Skip to main content
Project

Generating rigorous evidence on how and which interventions lead to equitable and sustainable food systems in Africa, South and Southeast Asia
 

South Asia
Project ID
109431
Total Funding
CAD 1,500,000.00
IDRC Officer
Renaud De Plaen
Project Status
Active
Duration
30 months

Programs and partnerships

Agriculture and Food Security

Lead institution(s)

Project leader:
Nicoline de Haan
France

Summary

Gender inequality is rife in agriculture, despite women being heavily engaged in the sector.Read more

Gender inequality is rife in agriculture, despite women being heavily engaged in the sector. As food systems undergo transformations due to climate change and growing populations, it is critical to ensure that these changes do not lead to gender inequality, exacerbate existing inequalities, or leave anyone, especially women, behind. This requires a better understanding of the multiple pathways through which changing food systems can support or hinder gender equality, or, conversely, how gender equality could lead to stronger food systems that serve the needs and priorities of all. To date, discussions and frameworks of food systems have largely been gender blind.

This project seeks to identify interventions, and thus solutions, that can support a positive outcome for gender equality as these rapidly changing food systems evolve. This will require actions at three key levels: farm production; distribution and delivery (value chain); and consumption (food decisions). At least two climate and gender inequality hotspots in Africa and South and Southeast Asia will be identified for study.

The project will analyze the food systems and the gender dynamics in the systems to establish the levers of inequalities. It will then prioritize and test a set of innovations optimized to achieve a gender-transformative food system. The key output from this research will be data and evidence on how to optimize gender equality outcomes within the context of rapidly changing food systems. It will also provide evidence on what combinations of food system interventions and gender-transformative interventions, such as access and control over resources and income, lead to gender equality and sustainable food systems.