and restrictive social norms. The preliminary findings highlight that tackling restrictive gender norms to redistribute the unpaid domestic work burden of women is one way of enabling effective participation in water governance.
The Inception Workshop Report. Transforming the Rules of the Game: Gendered Liveability in Peri-urban Dhaka
(Report, 2021-12) International Potato Center; Bangladesh Agricultural University
The inception workshop on “Transforming the Rules of the Game: Gendered Liveability in Peri-urban Dhaka” was held on 20 December 2021 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to introduce the key partners to this project, and to share ideas, knowledge, and experiences that could helpfully inform the execution of the research. Thirty-three people (50% women) participated in this workshop, including government officers, local and international NGO representatives, university staff and private sector employees from the garment industry. Collectively, this group represented expertise in many subjects such as nutrition, food systems, environment, and urban development. The participants shared some practical approaches towards improving the living environment and food/water/nutrition for poor residents in urban areas. This workshop highlighted the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration with diverse institutions to understand the government’s priorities and interests. This report outlines key points and messages including feedback from project partners. The links to key documents are also included in this report.

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