CGIAR Initiative on Gender Equality

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/117893

Part of the CGIAR Action Area on Systems Transformation

Primary CGIAR impact area: Gender equality, youth and social inclusion

https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/26-her-harnessing-equality-for-resilience-in-the-agrifood-system/

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 629

Making agricultural supply chains deliver better for women
(Journal Article, 2025-04-10) Joya, Fernanda Soto; Shijagurumayum, Meghajit; Wiegel, Jenny; Elias, Marlene; González, Silvia; Rodríguez-Fabilena, René; Licona, Andrea; Sánchez, Liliana; Rodríguez, Ivan; Sosa, Ítalo
Ecosystem restoration centered in people
(Journal Article, 2025-04-01) Mansourian, Stephanie; Djenontin, Ida N. S.; Elias, Marlene; Oldekop, Johan A; Derkyi, Mercy A. A.; Kull, Christian A.; Pacheco, Pablo
Strengthening women’s livelihoods through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): Policy strategies for resilience and inclusion: The Bhubaneshwar Charter
(Brief, 2025-05-20) Narayanan, Sudha; Raghunathan, Kalyani; Kosec, Katrina; Paul, Meekha Hannah; Kumar, Deepak; Agnihotri, Satish B.; Murthy, Indu K.; Sarathy, Partha; Panda, Aditi
Globally, there is increasing recognition of the significant potential for social protection programs to sup-port sustainable livelihoods and build household resilience to climatic and economic shocks (Jordan et al., 2021; Norton et al., 2020). For women—who disproportionately bear the burden of these shocks—such programs serve as a critical safety net and a pathway to economic empowerment (Kosec et al., 2023; Mason & Agan, 2015). Yet, the extent to which social protection delivers on this promise depends on robust financing, inclusive program design, and effective implementation. Evidence suggests that public interventions often fall short in addressing gender inequalities, and that complementary efforts must be made to redress entrenched disadvantages that women might face in shaping, accessing, and benefiting from these programs.
Explorando la intersección entre el cambio climático y la violencia basada en género
(Video, 2025-02-26) Penel, Charlotte
Within the framework of the project “Generating more evidence on the challenges and experiences of women in climate change adaptation in national policies (of Guatemala),” funded by the Government of Ireland, this presentation explores the multiple intersections between climate change and gender-based violence (GBV), highlighting how climate impacts intensify human security risks and exacerbate pre-existing gender inequalities. By analyzing causal pathways such as economic and food insecurity, health, access to natural resources, and climate-induced displacement, the presentation identifies concrete mechanisms through which climate change contributes to increased GBV. It also emphasizes how factors such as poverty, age, education level, and migration status create intersectional vulnerabilities that disproportionately affect women, girls and other marginalised groups. Despite these vulnerabilities, women can be important agents of change and play a role in environmental conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable development. The presentation concludes with a call to develop research on these interlinked issues to further our understanding on this topic, especially in the Latin American region, as well as adopting holistic and intersectional approaches, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration to address the root causes of this nexus. Dentro del marco del proyecto “Obtener más evidencia sobre los desafíos y experiencias de las mujeres en materia de adaptación al cambio climático en las políticas a nivel nacional (de Guatemala)” financiado por el gobierno de Irlanda, esta presentación explora las múltiples intersecciones entre el cambio climático y la violencia basada en género (VBG), destacando cómo los impactos climáticos intensifican los riesgos para la seguridad humana y agravan las desigualdades de género preexistentes. A través del análisis de rutas causales como la inseguridad económica y alimentaria, la salud, el acceso a los recursos naturales y los desplazamientos inducidos por el clima, la presentación identifica mecanismos concretos mediante los cuales el cambio climático contribuye al aumento de la VBG. Asimismo, se enfatiza cómo factores como la pobreza, la edad, el nivel educativo y la situación migratoria generan vulnerabilidades interseccionales que afectan de manera desproporcionada a las mujeres, las niñas y otros grupos marginados. A pesar de estas vulnerabilidades, las mujeres pueden ser agentes importantes de cambio y juegan un papel en la conservación del medio ambiente, la resiliencia climática y en el desarrollo sostenible. La presentación concluye con un llamado a desarrollar investigaciones sobre estos temas interrelacionados para profundizar nuestra comprensión, especialmente en la región latinoamericana, así como a adoptar enfoques holísticos e interseccionales y fomentar la colaboración intersectorial para abordar las causas estructurales de este nexo.
Pathways to power in fragile settings: Rethinking women’s roles in agriculture and food systems
(Blog Post, 2025-04-25) Quisumbing, Agnes R.; Kyle, Jordan; Kosec, Katrina; Ragasa, Catherine
Research shows that women play pivotal roles in farming—across value chains, and in food systems as a whole. With harmful effects of climate change, conflict, forced migration, and other problems on the rise, many women around the world find themselves in increasingly fragile settings—creating new challenges in efforts to achieve gender equity and empowerment in food systems. An IFPRI-organized March 13 session at the NGO Forum on the 69th Commission on the Status of Women at United Nations Headquarters in New York highlighted recent research on different aspects of how women in fragile food systems can become empowered. Evidence shows that when equipped with tools, voice, and recognition, women act—not only to improve their own well-being but to strengthen resilience across households and communities.
From farm to table: Women at the agriculture-nutrition nexus
(Presentation, 2025-03-13) Quisumbing, Agnes R.; Kyle, Jordan; Kosec, Katrina; Ragasa, Catherine; Raghunathan, Kalyani; Kumar, Neha; Sawhey, Tinni; Gonzalez, Teresa; Madero, Ana; Mittrick, Caitlin; Myers, Emily; Rapada, Amica; Adida, Claire, L.; Mo, Cecilia Hyunjung; Matanock, Aila M.; Arriola, Leonardo; Adeyanju, Dolapo; Fisher, Rachel
Presentation titles: Women in the Agriculture-Nutrition Pathways How Can Anticipatory Action Programming Support Women? Improving Women’s Livelihoods and Gender Equality through Women’s and Men’s Leadership and Advocacy Trainings in Rural Nigeria Role of Policy in Agriculture-Nutrition-Empowerment Nexus At a session of the Civil Society Organizations and Nongovernmental Organizations Forum during the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, researchers from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) shared evidence and policy insights on women’s role in the agriculture-nutrition pathways in fragile settings. The presentations highlighted recent research on different aspects of how women might become empowered in fragile food systems: (1) through women’s self-help groups in India and health and nutrition; (2) through anticipatory action programming and humanitarian assistance in Nigeria and Nepal; (3) through advocacy trainings in Nigeria; and (4) through voice in the policymaking process for both agriculture and nutrition. Geographic scope: Regional, National Geographic Location: Regions: Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia Countries: • Nigeria – field research, leadership training, and policy applications • India – synthesis of impact evaluations, policy assessment tool applied • Nepal – application of gender framework • United States – location of the UN event in New York This reflects both the locations of implementation and impact and the event venue.
Guía técnica para el establecimiento de viveros comunitarios
(Manual, 2024-09-02) Diaz Forero, Oscar Eduardo; Durango Morales, Sandra Guisela; Calderon, Victor Hugo
The scarcity of plant material in rural areas is hindering the implementation of silvopastoral systems, which are crucial for livestock adaptation to climate change. This deficiency threatens animal production and welfare in the face of droughts and floods and negatively impacts ecosystems. Restoring areas degraded by deforestation is a vital opportunity, reducing the effects of unsustainable practices on forests and strategic ecosystems. The establishment of community nurseries emerges as an effective solution. These nurseries propagate native and agroforestry species, promoting biodiversity and facilitating biological corridors. They improve production systems by migrating towards more sustainable practices, mitigating vulnerability to climate change, and promoting carbon sequestration by integrating trees into livestock farms. In addition, community nurseries foster associativity between communities, strengthening social cohesion and self-management, training participants, and cultivating community leaders to coordinate activities, promoting inclusive and sustainable rural development. This technical guide details the key steps for establishing and operating community nurseries in the cattle-growing areas of San Martín Province, Perú. It is part of the commitment of the Alliance Bioversity & CIAT within the PERU-Hub project, which is focused on Silvopastoral Systems and sustainable landscape management.
With a little help: Young women farmers’ experiences in India
(Book Chapter, 2025) Srinivasan, Sharada; Narayanan, Sudha
We present four case studies of young women farmers in India, two each from Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. As outlined in the previous chapter, the case studies offer an in-depth view into how young women become farmers, their experiences as farmers and the challenges they face. They highlight similarities but also differences across the respondents. The concluding section draws implications from the four case studies to reflect on experiences of other young women farmers in this study but also what they illustrate of young women farmers’ experiences more broadly.
No country for young women farmers: A situation analysis for India
(Book Chapter, 2025) Narayanan, Sudha; Srinivasan, Sharada
In spite of their significant role in agriculture in India, women lack recognition as farmers and face structural barriers related to land ownership, access to resources and markets, and mobility, which are associated with high levels of gender discrimination and gender-based violence (Panda and Agarwal 2005; UNODC 2018). There is a stark absence of an intersectional analysis (based on age, disability, class, education) in the otherwise substantial body of scholarship on women in agriculture and the gender barriers that they encounter, tending instead to generalize a communal female experience. This lacuna is apparent in this current review of the situation of young women farmers in India. At the policy level, this silence is even more deafening; the predicament of young women farmers is something of a policy desert.
Empowering youth & transforming communities through job creation & nutritious beans in Kenya
(Blog Post, 2025-04-07) Ong'or, Dennis; Inyanji, Eileen; Rubyogo, Jean Claude; Waswa, Boaz; Mabeya, Justin; Mwiti, Emily; Maritim, Mary; Karanja, David
In Kenya, the dependency on bean imports and the underutilization of domestic production opportunities has led to significant economic and employment gaps in the country’s agricultural sector. Addressing this challenge, the project “Nutritious Bean Products for Decent Employment for Youth in Kenya (NBP-DEYK),” initiated in 2021 by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in collaboration with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and other partners, sought to empower youth, especially young women, through the production and processing of high iron and zinc beans (HIB). The project aimed to create at least 500 job opportunities—120 newly created jobs and 380 improved jobs—by leveraging the potential of HIB in the bean value chain. By the end of 2024, Cherubet Foods alone had created 110 new jobs, with 92% of these positions filled by youth, and improved over 500 existing roles, benefiting farmers, processors, and traders. The project also fostered growth within local farmer cooperatives, with a notable increase in women’s participation. Gender and age disaggregation showed that 60% of the new jobs went to young women, and 29% to young men. With these successes, the project demonstrates the potential for youth and women empowerment through agriculture, sustainable job creation, and community resilience. The results underscore the importance of leveraging partnerships, innovation, and technology to scale and sustain youth empowerment and community development efforts in Kenya.
Gender transformative research from proposal writing to evaluation
(Presentation, 2025-02-05) Nchanji, Eileen; Lutomia, Cosmas; Compaore, Eveline
How to integrate Gender equality and social inclusion in proposal writing Where are we on the gender agenda Frameworks Diverse donor expectations Tools/guides Concrete examples How to apply Gender transformative approaches – tools and guidelines  Where we are  Gender transformative approaches – WorldFish/FAO, Gender Impact platform/GTA COP Gender transformative indicators Some concrete examples How to develop inclusive gender communication What to focus on Some concrete examples
CGIAR Research Initiative on Gender Equality: Annual Technical Report 2024
(Report, 2025-04) CGIAR Initiative on Gender Equality
SELEVER study: Endline survey
(Dataset, 2025-03-21) International Food Policy Research Institute
The Soutenir l’Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l’Élevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Économie Rurale (SELEVER) study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in rural Burkina Faso to evaluate the impact of an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention on the diets, health, and nutritional status of women and children. The intervention package combined poultry value chain development, women’s empowerment initiatives, and a behavior change communication strategy to promote healthier diets and improved feeding, care, and hygiene practices. Data collection took place in rural communities across three regions—Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Ouest, and Haut-Bassins—over four rounds between March 2017 and August 2020. The baseline survey (Round 1) was conducted from March to June 2017, during the post-harvest season, and included a sample of 1,800 households. Follow-up 1 and Follow-up 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) were carried out during the lean season, with data collected in September–October 2017 and September–October 2019, respectively, from a subsample of 1,080 households. The endline survey (Round 4) took place from March to August 2020, with a temporary pause in data collection due to COVID-19 restrictions. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention package in enhancing nutritional outcomes for women and children in the targeted communities. The data presented here are from the endline survey.
SELEVER study: Second follow-up survey
(Dataset, 2025-03-21) International Food Policy Research Institute
The Soutenir l’Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l’Élevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Économie Rurale (SELEVER) study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in rural Burkina Faso to evaluate the impact of an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention on the diets, health, and nutritional status of women and children. The intervention package combined poultry value chain development, women’s empowerment initiatives, and a behavior change communication strategy to promote healthier diets and improved feeding, care, and hygiene practices. Data collection took place in rural communities across three regions—Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Ouest, and Haut-Bassins—over four rounds between March 2017 and August 2020. The baseline survey (Round 1) was conducted from March to June 2017, during the post-harvest season, and included a sample of 1,800 households. Follow-up 1 and Follow-up 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) were carried out during the lean season, with data collected in September–October 2017 and September–October 2019, respectively, from a subsample of 1,080 households. The endline survey (Round 4) took place from March to August 2020, with a temporary pause in data collection due to COVID-19 restrictions. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention package in enhancing nutritional outcomes for women and children in the targeted communities. The data presented here are from the second follow-up survey.
SELEVER study: First follow-up survey
(Dataset, 2025-03-21) International Food Policy Research Institute
The Soutenir l’Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l’Élevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Économie Rurale (SELEVER) study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in rural Burkina Faso to evaluate the impact of an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention on the diets, health, and nutritional status of women and children. The intervention package combined poultry value chain development, women’s empowerment initiatives, and a behavior change communication strategy to promote healthier diets and improved feeding, care, and hygiene practices. Data collection took place in rural communities across three regions—Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Ouest, and Haut-Bassins—over four rounds between March 2017 and August 2020. The baseline survey (Round 1) was conducted from March to June 2017, during the post-harvest season, and included a sample of 1,800 households. Follow-up 1 and Follow-up 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) were carried out during the lean season, with data collected in September–October 2017 and September–October 2019, respectively, from a subsample of 1,080 households. The endline survey (Round 4) took place from March to August 2020, with a temporary pause in data collection due to COVID-19 restrictions. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention package in enhancing nutritional outcomes for women and children in the targeted communities. The data presented here are from the first follow-up survey.
SELEVER study: Baseline survey
(Dataset, 2025-03-21) International Food Policy Research Institute
The Soutenir l’Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l’Élevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Économie Rurale (SELEVER) study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in rural Burkina Faso to evaluate the impact of an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention on the diets, health, and nutritional status of women and children. The intervention package combined poultry value chain development, women’s empowerment initiatives, and a behavior change communication strategy to promote healthier diets and improved feeding, care, and hygiene practices. Data collection took place in rural communities across three regions—Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Ouest, and Haut-Bassins—over four rounds between March 2017 and August 2020. The baseline survey (Round 1) was conducted from March to June 2017, during the post-harvest season, and included a sample of 1,800 households. Follow-up 1 and Follow-up 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) were carried out during the lean season, with data collected in September–October 2017 and September–October 2019, respectively, from a subsample of 1,080 households. The endline survey (Round 4) took place from March to August 2020, with a temporary pause in data collection due to COVID-19 restrictions. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention package in enhancing nutritional outcomes for women and children in the targeted communities. The data presented here are from the baseline survey.
Shaping resilience: Gender insights on weather and climate information services in East Africa
(Report, 2024-12-20) Ouya, Fredrick; Lutomia, Cosmas; Mvuyibwami, Patrick; Byandaga, Livingstone; Kagabo, Desire; Nchanji, Eileen
Climate shock and stressors like floods and droughts affect agriculture in East Africa, where erratic weather patterns threaten agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. These impacts are disproportionately felt by women, youths, and other vulnerable groups like refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and persons living with disabilities (PLWDs). The above-mentioned group of persons often have a low resilience to climate change hazards. Limited resource access, restrictive cultural norms and socioeconomic barriers often constrain their adaptive capacity. This study assesses communities' access to, use and impact of Weather and Climate Information Services (WCIS) in four East African countries - Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. The study used a qualitative research design, employing Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) to capture diverse respondents’ perspectives. A total of 34 FGDs (17 men, 16 women, and 1 mixed FGD) were conducted with farmers. Additionally, 98 KIIs (69 men and 29 women) were conducted with representatives of farmer cooperatives, NGOs, media, government officials (national metrological and hydrological services), scientists from the ministry, etc. This study revealed significant gendered disparities in accessing and utilising Weather and Climate Information Services (WCIS) across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda. Men, women, and youths mainly accessed WCIS through television, radio, extension officers, and social media platforms like YouTube. Due to gender norms, additional information was obtained by men from the public meetings and community leaders; women, constrained by domestic responsibilities, got information from community meetings like savings groups and community networks. They also get information from informal discussions with family and friends. On the other hand, youth predominantly prefer social media but exhibit mixed trust toward agriculture-related information. Persons with disability or internally displaced persons have limited or often no access to assets – mobile phones, television and radios - that can be used to access climate and weather information. Youths also have resource limitations, like persons living with disabilities (PLWDs). WCIS provided farmers with information that resulted in timely planting, selecting the most suitable variety and the type of seeds to grow depending on the climate. It also influenced farmers to adopt sustainable practices like water conservation, crop rotation, and soil conservation, resulting in improved yields, reduced post-harvest losses, and enhanced food and nutrition security. Men dominate household decision-making, limiting women’s ability to act on climate information effectively. Limited access to technology and scepticism about forecast accuracy persist among farming communities. In Tanzania, accurate and localized forecasts in most regions have improved agricultural productivity and income compared to other countries. However, most rural areas are characterised by limited infrastructure and inequitable gender roles that restrict efficient access to WCIS. Participants across FGD and KII called for strengthening partnerships and collaborations between the Meteorology Agency, NGOs, and local leaders and a need to integrate indigenous knowledge with modern scientific data, delivered in a way that farmers can use it for their different crops and livestock. This study underscores the critical role of WCIS in building the resilience of farmers, prioritizing inclusive governance, community-driven approaches, and targeted investments; stakeholders can ensure that WCIS is delivered in an inclusive manner, particularly targeting those from marginalized and vulnerable groups, in adapting to the challenges of climate change. While WCIS has the potential to transform livelihoods and enhance climate resilience, systemic barriers that are often gendered must be addressed to achieve equitable outcomes. By prioritising inclusivity, fostering partnerships, and leveraging community knowledge, WCIS can empower vulnerable populations, drive sustainable development, and transform agricultural resilience across East Africa. This study also recommends developing synergies and partnerships to institutionalise WCIS in all country programs/projects and working with women and youth to drive climate resilience in rural areas. Initiatives supporting joint household decision-making and community-based climate-smart practices have improved productivity and reduced intra-household and family disputes.
The double burden of food and water insecurity: Implications for health, equality, and policy
(Opinion Piece, 2025-03-20) Chakrabarti, Suman
Food and water insecurity reflect a lack of reliable access to sufficient, safe, and affordable food and water to meet basic human needs. Both have significant impacts on nutrition, physical and mental health, learning, and family cohesion; however, their combined effects remain understudied. With a high co-occurrence observed across numerous low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), these insecurities are rooted in systemic factors, such as poverty, climate-related environmental stressors, resource scarcity, inadequate public infrastructure, weak governance, and conflict. Wang et al examined the association of the co-occurrence of food and water insecurity with functional disabilities in Ecuadorian adults. This novel research builds on emerging evidence on the intersectional implications of food and water insecurity for human well-being.
National breeding programs and variety release processes: A systematic review of how the interactions shape diversity and adoption of dryland legumes and cereals in Africa
(Journal Article, 2025-02-13) Templer, Noel; Gatwiri, Judy; Nchanji, Eileen; Gichuru, Lilian; Puozaa, Doris; Ojiewo, Chris
Dryland legumes and cereals are a good food source in Africa's drylands. However, their production is constrained by the limited availability of improved varieties and sustainable seed supply channels. The efficiency of breeding institutions and variety registration and release processes influence crop development and availability of a wide range of varieties in the market. The entire process influences the adoption of improved varieties, crop diversity, and the overall resilience of agricultural systems. Therefore, this article investigates how national breeding programs interact with registration and release processes for varieties to improve agricultural systems’ resilience in Africa. This study adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses to identify and examine previous research. A total of 63 articles were reviewed. The study found that breeding efforts have focused on staple crops, neglecting dryland legumes and cereals. Among the significant challenges highlighted are limited resources and a weak regulatory framework. Additionally, poor communication between breeders and farmers and a lack of reliable data intensifies the challenges. Despite different stakeholders being involved in seed development and dissemination, they have poor coordination, which delays the introduction of new varieties. Furthermore, variety registration and release processes remain critical barriers to crop development. Hence, to promote agricultural productivity, improve seed accessibility, and enhance agricultural resilience in Africa, it is essential to streamline early-generation seed production and variety registration processes. It is also critical to enhance collaboration among all stakeholders in the seed production system and strengthen regulatory frameworks.
Evolution of intimate partner violence impacts from cash transfers, food transfers, and behaviour change communication: Mixed-method experimental evidence from a nine-year post-programme follow-up in Bangladesh
(Journal Article, 2025-04) Lokot, Michelle; Sultana, Nasrin; Hidrobo, Melissa; Ahmed, Akhter; Hoddinott, John F.; Rakshit, Deboleena; Roy, Shalini; Ranganathan, Meghna
Cash or food transfers can reduce intimate partner violence (IPV), but knowledge gaps remain on how impacts evolve over time, and the role of complementary ‘plus’ activities and contextual factors. We conducted a mixed-method analysis of how the Transfer Modality Research Initiative in Bangladesh affected IPV over time. The programme was implemented from 2012 to 2014, following a randomised controlled trial (RCT) design, across Northern and Southern Bangladesh. Intervention arms included monthly cash or food transfers, with or without complementary nutrition behaviour change communication (BCC). We estimate post-programme impacts on IPV using quantitative data collected in 2014–2015, 2018, and 2022, and combine this with qualitative data collected in 2023 to explore how and why IPV impacts evolved over time and the role of contextual factors. In the North, combining cash with BCC led to sustained IPV reductions in each post-programme round, while cash alone reduced IPV in 2022 but not the previous two rounds; food transfers showed no post-programme impacts. In the South, combining food with BCC led to post-programme IPV reductions in 2014–2015; no intervention sustained IPV reductions thereafter. Sustained IPV reductions are primarily driven by improved household economic security and emotional well-being. Other pathways – family relationships (including in-laws’ roles), women's empowerment, and social and community support – contributed to changing couples' relationships during the programme but became less salient after the programme ended. Contextual factors, including demographic changes, climate-related changes, external projects and norms condoning IPV appear to influence the sustainability of impacts. Results suggest that ‘plus’ programming was key to sustaining IPV impacts soon after the interventions, but less so by nine years post-programme, as economic security increasingly drove impacts. More mixed method research is needed from the outset to unpack if and how pathways to IPV reduction can be sustained in different contexts over time.

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