CGIAR GENDER Platform working papers

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/115686

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Can machine-learning models predict gendered labor statistics using mobile phone and geospatial data?
(Working Paper, 2024-12-30) Seymour, Greg; Follett, Lendie; Henderson, Heath; Ferguson, Nathaniel
High-quality data on rural women’s and men’s labor is imperative for tracking progress on gender equality and women’s empowerment, and for evaluating development interventions aimed at these outcomes. Yet, there remains a general lack of sex-disaggregated data on unpaid care and domestic work, earnings, employment and entrepreneurship. Researchers are increasingly looking to digital technologies, such as mobile phones, as an emerging data source with significant potential for closing gender data gaps. In this paper, we attempt to use mobile phone data and machine-learning models to predict gendered labor-market indicators for a large sample of mobile phone users in Ghana. Although our models predict mobile phone subscribers’ sex with reasonable accuracy, they predict women’s and men’s labor-market outcomes only slightly better than random guessing. The models’ mixed results may be partly attributed to noisiness in the data due to disruptions in mobile phone and employment-related behaviors caused by COVID-19. Our results also point to potential methodological limitations in using machine-learning methods and mobile phone data to estimate gendered labor-market indicators, and more generally suggest that we should proceed cautiously when thinking about leveraging digital technologies and machine learning to close data gaps. We conclude the paper with several recommendations for how the methodology might be refined in future work.
Power with: conceptualizing and measuring women’s collective agency
(Working Paper, 2024) Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; ElDidi, Hagar; Pereira, Audrey; Heckert, Jessica; Kosec, Katrina; Nchanji, Eileen; Seymour, Greg; Doss, Cheryl
Collective agency, or power with, is fundamental to feminist approaches to empowerment. Yet despite the growth in measures of women’s empowerment in recent years, and the prevalence of group-based approaches to foster empowerment, conceptualization and empirical measurement of collective agency remains a critical gap. This paper attempts to bridge this gap through a literature review, expert opinions and the experience of researchers working with practitioners who are mobilizing women’s groups in four case studies. We develop a conceptual framework based on Kabeer’s (1999, 2002) framework of resources, agency and achievements. We then use that framework for mapping key concepts related to collective agency, including collective efficacy, collective action, collective achievements, and tangible and intangible resources (including social capital). We discuss the importance of considering these key concepts at the individual and at the collective levels. We illustrate potential methods and challenges of operationalizing these concepts through four case study projects in India, Guatemala, Uganda and Nigeria, and discuss the challenges of developing a common instrument to measure collective agency, in theory and in practice. With examples of how key concepts related to collective agency have been operationalized, the conceptual framework offers guidance for moving beyond simplistic notions that forming groups automatically empowers women. It provides a way to study how different types of groups effectively help women achieve individual and collective goals. Combined with individual respondent characteristics, group-level measures can help researchers and practitioners understand how women can exercise voice and agency in different types of groups. The group-level measures also examine how group composition, organizational structures and decision-making processes impact collective agency and effectiveness.
Bridging norms and resources: Enhancing gender equality and adaptive capacities in Bangladesh’s climate-stricken agrifood systems
(Working Paper, 2024-10-15) Akhter, Sadika; Lecoutere, Els; Kihoro, E.; Kamruzzaman, M.; Dey, Durjoy
In the context of changing agrifood systems (AFS) and climate change, it is critical to uncover how gender equality and adaptive capacity within AFS can be simultaneously addressed. This study tests hypotheses derived from a Gendered Food Systems framework and recent frameworks linking climate change and gender equality in AFS. The hypotheses suggest that reducing structural constraints to gender equality in AFS will contribute to women’s empowerment and more gender-equal climate-adaptive capacities and AFS outcomes, such as food and nutrition outcomes. We test these hypotheses by examining the effects of a first intervention, ‘Engaging Communities and Authority to Tackle Oppressions’ (ECATTO), which addressed discriminatory gender norms and attitudes, and a second intervention ‘Strengthening Household Ability to Respond to Development Opportunities’ (SHOUHARDO III), which addressed access to resources and extension services, both implemented in Kishoreganj district, a climate and gender inequality hotspot in Bangladesh. We collected primary gender-disaggregated intrahousehold data among treatment and control populations in March 2023 and used quasi-experimental methods to test the hypotheses. ECATTO proved effective at improving awareness among both women and men about women’s rights and improving positive attitudes toward women’s leadership. It also increased women’s confidence in assuming leadership roles and led to a decrease in incidents of violence in households, as reported by men. However, it did not result in a change in women’s own reported experiences of violence. SHOUHARDO III promoted the adoption of climate-smart farming and livestock practices by women while also reducing intrahousehold disparities in access to resources and services. Both ECATTO and SHOUHARDO III contributed to increasing women’s empowerment in agriculture. Additionally, ECATTO was associated with an increase in women’s dietary diversity. Our study findings confirm some of the hypotheses, indicating that challenging structural barriers to gender inequality associated with discriminatory norms and attitudes, and challenging unequal access to resources and extension services can support women’s empowerment in climate-affected AFS. Enhancing gender-equal access to resources can also support gender-equal climate-adaptive capacities, suggesting a promising avenue to improve gender equality and climate-adaptive capacity simultaneously in AFS. Moreover, challenging discriminatory norms and attitudes has the potential to increase gender equality in nutrition outcomes, which may not be achieved solely by increasing access to resources.
Scoping review on gender-disaggregated data in climate-smart agriculture
(Working Paper, 2024-08-30) Wright, Peter; Deering, Karl; Tasew, Abinet; Smith, Emma; Miruka, Maureen; Mohanraj, Pranati; Swira, Henry
The focus of this scoping review is to understand the extent gender-disaggregated data are available in climate-smart agriculture (CSA) programming, identify gaps in the collection and analysis of this data, and suggest ways to bridge those gaps to reduce gender inequalities that may prevent women and girls from benefiting from CSA programming. The methodology involves a qualitative approach that uses a desk review of selected literature and key informant interviews. To identify relevant literature, CARE used key words to conduct a text search that included peer-reviewed and published literature, gray literature, official data sets and sources and other qualitative evidence. The key informant interviews included a convenience sample of 11 key informants representing multilateral agencies, an international nongovernment organization program, a local nongovernment organization (NGO) program, government programs, a national agricultural research institute, an international research institute, and a private sector program. The key informant interviews were conducted to address several objectives, including assessing gaps in collecting, analyzing, and using disaggregated data for gender, social, economic and demographic intersectional variables in CSA programming; identifying indicators and tools used to measure project outcomes and impacts; and understanding the periodicity of data collection and people involved in such data collection. The CSA framework has three primary objectives: production, resilience and mitigation. Gender equality, social inclusion and other equity-oriented objectives are not included in these three objectives. Gender was retrospectively included as something that should be “mainstreamed” in the pursuit of the three primary objectives. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) seminal paper on CSA in 2010 did not address gender, gender equality or equity. As a result, there are no tools, methods or metrics that address gender equality in the paper. The weakness of the CSA framework has become more apparent over time, and the discourse and practice on gender in agriculture has progressed from sensitivity and mainstreaming toward responsiveness and eventually transformation. However, there has been no commitment to specific actions and measurement systems that would track progress, illustrating the lack of expectation and ambition for advancing gender equality within CSA.
Integrating social inclusion perspectives in agricultural food systems research for development: A background paper
(Working Paper, 2024-06-30) Cullen, Beth; Debevec, Liza
This paper: (1) defines social inclusion, (2) summarizes current research about social inclusion in agri-food systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), (3) outlines the relevance of a social inclusion perspective in agricultural and food system research for development, (4) reflects on the complementarity/intersectionality of a social inclusion perspective and a gender perspective, (5) proposes a position for CGIAR on social inclusion, and (6) proposes an approach to key indicators of impact for social inclusion in agri-food systems. This paper draws on relevant peer-reviewed literature and grey literature, including institutional strategies, guidelines, frameworks and toolkits, and donor publications. In addition, the authors conducted 11 interviews with researchers currently working within CGIAR, former CGIAR employees and external development practitioners working in gender and social inclusion and who are familiar with CGIAR’s work. It was important to gather theoretical and academic perspectives, while also grounding the recommendations in the realities of research for development processes. Information from these interviews has informed and helped shape the content and recommendations of this paper.
Youth in international agricultural research for development: A background paper
(Working Paper, 2024-07-30) Thorsen, Dorte; Glover, Dominic; Cabral, Lidia
Youth is recognized as a key demographic in international agricultural and rural development. Although urbanization may absorb some of the youth population, agrifood systems will provide significant employment in the foreseeable future, notably in rural and peri-urban areas (Girard 2023; Dolislager et al. 2021). Young men and women hold large stakes in the future of sustainable agrifood systems, and they are recognized as an important target group for agricultural research for development (AR4D) interventions. How then should the organizations that conduct and implement AR4D projects and programs engage with youth? How should these organizations orient themselves to include youth in the research process and be sensitized to their needs and priorities? How can they conduct research, and design and develop new technologies, in ways that take into account the different needs and capabilities of youth, as well as the social positions from which they act? How can AR4D activities be organized and focused to generate substantial benefits for youth? This paper was commissioned by the CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform Its aim is to inform the Platform’s efforts to support the integration of a youth perspective within the agricultural and food system research-for-development initiatives undertaken by CGIAR and its partners. The objective is to guide the GENDER Platform, CGIAR and its collaborators to conduct research and develop new technologies that advance gender equality, take account of the variation in young people’s experiences, and create opportunities for youth within agricultural and food systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This defines the scope of the paper, which is addressed principally to the 15 CGIAR Research Centers, and their national and international partners, which conduct research and innovation activities that aim to contribute to agricultural and food systems transformation. The paper is also intended to be relevant and useful to other national, international, philanthropic and non-governmental organizations involved in the design, conduct or evaluation of AR4D programs. This paper will assist CGIAR Centers—particularly those affiliated to the One CGIAR framework agreement—to realize their strategic aims and objectives with respect to youth. The paper will also be useful to other AR4D organizations and professionals involved in the design, implementation or evaluation of strategies, projects and programs across the agrifood domain because these programs typically involve or affect youth. A key objective of the One CGIAR Research Strategy to 2030 is to “offer rewarding opportunities to 267 million young people who are not in employment, education, or training (NEETs)” (CGIAR System Organization 2021, 19). This strategy extends the work done during the preceding strategy period, as the former CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs) all framed youth strategies in their second phases (2017–2022).
A review of social inclusion guidelines, methods and tools
(Working Paper, 2024-07-15) Cullen, Beth; Debevec, Liza
The concept of social inclusion—the process of improving the terms of participation in society—is gaining influence. This paper identifies, reviews and curates social inclusion resources for agri-food systems research. The paper analyzes how resources frame social inclusion and assesses the extent they adhere to social inclusion principles. After an introduction to social inclusion and its evolution since the 1970s, we discuss how social inclusion has been mobilised within the agri-food systems research sector and the development landscape. Using a mostly qualitative approach, we classify and analyze a selection of social inclusion guidelines, frameworks, methods and tools. We evaluate this selection based on criteria identified from a review of social inclusion literature, highlight good practices and identify gaps. In conclusion, we offer recommendations to inform the design and use of future AR4D social inclusion resources.
Gender and climate-resilient agriculture: A review of concepts and practical resources in support of gender-transformative change
(Working Paper, 2023-12-30) Nelson, Valerie; Forsythe, L.
To advance the use of gender-transformative approaches in climate-resilient agriculture (CRA), a review of practical resources that could support researchers and practitioners in applying gender and CRA was undertaken. The review consolidates and assesses diverse, practical resources—including research tools, methods and broader guidance—that aim to address gender inequalities/inequities, climate and agriculture, albeit to varying degrees. A conceptual framework was developed to guide the review, which helped to establish the gender dimensions of climate-resilience processes, and then to assess how the practical resources addressed these dimensions. The types of practical resources identified as critically important for climate resilience are as follows: (1) anticipatory, foresight and scenarios; (2) context and enabling environment; (3) causes and patterns of vulnerability and resilience; (4) CRA agricultural innovation systems; (5) CRA practices, technologies, innovations and services; (6) appraisal of specific CRA practices; (7) assessing CRA outcomes of processes and interventions; and (8) transformative change. In total, 44 practical resources were identified, of which 16 were identified as tools/ methods, and 28 as broader guidance documents (such as information notes). The review considers how gender and intersectionality are addressed in each practical resource, and the quality and ethical issues that may arise from using the resource. After mapping the existing resources, the review identified key gaps in the practical resources available. These gaps included: anticipatory and foresight resources, enabling environment to support gender and CRA, and analysis of gender and agricultural research and extension. A range of promising practical resources are identified that could be adapted to support gender-transformative approaches to CRA, from areas such as gender and value-chain analysis, gender-based violence, landscape approaches, migration, gender and social norms, and men and boys’ engagement.
Uncovering the intersection of women’s empowerment and gender equality for climate adaptive capacities in climate hotspots in Zambia
(Working Paper, 2023-12-30) Kihoro, Esther; Lecoutere, Els; Mishra, Avni
Women in agrifood systems in low- and middle-income countries are more likely than men to be adversely affected by climate change. They also have more limited climate-adaptive capacities due to socioeconomic and cultural factors, such as restricted access to resources, information and technology, discriminatory gender norms, and limited decision-making power. This study examines the extent to which women’s empowerment in the household is associated with intrahousehold gender equality for climate-adaptive capacities and practices in places experiencing significant climate change hazards and stressors. It also explores the strength of the association of different dimensions of women’s empowerment with gender equality in climate-adaptive capacities. The study concentrates on the Luapula and Northwestern provinces in Zambia, where women face high climate change risks. The study uses gender-disaggregated intrahousehold data that captures information about access to, and knowledge and adoption of, practices that support climate-adaptive capacities, women’s empowerment and perceived climate change. This data was collected from 199 households headed by a married or partnered couple, and regression analysis was applied to the data to test two hypotheses. The results support the first hypothesis of a positive correlation between women’s empowerment and intrahousehold gender equality to climate-adaptive capacities and, more specifically, access to technical advice on climate-smart agricultural practices. The results also support the second hypothesis that various dimensions of women’s empowerment—attitudes toward violence (norms), intrinsic agency, instrumental agency and collective agency—are associated with intrahousehold gender equality in climate-adaptive capacities in varying ways. The study’s findings highlight the complexity of the relationships between women’s empowerment and gender equality to climate-adaptive capacities in climate change hotspots, and emphasize the need for context-specific analyses and solutions.
How do couples in rural Tanzania make decisions? Findings from a novel mixed-methods approach for understanding intrahousehold decision-making
(Working Paper, 2023-12-15) Cole, Steven M.; Ferguson, Nathaniel; Heckert, Jessica; Mwakanyamale, Devis F.; Seymour, Greg; Feleke, S.; Fischer, Gundula; John, Innocensia; Lija, Z.; Nyaa, M.; Zacharia, H.
Fostering gender-transformative change for equality in food systems: A review of methods and strategies at multiple levels
(Working Paper, 2023-11-15) McDougall, C.; Elias, Marlène; Zwanck, D.; Diop, K.; Simao, J.; Galiè, Alessandra; Fischer, Gundula; Jumba, Humphrey; Najjar, Dina
Closing Gender Gaps in Productivity to Advance Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
(Working Paper, 2023-04-15) Puskur, R.; Jumba, H.; Reddy, B.; Etale, L.; Ragasa, Catherine; Mishra, A.; Mangheni, Margaret Najjingo; Nchanji, E.; Cole, S.
Addressing Gender Inequalities and Strengthening Women’s Agency for Climate-resilient and Sustainable Food Systems
(Working Paper, 2023-04-15) Bryan, Elizabeth; Alvi, M.; Huyer, Sophia; Ringler, Claudia
Climate change affects every aspect of the food system, including all nodes along agrifood value chains from production to consumption, the food environments in which people live, and outcomes, such as diets and livelihoods. Women and men often have specific roles and responsibilities within food systems, yet structural inequalities (formal and informal) limit women’s access to resources, services and agency. These inequalities affect the ways in which women and men experience and are affected by climate change. In addition to gender, other social factors are at play, such as age, education, marital status, and health and economic conditions. To date, most climate change policies, investments, and interventions do not adequately integrate gender. If climate-smart and climate-resilient interventions do not adequately take gender differences into account, they might exacerbate gender inequalities in food systems by, for instance, increasing women’s labor burden and time poverty, reducing their access to and control over income and assets, and reducing their decision-making power. At the same time, women’s contributions are critical to make food systems more resilient to the negative impacts of climate change, given their specialized knowledge, skills and roles in agrifood systems, within the household, at work and at the community level. Increasing the resilience of food systems requires going beyond addressing gendered vulnerabilities to climate change to create an enabling environment that supports gender equality and women’s empowerment, by removing structural barriers and rigid gender norms, and building equal power dynamics, as part of a process of gender -transformative change.
Beyond Crops: Towards Gender Equality in Forestry, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Livestock Development
(Working Paper, 2023-04-15) Elias, M.; Zaremba, H.; Tavenner, K.; Ragasa, Catherine; Paez Valencia, A.M.; Choudhury, A.; Haan, N. de
Measuring Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture: Innovations and Evidence
(Working Paper, 2023) Quisumbing, Agnes R.; Cole, Steven M.; Elias, Marlène; Faas, Simone; Galiè, Alessandra; Malapit, Hazel J.; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; Myers, Emily; Seymour, Greg; Twyman, Jennifer
Making Complementary Agricultural Resources, Technologies and Services More Gender Responsive
(Working Paper, 2023-04-15) Kosec, Katrina; Hidrobo, Melissa; Gartaula, Hom Nath; Van Campenhout, Bjorn; Carrillo, Lucia
Fostering an Enabling Environment for Equality and Empowerment in Agri-food Systems
(Working Paper, 2023-04-15) Lecoutere, Els; Achandi, Esther L.; Ampaire, E.L.; Fischer, G.; Gumucio, T.; Najjar, D.; Singaraju, N.
Equality and Empowerment by Gender and Intersecting Social Differentiation in Agri-food Systems: Setting the Stage
(Working Paper, 2023-04-15) Lecoutere, Els; Kosec, Katrina; Quisumbing, Agnes R.; Elias, M.; Bryan, Elizabeth; Puskur, R.
Achieving gender and social equality in agri-food systems can result in greater food security and better nutrition for all—and transform food systems to be more just, resilient and sustainable. Equitable food systems are essential to achieving SDG 5, whose gender equality goal is intrinsically valuable and whose achievement supports progress across all other SDGs. Current thinking has evolved from focusing on gender gaps to enabling gender-transformative change in agri-food systems, fostering gender and social equality and women’s empowerment. A global snapshot of gender and social equality and of women’s empowerment in agriculture and food systems shows that persistent structural barriers in different domains and at multiple scales are the root causes of gaps by gender and intersecting differentiation. Gender-transformative change in agri-food systems hence necessitates a holistic and inclusive approach to dismantle those barriers. Six working papers for a report on the Status of Rural Women in Agri-food Systems, 10 years after the State of Food and Agriculture 2010–11 (SOFA), developed by the CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform address six key themes important for transformative change by gender and intersecting social differentiation, and for women’s empowerment in agriculture and food systems. They are: a. fostering an enabling environment for equality and empowerment in agri-food systems b. making complementary agricultural resources, technologies, and services more gender responsive c. measuring women’s empowerment in agriculture: innovations and evidence d. beyond crops: toward gender equality in forestry, fisheries, aquaculture and livestock development e. addressing gender inequalities and strengthening women’s agency for climate-resilient and sustainable food systems f. closing gender gaps in productivity to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment
A Community of Practice for Gender-Transformative Research Methodologies
(Working Paper, 2022-12-31) Rietveld, Anne M.; Gartaula, Hom Nath; Farnworth, Cathy Rozel; López, Diana E.; Bailey, Arwen; Hellin, Jonathan; Fisher, Eleanor; Kramer, Berber; Teeken, Béla; Mujawamariya, Gaudiose; Choudhury, Afrina
The Community of Practice on Gender-Transformative Research Methodologies (GTRM-CoP) builds on work conducted by international gender researchers at CGIAR and partner organizations. The community of practice is committed to gender-transformative change processes; and aims to co-create socially just and gender-equitable futures in food, land and water systems. The GTRM-CoP aims to promote the transformative ambitions of CGIAR, its partners, and interested organizations and individuals, by creating safe spaces for innovating, sharing and scaling gender-transformative research methodologies. The community of practice is part of the CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform and housed under the Methods module of the Platform. A Community of Practice (CoP) is an ideal mechanism for promoting rapid, interactive and creative learning. Four initial topic groups have been identified to begin knowledge exchange and co-creation: gender-equitable masculinities, intersectionality, transformative research processes and data, and mobilizing GENNOVATE data and tools. The GTRM-CoP aims to accelerate learning and action that fosters gender-transformative change in food, land and water systems, through the interactions within and between the topic groups, following a set of principles and values and in a spirit of humility and learning. These lessons will be available to others within CGIAR and beyond as part of a global movement toward gender equity and achieving Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).
Effectively targeting climate investments: A methodology for mapping climate–agriculture–gender inequality hotspots
(Working Paper, 2022-05-10) Koo, Jawoo; Azzarri, Carlo; Mishra, Avni; Lecoutere, Els; Puskur, Ranjitha; Chanana, Nitya; Singaraju, Niyati; Nico, Gianluigi; Khatri-Chhetri, Arun
Climate change is influencing the transformation of agriculture and food systems across the globe in unprecedented ways. A large number of smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) who depend on these systems for their food and nutrition security, and incomes are experiencing increasing vulnerability. Women are at a particular disadvantage, given their lower adaptive capacity due to unequal access to productive resources and services, driven by deeply entrenched social and gender norms and other structural barriers. However, addressing these gender gaps can enable women to use their knowledge and skill to contribute to climate-resilient agriculture. This paper proposes a methodology to map climate–agriculture–gender inequality hotspots at national and subnational levels where climate hazards, women’s exposure to climate hazards affecting food systems, and gender inequalities converge to impact women’s vulnerability to climate change. These hotspots are geographical areas where extreme climate hazards intersect with large concentrations of women participating in food systems and in the agricultural labor force, and with high levels of gender inequalities—and as such, result in high risk and exposure, low adaptive capacities, and higher vulnerability of women to adverse effects of climate change. The hotspots are identified using a set of indicators based on available secondary data comparable across the countries, conforming to the framework developed for this assessment, and using the Principal Component Analysis methodology. The paper also presents the results of the analysis emerging from the application of this methodology. This includes a global ranking of 87 LMICs in Latin America, Asia and Africa by a climate–agriculture–gender inequality hotspot index using representative national-level data. Identification of subnational climate–agriculture–gender inequality hotspot areas using representative subnational level data in four selected countries is also discussed. Hotspot mapping can support organizations aiming to effectively target investments to address climate-change mitigation and adaptation so that women are not left out, and the climate change–induced food-systems transformations help advance gender equality.

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