Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/140560

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Now showing 1 - 18 of 18

Shrimp farming and the struggles of landless women in Paikgacha, southern coastal Bangladesh: implications for nutrition-sensitive agri-food system
(Brief, 2024-12-30) Begum, Salma; Sharma, Indu K.; Joshi, Deepa; Garrett, J.
Advancing equitable access to common pool water resources for fishers in coastal Bangladesh
(Brief, 2024-12-30) Sharma, Indu K.; Joshi, Deepa; Rahman, M.; Moyna, S. S.; Mukit, T.; Mou, M.; Haque, N.; Ghosh, J.; Basnet, Sahara
Youth-led aquaculture in Northern Ghana
(Blog Post, 2024-08-12) Tall, Maimouna; Appiah, Sarah; Buisson, Marie-Charlotte; Zane, Giulia
Reflections on multi-actor, transdisciplinary leadership training on the water, energy, food, and ecosystems nexus approach for women in Nepal
(Report, 2024-12-30) Buchy, Marlène; Koirala, Sanju; Khadka, Manohara; Pradhan, M. S.; Onta, N.
Focus and impact on gender equality, youth, and social inclusion
(Brief, 2024-12-30) CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains
A NEXUS Gains impact area brief shares how the Initiative uses people-centered approaches to prioritize the well-being and strategic interests of women, youth, and marginalized groups across the water–energy–food–ecosystems nexus.
Focus and impact on poverty reduction, livelihoods, and jobs
(Brief, 2024-12-30) CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains
A NEXUS Gains impact area brief shares examples of how policy research and engagement in water, energy, food, and ecosystems can help to address rural poverty by increasing agricultural incomes and creating jobs.
The farmer as an agricultural extension agent in coastal Bangladesh
(Brief, 2024-12-10) Joshi, Deepa; Panagiotou, A.; Rahman, M. W.
Women defining water, energy, food, and ecosystems leadership in Nepal
(News Item, 2024-11-26) Koirala, Sanju
The Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus Leadership Program in Nepal aims to not only strengthen leadership and negotiation skills, but to create champions equipped with the technical knowledge and tools, and create the enabling conditions (including recognition and support networks) these champions need, to advance equitable WEFE nexus decision-making and implementation.
Youth engagement in agripreneurship in Zimbabwe: report and recommendations
(Report, 2024-11-12) Mukwashi, T.; Mabika, V.; Mokhema, Seipati; Enokenwa Baa, Ojongetakah; Davis, Kristin E.
Africa has witnessed various initiatives, programs, projects and investments aiming at poverty alleviation, agricultural sector strengthening, and rural income generation. Interventions such as agricultural training and technology adoption have shown promising results, boosting productivity and incomes among smallholder farmers. In Zimbabwe, the Ukama Ustawi (UU) initiative has spearheaded efforts to engage youth in agribusiness, fostering food security and social inclusion. This CGIAR Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa aims to empower millions of vulnerable smallholder farmers to transition from maize-mixed systems to sustainably intensified, diversified, and de-risked agri-food systems. One of the research activities under this initiative is Work Package 5 (WP5): Empower and Engage Women and Youth in Agribusiness Ecosystems. Following landscaping study and dialogue in Zimbabwe and Malawi, UU plans to implement brief, impactful interventions intended to pilot or amplify existing youth agripreneurship interventions in both countries. The intervention will be implemented over a period of six months in Zimbabwe, and it will align with WP5.
Design of intervention for youth engagement in agripreneurship in Malawi
(Report, 2024-11-12) Chitika, R.; Nhlane, M.; Enokenwa Baa, Ojongetakah; Mokhema, Seipati; Davis, Kristin E.
The CGIAR Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa also known as Ukama Ustawi” (UU) Initiative’s goal is to empower millions of vulnerable smallholder farmers to transition from maize mixed systems to sustainably intensified, diversified, and de-risked agrifood systems is well underway. The initiative is being implemented in 13 African countries using coordinated transformative change interventions driven by an understanding of the unique multidimensional challenges and the opportunities they present in the different local and national contexts. One of the research activities in Ukama Ustawi is Work Package 5 (WP5): Empower and Engage women and youth in agribusiness ecosystems. In implementing this work package in Malawi, the project commissioned a landscaping study to map out the multidimensional challenges faced by the youth in agribusiness, the current interventions that are addressing the challenges, and the unique opportunities for coordinated interventions. A design workshop was held in which key stakeholders in the agribusiness space discussed the opportunities for coordinated interventions to find the best way to use available resources and linkages in a project that furthers the goals of Work Package 5. This was supplemented by key informant interviews and follow-up design activities by the Equip Consulting Group team. The proposed intervention title is “Scaling Youth Innovations in Agribusiness.” The purpose is to identify innovations for scaling a youth organization called Associated Center for Agro-based Development and Entrepreneurship Support (ACADES). Specifically, the intervention will seek to increase youth participation in agribusiness by showcasing the benefits other young people have gotten from agribusiness and to promote the sustainability of youth ventures in agribusiness by outlining best practices that have led to ACADES's continued growth. The project will be implemented over nine months, in Mchinji and Nkhotakota Districts in the central region of Malawi and will coordinate or partner with financial institutions, other youth networks, the National Youth Council of Malawi, and the private sector.
Designing a multi-stakeholder platform to manage the Lower Kafue Basin in Zambia
(Brief, 2024-09-30) Siangulube, Freddie Sayi; Mapedza, Everisto; Buisson, Marie-Charlotte; Ng'ambi, Florence
Breaking the GESI policy-practice gridlock in agriculture in Ethiopia: GESI scorecards as self-assessment tools
(News Item, 2024-02-05) Joshi, Deepa; Nigussie, Likimyelesh; Mapedza, Everisto; Adane, S.; Mekonnen, M.
Agricultural extension services in Bangladesh: experiences of vulnerability, access, and benefits
(Brief, 2024-11-08) Joshi, Deepa; Panagiotou, A.; Rahman, M. W.
Bangladesh, one of the world's most densely populated countries, faces significant challenges related to poverty, food insecurity, and agricultural productivity. With over 40% of the population engaged in agriculture, the majority of which involves smallholder rice farming, these challenges are even more pronounced. Approximately 92% of farmers own less than 0.5 hectares of land, making it difficult for them to achieve sustainable incomes. While efforts like irrigation and triple-cropping aim to intensify crop production, they often fail to ensure economic stability, especially in climate-vulnerable coastal regions. Farmers in these areas frequently resort to seasonal migration and face severe economic distress. Given these conditions, agricultural innovation and access to extension services are crucial for improving food security and farmer livelihoods. However, adoption of new agricultural practices remains low, especially among women, due to challenges such as low literacy, cultural norms, and limited social mobility. Agricultural extension services are vital to addressing these challenges. Traditionally provided by public institutions, these services are increasingly supplemented by private and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), driven by declining government funding. Public extension services focus on providing subsidized inputs, such as seeds and fertilizers. However, inefficiencies arise due to poor coordination between stakeholders, leading to contradictory advice and resource misallocation. Furthermore, outreach is often insufficient, particularly for marginalized groups like women and landless farmers, who are frequently excluded from formal training programs. Cultural practices, such as purdah, further limit women’s participation in public activities, restricting their access to agricultural knowledge. While informal networks, including farmer-led clubs and local NGOs, play an important role in disseminating information, they lack the capacity to drive large-scale, sustainable change. A study conducted in Polder 34/2 of Batiaghata Upazila, Khulna District, highlights the limitations of formal extension services. The research found that most farmers rely on informal knowledge-sharing networks or peer observation, as formal training mainly benefits landowning farmers. Those who received formal extension services reported better crop yields, whereas those relying on informal networks struggled with climate-related issues, such as salinity and irregular rainfall. The study also revealed that extension services predominantly focus on crop systems, neglecting the important roles of livestock and fisheries, which are also vital to the agrarian economy. This lack of integration across agricultural sectors further exacerbates the vulnerabilities faced by smallholder farmers. In conclusion, while agricultural extension services have the potential to improve food security and support smallholder farmers, the current system is fragmented and inadequate. The research calls for better coordination between public, private, and informal actors and targeted approaches to ensure marginalized groups, especially women, have access to agricultural knowledge. Long-term, programmatic interventions are needed to build a more resilient and inclusive agricultural system capable of addressing the evolving challenges posed by climate change and socio-economic inequality in Bangladesh.
Ukama Ustawi: a GALS approach to empowering Malawian farmers
(Blog Post, 2024-08-07) Mabele, Thato; Baa, Ojongetakah Enokenwa
Exploring policy coherence to understand limited progress of gender and social inclusion in the energy sector: the case of Nepal
(Journal Article, 2024-07-01) Buchy, Marlene; Shakya, Shristi
Goal 7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030 but securing universal access to energy supplies remains a challenge worldwide. There is increased recognition that gender and social inclusion (GESI) is critical for the transition towards low-carbon energy. Nepal’s inclusive 2015 Constitution, and its 2021 federal-level Gender Equality Policy translate this commitment. Likewise, Nepal is committed to SDG 7. Yet energy policy includes only limited provisions for ensuring energy access by marginalized groups and women. This paper focuses on energy policy coherence to identify cohesion between policies and policy instruments at different levels of governance to identify bottlenecks to GESI. Using a policy coherence and feminist policy approach within an energy justice context, it traces the coherence of GESI policy through time and in relation to overall GESI policy objectives. Horizontal and internal coherence are assessed through the parallels/disjoints between energy-related periodic plans, policies, budgets, and GESI aims. The evolution of GESI in energy investments has been slow in part because of a narrow conceptualization of the policy problem and a lack of coherence and synchronization across documents, which undermines implementation of the GESI agenda.
A landscape analysis of youth engagement in agripreneurship in Malawi
(Report, 2024-04-30) Kabuli, A.; Enokenwa Baa, Ojongetakah; Davis, Kristin E.
This report aims to explore the multidimensional challenges and opportunities for youth in agripreneurship in Malawi for a better understanding of interventions for youth in agribusiness. It examines the enabling and disenabling environment for young agripreneurs and how best to engage youth within the agribusiness sector. The report draws on in-depth interviews, workshops, and secondary literature to highlight key issues and strategies to engage youth agripreneurs in Malawi. It also offers recommendations for actors, practitioners, and policymakers to enhance transformative interventions for youth participation in agribusiness. Suggested measures include improving access to input, market, and equipment, setting up quota systems targeting youth agripreneurs, and better coordinating youth programs between ministries and the private sectors. The report also emphasized that these strategies are not just to achieve youth inclusion in agribusiness but also for the sustainability of youth programs which contribute to building resilient societies.
Gender policy analysis in South Asia
(Brief, 2024-04-26) Buchy, Marlene; Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta; Dikshit, Manya; Karki, Darshan; Pradhan, Melissa; Taneja, Garima
This methodology brief, developed within the CGIAR initiative on National Policies and Strategies, tackles essential questions about how gender is woven (or not) into the fabric of a policy document – and how to interpret and understand the results. This tool, centered around a list of questions to use systematically whilst interrogating policy documents, is primarily designed for policy researchers, but the questions can also act as a guide during policy design for policy makers.
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) for climate-smart water management practices: the case of Upper Awash River Basin of Wollo and Lower Awash River Basin of Afar in Ethiopia
(Report, 2024-03-27) Nigussie, Likimyelesh; Joshi, Deepa; Tsegaye, B.; Admasu, W.; Abate, N.
This research study on gender and water resources management, led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and its partners in Ethiopia, was designed to collect primary and secondary data on how smallholder agricultural producer communities in selected catchments are impacted by and cope with climate change. Our focus was on exploring opportunities and barriers for designing and implementing gender-responsive and climate resilient water resources planning and management interventions that are contextually relevant. The research findings will be further translated into actionable recommendations for gender-responsive decision support tools for climate-smart water resources management. The study, informed by the Gender Empowerment Framework and a qualitative research methodology, analyzed soil and water conservation initiatives and small-scale irrigation (SSI) interventions in four districts of the Awash River Basin. These locations were the Kalu and Habru districts from the Upper Awash Catchment in Wollo, and the Ewa and Afambo districts from the Lower Awash Catchment in Afar. These four districts were chosen for their diversity of conservation initiatives and livelihoods. Data were collected from a total sample size of 309 individuals – 288 of whom were smallholder farmers (160 women and 128 men) and 21 were key informants from local government offices – by conducting 96 in-depth interviews, 24 focus group discussions and 21 key informant interviews. The data were analyzed to assess the gender dynamics of productivity, production and practices, and SSI practices, focusing on three key dimensions: resources, agency and institutions. The three key results and recommendations are as follows: First, climate impacts result in diverse outcomes for women (and men). It causes malnutrition in persons with special needs and increases the workload of women and girls, who are predominantly responsible for domestic work. This requires interventions that focus on the needs, priorities, barriers and challenges of these groups, and ensure targeted opportunities in decision-making, access to resources and services, and benefits. Second, deep-rooted sociocultural norms and barriers impact outreach efforts for women and marginalized groups; this includes the effective engagement of these groups in capacity building training programs, and their access to relevant information, entrepreneurial opportunities and linkages across the value chains. Without addressing these barriers, making a sustained impact in terms of gender equality and social inclusion will not be possible. We recommend adopting interventions that address the structural barriers to women’s participation in leadership positions, promoting gender-responsive practices across institutions and building synergy among relevant stakeholders. Third, insufficient institutional capacities among implementing actors present key obstacles to the design and implementation of gender-responsive climate-smart water technologies and practices. Overcoming these challenges necessitates commitment from leaders and the allocation of sufficient resources to establish and enhance institutional systems such as mechanisms for accountability, monitoring and evaluation. Additionally, it entails evidence-based and data-driven research on gender to collate gender and social inclusion challenges. This report presents a synthesis focused on the methodology and key findings of the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) study. For further information, the reader is advised to refer to the detailed report prepared as part of the study, which can be accessed by contacting the lead author.

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