Harnessing community conversations for gender-responsive engagement in livestock management in Ethiopia: a methodological reflection

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cg.authorship.typesCGIAR single centre
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Livestock Research Institute
cg.contributor.crpLivestock
cg.contributor.donorCGIAR Trust Fund
cg.contributor.initiativeSustainable Animal Productivity
cg.contributor.programAcceleratorSustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods
cg.coverage.countryEthiopia
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2ET
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionEastern Africa
cg.creator.identifierMamusha Lemma: 0000-0002-9441-4970
cg.creator.identifierBiruk Alemu Gemeda: 0000-0002-8406-0494
cg.creator.identifierTheo Knight-Jones: 0000-0003-4342-6055
cg.howPublishedFormally Published
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1612520
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.issn2296-2565
cg.journalFrontiers in Public Health
cg.reviewStatusPeer Review
cg.subject.actionAreaResilient Agrifood Systems
cg.subject.ilriANIMAL PRODUCTION
cg.subject.ilriGENDER
cg.subject.ilriLIVESTOCK
cg.subject.impactAreaPoverty reduction, livelihoods and jobs
cg.subject.sdgSDG 2 - Zero hunger
cg.volume13
dc.contributor.authorLemma, Mamusha
dc.contributor.authorAlemu, Biruk
dc.contributor.authorKnight-Jones, Theodore J.D.
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-26T07:19:52Z
dc.date.available2025-06-26T07:19:52Z
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/175328
dc.titleHarnessing community conversations for gender-responsive engagement in livestock management in Ethiopia: a methodological reflectionen
dcterms.abstractBackground: Participatory approaches are increasingly employed to design context-specific interventions that are more inclusive, responsive, and effective. The Community Conversation (CC) approach has been tailored to Ethiopia’s livestock management context. As part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Program on Livestock (CRP Livestock), gender-responsive CC materials on livestock management have been developed and implemented across various rural communities to raise awareness and derive community-led actions. This paper explores how CCs were harnessed through improvisation and provides insights for practitioners to strategically adapt the approach in diverse contexts to foster gender-responsive community engagement. Methods: Between 2018 and 2019, CCs were conducted at five communities to address different livestock management issues. We selected and trained local facilitators in the CC methodology and documentation process. They used structured facilitation guides and documentation tools to lead conversations. After each session, we held reflection meetings with facilitators to review the process, interpret the discussions, and gain contextual insights. The results were captured in field reports and later analyzed thematically to provide evidence for the approach’s community engagement value. Results: Findings suggested that CCs hold potential for facilitating collaborative analysis and dialog among rural communities and local service providers regarding gender norms and different livestock management aspects. Gender-inclusive discussions allowed women and men to participate in livestock management decisions. The approach demonstrated adaptability across various contexts and thematic areas. A key strength was its emphasis on collaborative learning and community-driven actions, which helped promote sustained engagement and strengthened partnerships. Conclusion: The CC approach has shown potential to foster collaboration among rural communities and service providers, enabling them to jointly analyze livestock management challenges and implement locally tailored solutions. Its application in participatory research, training, intervention planning, and partnership building demonstrates its potential to foster collective dialog and action across diverse contexts. Integrating gender perspectives into this approach enhances inclusivity, ensuring that both women and men contribute to decision-making.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.audienceAcademics
dcterms.audienceScientists
dcterms.audienceCGIAR
dcterms.audienceDonors
dcterms.available2025-06-25
dcterms.bibliographicCitationLemma, M., Gemeda, B.A. and Knight-Jones, T. 2025. Harnessing community conversations for gender-responsive engagement in livestock management in Ethiopia: a methodological reflection. Frontiers in Public Health 13: 1612520.
dcterms.extent1612520
dcterms.issued2025-06-25
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCC-BY-4.0
dcterms.publisherFrontiers Media
dcterms.subjectanimal production
dcterms.subjectgender
dcterms.subjectlivestock
dcterms.typeJournal Article

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