34 research outputs found
Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on rural women and men in Kenya
No full textThe first wave of COVID-19 cases occurred between June and August 2020. A second wave occurred between October and December 2020 and by the end of December 2020, the number of COVID-19 cases was 92 459. The third rise in cases occurred between January and March of 2021 and partial lockdowns were reimposed in the most affected counties of the country, including mobility restrictions and curfews. This brief releases data on the gender impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural households/livelihoods and the agricultural sector in Kenya.Non-PRIFPRI5; Feed the Future Initiative; GCAN; CRP2; G Cross-cutting gender themeAFR; EPTD; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM
Food security and women’s well-being: Insights from rural Nepal
No full textAs the impacts of the COVID-19 continue to be felt across the world, the need to address the vulnerabilities of the poor and marginalized is heightened. In rural and agriculture dependent economies, it is often the farm sector that is most severely impacted in times of crisis, in large part due to the lack of access to risk and loss mitigation measures, and limited access to government assistance. Among those who are affected, periods of crisis are often worse for vulnerable groups such as children, women and those belonging to historically disadvantaged groups and communities. We use four rounds of phone survey data from farmers in Nepal conducted between June 2020 to January 2021, to study the impacts of the pandemic and associated lockdowns on maize farmers in Dang district of Nepal, with a focus on food security and dietary diversity. Our sample comprises of nearly 690 respondents, of which 70% are women. The area where our survey is conducted, borders India and thus sees large out-migration of men, leaving women as de-facto heads of households.Non-PRIFPRI5; CRP2; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for all; G Cross-cutting gender theme; GCAN; CSISAEPTD; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM
Gendered information channels for climate-smart agriculture practices: Evidence from India, Kenya, and Uganda
No full textLack of access to information is an important barrier affecting women farmers’ adoption of climate-smart agri culture (CSA) practices and technologies. To overcome this barrier, the use of information and communication technologies is increasingly being promoted. However, digital tools might widen, rather than reduce, gendered information gaps given women’s lower use of mobile phones and mobile Internet as compared to men in sub Saharan African and South Asia. This policy note summarizes data on information channels that women and men farmers use for CSA practices in Gujarat, India, parts of Kenya, and central Uganda. The results can be used by governments, nongovernmental organizations, and other actor groups interested in ensuring equity in access to information on CSA practices in low- and middle-income countries.Non-PRIFPRI1; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Supply; G Cross-cutting gender theme; CRP2; Reaching Smallholder WomenNatural Resources and Resilience (NRR); Transformation Strategies; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM
Crises and women’s access to agricultural information: Insights from India and Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic
No full textStrict lockdown measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic had extensive impacts on agriculture, and especially on women farmers. These effects were worsened by a lack of reliable and timely access to agricultural extension. This note summarizes findings from panel phone surveys conducted in India and Nepal on the impacts of lockdown measures on women's ability to access agricultural extension services and their perceived impact on agricultural productivity. We find that women's already limited access to formal extension services was further reduced during the pandemic, leading to greater reliance on informal social networks. In both countries, approximately 50 percent of farmers reported negative consequences on productivity due to the unavailability of information during the lockdown. We propose strategies to enhance the inclusivity and resilience of extension systems in India and Nepal in future crises, including through the use of group- and community-based approaches.Non-PRIFPRI1; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Supply; G Cross-cutting gender theme; CRP2; Reaching Smallholder WomenNatural Resources and Resilience (NRR); Transformation Strategies; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM
Gender, agriculture policies and climate smart agriculture in India
No full textIndia’s agricultural systems are increasingly affected by the adverse effects of climate change. While the Government of India has put together an impressive set of programs to address climate change impacts on agriculture, substantial shortcomings of these programs have been identified, especially in reaching women farmers. Women’s increased vulnerability to climate change and reduced access to climate smart agricultural practices can be attributed to limited land ownership, poor access to credit, reduced access to information and formal extension, and time pressures from multiple domestic and productive demands on their time. We undertake an extensive policy review of India’s agriculture and climate policies and program, and supplement that with a series of focus group discussions with women and men farmers in Gujarat to discuss constraints and potential entry points for better reaching women farmers with climate smart agriculture practices. Village cooperatives and self-help groups can be key intermediary organizations that can support women’s access at the local, state and country level.Non-PRIFPRI1; CRP2; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Supply; 4 Transforming Agricultural and Rural Economies; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance; Cross-cutting gender theme; Capacity StrengtheningEPTD; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM
Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on rural women and men in northern Ghana
No full textWhile the lockdown in Ghana due to COVID-19 was not as stringent or long as in other countries (at least up to June 2021), it has severely affected rural household incomes, including remittances.
Almost three-quarters of households surveyed reported income loss due to the pandemic in Aug/Sep 2020.
Use of savings, borrowing and asset sales were common. Women often relied on men’s savings as a coping strategy; government transfers were insignificant.
Addressing COVID-19 in rural areas is hindered by a domestic water supply crisis. Approximately half of respondents reported being worried about water availability, changing their activities due to lack of water, not having enough drinking water, and not washing hands when necessary.Non-PRIFPRI1; CRP7; GCAN; G Cross-cutting gender theme; Capacity Strengthening; Feed the Future InitiativeEPTDCGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS
Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on rural women and men in Dang District, Nepal
No full textTo understand the impact of COVID-19 on rural women, we designed a longitudinal panel study with five rounds of phone survey data collection in Dang district in the mid-western region of Nepal. This note summarizes results from all rounds. The study sample was drawn using systematic random sampling from a large, representative household listing survey conducted in February 2020 across four rural municipalities in Dang district. Figure 1 provides a detailed description on the study timeline and sample size covered in each round.Non-PRIFPRI1; GCAN; Feed the Future Initiative; CRP7; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food SupplyAFR; EPTDCGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS
Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on women and men in Kaduna and Cross River states of Nigeria
No full textThe study was conducted in Kaduna State and Cross River State in Nigeria. It was designed as a longitudinal panel study with five rounds of data collection. The study used primary quantitative data collected using structured questionnaires administered through phone-based surveys. The study sample was drawn using systematic random sampling from an earlier in-person survey conducted by IFPRI for the Agro Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support’ (APPEALS) project. Figure 1 provides a detailed description on the study timeline and sample size covered in each round.Non-PRIFPRI1; GCAN; Feed the Future Initiative; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Supply; CRP7EPTDCGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS
Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on rural women and men in Senegal
No full textTo understand the impact of COVID-19 on rural women, we designed a longitudinal panel study collecting five rounds of phone survey data with data drawn from a representative face-to-face survey in rural Senegal covering Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kedougou, Kolda, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, and Ziguinchor regions. Due to low survey coverage of females in the first round, the second and third rounds surveyed both spouses and then randomly picked one male or female respondent per household to include in the study. For comparability we focus on findings from rounds 2-5. Figure 1 provides a detailed description of the study timeline and sample size covered in each round.Non-PRIFPRI1; GCAN; Feed the Future Initiative; CRP7; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food SupplyAFR; EPTDCGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS
Gendered impacts of COVID-19: Insights from 7 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
No full textIt is widely recognized that periods of crisis affect men and women differently, mediated by their access to resources and information, as well as social and institutional structures that may systematically disadvantage women from being able to access relief, institutional support, and rehabilitation. To capture the gendered impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, we conducted phone surveys in seven countries spread across Asia and Africa. The study was designed as a longitudinal panel study with five rounds of data collection in Ghana, Nepal, Nigeria, and Senegal, and three rounds of data collection in Kenya, Niger, and Uganda. Both men and women were administered the same survey, with some modifications made across countries to adapt to local contexts. This report gives an overview of our findings covering several topics including income loss, coping strategies, labor and time use, food and water insecurity and child education outcomes. We find widespread reports of income loss, which declined over time, but increased again as countries experienced a resurgence in COVID-19 cases and fatality. We find that households first depleted savings when faced with income loss and over time, use of savings reduced while other measures began to be adopted. Women reported greater food and water insecurity compared to men, including worrying about insufficient food and eating less than usual. This is particularly worrying since a large proportion of women also did not have adequately diverse diets. Moderate to severe water insecurity was reported in many of the countries, and as with food insecurity, women were more likely to report issues with accessing water for drinking and other household activities. In some countries, additional modules were added to capture country specific issues of policy relevance, such agriculture extension, mental health, and child marriage. The results make it clear that proactive investments will be needed, including social safety nets, favorable credit policies, nutrition and water investments, to ensure that the crisis does not further widen the gender gap in resources and achievements in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries.Non-PRIFPRI1; GCAN; Feed the Future Initiative; CRP7; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food SupplyEPTDCGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS
