integrating gender throughout a project’s life cycle: a guidance document for international...

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Integrating Gender throughoua Projects Life Cycle

A guidance document for international developmentorganizations and practitioners


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Integrating Gender throughou

a Projects Life CycleA guidance document for international developmentorganizations and practitioners

Land OLakes International DevelopmentNovember 2013

Minnesota Headquarters1080 W. County Road F, MS 5120Shoreview, MN 55126 U.S.A.Telephone: 1-651-375-5142

Washington, DC1725 DeSales Street NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036 U.S.A.Phone: 1-202-370-1700

NairobiWestlands off Peponi RoadPeponi Plaza-A3WestlandsNairobi, KenyaPhone: 254-20-374-6034

www.landolakesinc.com
http://www.landolakesinc.com/http://www.landolakesinc.com/


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This document has been under development since 2011, apublication of this first edition would not have been possible with

the input, feedback and contributions of numerous Land OLastaff both current and former. Mara Russell and Lizz Hutchinsinaugurated the research in support of this document and conduc

the first interviews with Land OLakes technical staff. MeredKruger, Carmen Jaquez, John MacKillop, Dr. Tom Herlehy, and D

Avril Armstrong gave feedback focused on their particular areastechnical expertise. Lauren Ruth, LuAnn Werner, and Erica Tanreviewed the first draft of this document; their input resultedsignificant improvements such that the document was ready to

shared with a wider audience. Ashley Rajaratnam, Nicki HangslebEdna Ogwangi, Delphine Barringer-Mills, Dean Smith, Ario

Abbey, and Greg Grothe provided additional content and suggestithat brought the document to its current, comprehensive forMeaghan Clark completed the bulk of the annotated bibliographyrecord time, and Jennifer Hyman and Sarah Leppert expertly hand

the graphic design. Following the documents internal release, sevemembers of Land OLakes International Developments Gen

Task Force provided insightful input and feedback. A big thanksall for collaborating so willingly and productively in the making of tdocument.

Giselle ArisSenior Technical Advisor for Enterprise Development, Technoloand GenderLand OLakes International Development

A special thanks to the Congressional Hunger Center for supportGiselle Aris Leland Fellowship at Land OLakes from 2011-20during which time she worked to finalize the document.

The photography that appears throughout is credited to Giselle AJennifer Hyman, Sarah Leppert, Renee Lord, Ashley Rajaratnam, aShravan Vidyarthi.

Acknowledgements


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Acknowledgments 4

Acronyms 5

Key Terms and Definitions 7

Introduction 9

Why was this document developed? 10Who should use this document? 10

The programmatic context 11

How can you help improve this document? 11

Chapter 1: Proposal Development: Points to Consider 12

Review Current Publications, Policies and Other Research Documents 13

Use a Gender Checklist During Proposal Research 15

Integrate Gender into Recruitment 17

Integrate Gender into Cost Proposals 18

Chapter 2: Integrate Gender into Project Design, Approaches and Activities 19Reach Women Without Alienating Men and Build Mens Support 21

Ensure Mens Involvement in Gender-Related Discussions and Activities 24

Ensure Womens Involvement in Trainings 26

Considerations for Projects Working With Vulnerable and/or Female-Headed Households 27

Considerations for Projects Involving Cooperatives and/or Focused on Dairy and 29

Agricultural Development

Considerations for Projects Involving Ownership and Management of Livestock 31

Considerations for Projects With a Focus on Nutrition and Health 32

Considerations for Projects in Post-Conflict Areas 37Considerations for Projects with a Focus on Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability 38

Chapter 3: Capacitate, Capture and Communicate 39

Staff Training on Gender Requirements and Approaches 40

Monitoring and Evaluation 41

Communications 42

Annex and Annotated Bibliography 43

Using a Gender Lens 44

Annotated Bibliography 46

Table of Contents


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ADS Automated Directives System

CRM Customer Relationship Management

DFID Department for International Development

DMP Disaster Mitigation Plan

EGI Environment and Gender Index

ESADA Eastern and Southern Africa Dairy Association

EWS Early Warning System

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FSN Food Security and Nutrition NetworkGAAP Gender, Agriculture and Assets Project

GBV Gender-based Violence

GIZ German Society for International Cooperation

GPFI Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion and International Finance Corporation

GTF Land OLakes International Developments Gender Task Force

IGWG Interagency Gender Working Group

IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development

IFPRI International Food Policy Research Institute

ILFRI International Livestock Research Institute

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

MCC Milk Collection Center

MEAS Modernizing Advisory and Extension Services

NGO Non-governmental organization

OFDA Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance

PLHIV People Living with HIV/AIDSROSCA Rotating Savings and Credit Associations

UN United Nations

UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

UNICEF United Nations Childrens Fund

USAID United States Agency for International Development

VSLA Village Savings and Loans Association

Acronynms


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Gender is the socially and culturally definedset of roles, rights, responsibilities, entitlements,and obligations of females and males in societies.

Definitions of what it means to be female or malevary among cultures and change over time. Genderidentity is an individuals internal, personal sense ofbeing male or female. For transgender people, theirbirth-assigned sex and their own internal sense ofgender identity do not match.

Sex is the classification of people as male orfemale. At birth, infants are assigned a sex based on acombination of bodily characteristics.

Gender Analysis refers to the systematicgathering and analysis of information on genderdifferences and social relations to identify andunderstand the different roles, divisions of labor,resources, constraints, needs, opportunities/capacities, and interests of men and women, girls

and boys in a given context.

Gender Equality is a broad concept and adevelopment goal. It is achieved when men and

women have equal rights, freedoms, conditions, andopportunities for realizing their full potential andfor contributing to and benefiting from economic,social, cultural and political development. Equality

does not mean that women and men become the sabut that womens and mens rights, responsibilitand opportunities do not depend on whether they

born male or female. It means society values men awomen equally for their similarities and differenand the diverse roles they play. Gender equalitynot a womens issue; rather it should concand fully engage men as well as women. It invol

working with men and boys, women and girls to brabout changes in attitudes, behaviors, roles aresponsibilities at home, in the workplace and

the community. Genuine equality means more th

parity in numbers or laws on the books; it meexpanding freedoms and improving overall quaof life so that equality is achieved without sacrificgains for males or females. It is a fundamental pof human rights and social equity, and providesessential building block to sustainable developme

Gender Equity is the process of being fair

women and men. To ensure fairness, measures moften be available to compensate for historical asocial disadvantages that prevent women and mfrom otherwise operating on an equitable baor a level playing field. Equity leads to equalGender equality and gender equity have differmeanings, but are related terms. Gender equalita development goal; gender equity interventions

the means to achieve that goal.

A prerequisite for successfully integrating gender into development programming isunderstanding the various definitions, terms and concepts that govern the conversation. Thelist below is drawn from the United States Agency for International Developments (USAID)2012 Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy1and from Land OLakes InternationalDevelopments internal Gender Policy. These definitions can be used as points of reference whenapplying the approaches described throughout this document.

Key Terms and Definitions
http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pdact200.pdfhttps://devlink.iddlandolakes.com/PolicyProcess/Policy/POL-PA-Gender_Policy.pdfhttps://devlink.iddlandolakes.com/PolicyProcess/Policy/POL-PA-Gender_Policy.pdfhttp://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pdact200.pdf


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Female Empowerment is achieved whenwomen and girls are able to act freely, exercise their

rights and fulfill their potential as full and equalmembers of society. While empowerment oftencomes from within and individuals do empower

themselves, cultures, societies, and institutionscreate conditions that facilitate or undermine thepossibilities for empowerment. Empowermentis a process and an outcome; it is collective andindividual. This definition deliberately uses the termfemale empowerment, as opposed to womensempowerment, to include girls and adolescents.

Gender Integration involves identifyand addressing gender inequalities during strat

and project design, implementation and monitorand evaluation. Since the roles and power relatiobetween men and women affect how an activityimplemented, it is essential that project managaddress these issues on an ongoing basis. Conducta gender analysis and/or gender assessment is first step for ensuring successful gender integratinto programs and policies.

Key Terms and Definitions


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Since 1981, the Land OLakes InternationalDevelopment division has been improving the

quality of life for millions of people in 76 nationsthrough more than 275 projects worldwide thathave been generating economic growth, improvinghealth and nutrition, and alleviating poverty throughmarket-driven business solutions. A division ofLand OLakes, Inc. (www.landolakesinc.com) a national, farmer-owned food and agriculturalcooperative with sales of over $14 billion in 2012 International Developments vision is to be a global

leader in transforming lives by engaging in agricultureand enterprise partnerships that replace poverty withprosperity, and dependency with self-reliance.

Land OLakes regards its quality of developmentprogram implementation as paramount, andconsistently seeks to improve and refine its

approaches when exposed to new methods tdemonstrate promise or have proven effectiveness

Land OLakes work in the gender arena is a priexample of this: in 2009, in response to the growevidence base indicating that engaging wommen, boys and girls on gender issues is an essencomponent of effective development work, LaOLakes staff around the world formed the LaOLakes International Development Gender TForce (GTF).

Objectives of this internal task force included raisorganizational awareness about the importancegender mainstreaming and gender equity; forminglobal network of staff committed to the advancemof gender integration; and establishing principles apolicies for using a gender lens throughout progrdesign, implementation and evaluation.

Land OLakes International Developments Approach to Gender

In all its programs, Land OLakes is deeply committed to addressing the constraints that womenand girls face around the world. We proactively partner with women on the ground to ensure theirinclusion in the development process and, cognizant of the fact that change is a collaborativeprocess, Land OLakes aims to engage men at every stage.

Our programs analyze how cultural attitudes and norms that revolve around gender impact

agricultural practices, household decision-making and access to services. Land OLakes also seeksto identify other gender-related factors that influence the success or failure of its programs.

We have effectively empowered and inspired individuals and communities to take control of theireconomic futures by intentionally increasing womens participation in several arenas, includingagriculture, health and nutrition and education. As a result of Land OLakes work, households andentire communities are rethinking traditional gender roles and increasing their incomes, foodsecurity and nutrition.

Introduction
http://www.landolakesinc.com/http://www.landolakesinc.com/http://www.landolakesinc.com/


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In 2011, Land OLakes International DevelopmentsGender Task Force successfully enacted a GenderPolicy, which has set an organization-wide standardof expectations for gender programming. This policystates that Land OLakes will use a gender lens inprogram design, implementation, and evaluationfor all projects, worldwide, regardless of whether

these standards are mandated by a donor. Soon afthis policy was enacted, it became apparent thatguidance was needed on how to follow through on

the commitments made and the expectations set. Aa result, this document Integrating Genderthroughout a Projects Life Cycle wasborn.

Why was this document developed?

The overarching premise of this document is that

to conduct effective, responsible developmentwork, incorporating gender at all stages of aprojects life cycle from proposal developmentand program design to field implementation andmonitoring and evaluation is critical. As such, thisdocument provides guidance on how developmentpractitioners can ensure that gender is thoughtfullyand meaningfully considered throughout the lifeof a project. It also references numerous externalresources that can be used to bolster the guidanceprovided in this document. More information oneach of the resources referred to can be found in thisdocuments Annotated Bibliography.

Any development practitioner or implementingorganization that is working to ensure that genderintegration and gender equity are consistently

addressed in its projects can benefit from using

this guide. However, guide users should keep inmind that this document was initially developedas an internal Land OLakes tool and, as a result,is most applicable to the types of implementationconducted by our organization. For example, at

the time of compiling this document, USAID,compared to the other donors Land OLakes wasreceiving funding from, set forth the most rigoroustandards for gender programming. This highstandard, combined with USAID being one ofLand OLakes major donors, resulted in frequentreferencing of USAID gender directives througho

this document. Although many of the practices anapproaches recommended in the document meet

the requirements and expectations of all donors,practitioners should always confirm this beforemoving forward.

Who should use this document?


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This document is based on Land OLakes 30+years of international development experience andlessons learned, both documented and anecdotal.It is a repository of what Land OLakes considers tobe some of the best approaches and resources in thegender arena, based on what it has encountered thus

far. However, the library of resources available toguide gender integration work is constantly growing

this is the type of guidance document that, bynature, will always require updates, additionsand modifications. As you use this document, and

tailor it to your project and organizational needs,be in touch! Contact Giselle Aris via email [email protected] suggestions f

additional sections, resources to add and content change for Version 2.0.

How can you help improve this document?

The Programmatic Context

The Land OLakes International Development division primarily works in early recovery anddevelopment contexts; it is not a humanitarian agency, and does not traditionally work in confliczones. Its projects are largely focused on improving agricultural productivity, food security,

food safety, nutritional outcomes, dairy and livestock value chain performance, agribusinessperformance, and application of agricultural innovations and technologies. As a result, theapproaches outlined in the document primarily reflect the needs of these types of programmingAlthough many of the approaches outlined may also be of use in other contexts, practitionersimplementing types of programs not given particular attention in this guide for example, ananti-malaria project, a food distribution project, an education project, or a human rights projectare encouraged to utilize additional resources to complement what is provided here.
mailto:GDAris%40landolakes.com?subject=Integrating%20Gender%20Throughout%20A%20Project%27s%20Life%20Cyclemailto:GDAris%40landolakes.com?subject=Integrating%20Gender%20Throughout%20A%20Project%27s%20Life%20Cyclemailto:GDAris%40landolakes.com?subject=Integrating%20Gender%20Throughout%20A%20Project%27s%20Life%20Cycle


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Proposal Development:Points to Consider

Chapter 1


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Helpful Resources

Click here2to access USAIDspublications on gender and women,

which include a focus on agriculture,food security, nutrition and climatechange. Publications are listed by regionand country, in reverse chronologicalorder.

Click here3for the Food and Agricultureof the United Nations (FAO) Policyon Gender Equality: Attaining Food

Security Goals in Agriculture and Rural

Development.

Need information for a proposal onhow a particular countrys laws andregulations affect womens economicopportunities, as entrepreneurs andas employees? Start with theWorldBanks Where are laws equal formen and women? database4.

Using a gender lens at the proposal development stage is critical to ensuring that gender considerations ar

taken into account once implementation begins. Proposal development is the stage where resources canbe allocated for conducting gender analyses and staff gender trainings; staffing plans can be designed toincorporate a Gender Specialist; gender-sensitive technical approaches can be incorporated in programdesign; and gender-sensitive indicators can be integrated in the projects Performance Monitoring Plan.

Getting these gender-related components in writing during the proposal development stage is often thebest assurance that time and resources will be dedicated to these components once implementation beginIf planning ahead during the proposal development phase is overlooked, when the project is awarded itmay be too late to secure resources for gender-focused programming. The following section outlines the

various ways international development program proposals can be developed in a manner that demonstratorganizational commitment to advancing gender equity.

Review Current Publications, Policies and OtherResearch Documents
http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowermenthttp://www.fao.org/docrep/017/i3205e/i3205e.pdfhttp://wbl.worldbank.org/http://wbl.worldbank.org/http://wbl.worldbank.org/http://wbl.worldbank.org/http://wbl.worldbank.org/http://wbl.worldbank.org/http://wbl.worldbank.org/http://wbl.worldbank.org/http://wbl.worldbank.org/http://wbl.worldbank.org/http://wbl.worldbank.org/http://www.fao.org/docrep/017/i3205e/i3205e.pdfhttp://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment


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When preparing a proposal, review any gender assessments for the proposed country/region thathave been conducted by other institutions, and include relevant elements of the assessments in thbackground sections. Gender assessments completed by USAID can be found here5.

Additionally, review all available data for the targeted sector(s) to determine womens and mensroles along the value chain. Do men and women have significantly different roles? Do these

differences indicate certain constraints men and/or women face in the targeted sector(s)? Can yotransform the identification of gender constraints into technical approaches for addressing theseconstraints? Potential data sources for this task may include internal organizational documents,publications produced by other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), women-focused privatsector groups, universities, research institutions and publications produced by governmentalorganizations.

Donors have produced a plethora of gender-focused policy and guidance documents that aremeant to aid in program design, particularly during the proposal development stage. The followin

documents have been developed by USAID:

Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy1

Requirements that gender issues be considered and, as appropriate, integrateinto procurement requests6

Guide to Integrating Gender into Agricultural Value Chains7

Tips for Integrating Gender into USAID Agriculture Sector Solicitations8

U.S. National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security9

USAID Implementation Plan for the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peacand Security10

U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respondto Gender-based Violence Globally11

Counter-Trafficking in Persons Policy12

Ending Child Marriage and Meeting the Needs of Married Children: The USAIDVision for Action13

National Action Plan on Children in Adversity14

Youth in Development Policy15

USAID Policy Framework 2011-201516
http://transition.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/wid/gender/gender_assessments.htmlhttp://transition.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/wid/gender/gender_assessments.htmlhttp://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/agency-policy/series-300http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/agency-policy/series-300http://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/gender_agriculture_value_chain_guide.pdfhttp://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADU833.pdfhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/email-files/US_National_Action_Plan_on_Women_Peace_and_Security.pdfhttp://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADU833.pdfhttp://www.state.gov/documents/organization/196726.pdfhttp://www.state.gov/documents/organization/196726.pdfhttp://www.state.gov/documents/organization/196468.pdfhttp://www.usaid.gov/traffickinghttp://www.state.gov/documents/organization/196468.pdfhttp://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2155/Child_Marriage_Vision_Factsheet.pdfhttp://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2155/Child_Marriage_Vision_Factsheet.pdfhttp://www.childpolicyuniversityconsortium.com/pdfs/USG_action_plan_on_children_in_adversity.pdfhttp://www.k4health.org/toolkits/youthpolicy/usaid-policy-youth-youth-development-realizing-demographic-opportunityhttp://www.childpolicyuniversityconsortium.com/pdfs/USG_action_plan_on_children_in_adversity.pdfhttp://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/USAID%20Policy%20Framework%202011-2015.PDFhttp://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/USAID%20Policy%20Framework%202011-2015.PDFhttp://transition.usaid.gov/policy/USAID_PolicyFramework.PDFhttp://transition.usaid.gov/policy/USAID_PolicyFramework.PDFhttp://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/USAID%20Policy%20Framework%202011-2015.PDFhttp://www.k4health.org/toolkits/youthpolicy/usaid-policy-youth-youth-development-realizing-demographic-opportunityhttp://www.childpolicyuniversityconsortium.com/pdfs/USG_action_plan_on_children_in_adversity.pdfhttp://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2155/Child_Marriage_Vision_Factsheet.pdfhttp://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2155/Child_Marriage_Vision_Factsheet.pdfhttp://www.usaid.gov/traffickinghttp://www.state.gov/documents/organization/196468.pdfhttp://www.state.gov/documents/organization/196726.pdfhttp://www.state.gov/documents/organization/196726.pdfhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/email-files/US_National_Action_Plan_on_Women_Peace_and_Security.pdfhttp://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADU833.pdfhttp://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/gender_agriculture_value_chain_guide.pdfhttp://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/agency-policy/series-300http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/agency-policy/series-300http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pdact200.pdfhttp://transition.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/wid/gender/gender_assessments.html


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What about other donors?

This document gives particular focus to the genderpolicies developed by USAID, but practitioners arestrongly advised to become familiar with the gender

policies and practices of all the donor organizations andpartners they work with. A small sample of these policiesis provided below:

The Department for InternationalDevelopments (DFID) Strategic Visionfor Girls and Women17

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundationsorientation document on Creating

Gender-Responsive AgriculturalDevelopment Programs18

AusAIDs Guide to Gender and Development19

The German Society for International Cooperations (GIZ) Gender Strategy20

Women and access to finance

One of the biggest obstacles to women engaging in agricultures private sector is their limited collateral,

and thereby, limited access to finance. Read this 2011report21

, jointly produced by the GlobalPartnership for Financial Inclusion and International Finance Corporation (GPFI), to learn more abouopportunities for increasing womens entrepreneurship and access to finance.

Some evidence-based research on savings groups: Poverty Outreach in Fee-for-Service Savings Groups22

Group Performance in Fee-for-Service Savings Groups23

Evaluation of Household Impact Among Fee-for-Service Savings Groups24

Women and land: What is the situation?

Access to land dramatically affects a womans ability to be agriculturally and economically self-sufficientand to adequately provide for her family. Policies surrounding womens access to land differ fromcountry to country. Learn more using thisWorld Bank database4and by referencingLandesaresources25. To read case studies on the impact of legal changes, community-based efforts and

womens land access, refer to International Food Policy Research Institutes (IFPRI) publications onprograms in Ethiopia26, Tanzania and Uganda27.

Who needs to know?

New business development managerproposal writers, editors, and reviewshould be familiar with requirementsbest practices for integrating gender

into all proposals. When all membersthe proposal development process araware of these requirements and bespractices, they can work together toensure that the finalized proposal meboth donor and industry standards fogender programming.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/67582/strategic-vision-girls-women.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/67582/strategic-vision-girls-women.pdfhttps://docs.gatesfoundation.org/Documents/gender-responsive-orientation-document.pdfhttps://docs.gatesfoundation.org/Documents/gender-responsive-orientation-document.pdfhttps://docs.gatesfoundation.org/Documents/gender-responsive-orientation-document.pdfhttps://docs.gatesfoundation.org/Documents/gender-responsive-orientation-document.pdfhttp://www.ausaid.gov.au/Publications/Documents/guidetogenderanddevelopment.pdfhttp://www.giz.de/Themen/en/dokumente/giz-gender-strategy-en-2012.pdfhttp://www.giz.de/Themen/en/dokumente/giz-gender-strategy-en-2012.pdfhttp://wlsme.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/G20_Women_Report%20_FINAL_ONLINE.pdfhttp://wlsme.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/G20_Women_Report%20_FINAL_ONLINE.pdfhttp://www.crsprogramquality.org/storage/pubs/microfinance/silc_fee_for_service.pdfhttp://www.crsprogramquality.org/storage/pubs/microfinance/group_performance_silc.pdfhttp://www.crsprogramquality.org/storage/pubs/microfinance/household-impact-fee-for-service-silc.pdfhttp://www.crsprogramquality.org/storage/pubs/microfinance/household-impact-fee-for-service-silc.pdfhttp://wbl.worldbank.org/http://www.landesa.org/women-and-land/research-and-resources/http://www.landesa.org/women-and-land/research-and-resources/http://wbl.worldbank.org/http://www.landesa.org/women-and-land/research-and-resources/http://www.landesa.org/women-and-land/research-and-resources/http://www.conftool.com/landandpoverty2013/index.php?page=browseSessions&presentations=show&search=quisumbing&utm_source=IFPRI+Gender+News&utm_campaign=554a5b0a1f-IFPRI_Gender_Round_Up_May_20134_29_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1ae6f2926b-554a5b0a1f-412911909http://www.capri.cgiar.org/pdf/capriwp108.pdf?utm_source=IFPRI+Gender+News&utm_campaign=554a5b0a1f-IFPRI_Gender_Round_Up_May_20134_29_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1ae6f2926b-554a5b0a1f-412911909http://www.conftool.com/landandpoverty2013/index.php?page=browseSessions&presentations=show&search=quisumbing&utm_source=IFPRI+Gender+News&utm_campaign=554a5b0a1f-IFPRI_Gender_Round_Up_May_20134_29_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1ae6f2926b-554a5b0a1f-412911909http://www.capri.cgiar.org/pdf/capriwp108.pdf?utm_source=IFPRI+Gender+News&utm_campaign=554a5b0a1f-IFPRI_Gender_Round_Up_May_20134_29_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1ae6f2926b-554a5b0a1f-412911909http://www.capri.cgiar.org/pdf/capriwp108.pdf?utm_source=IFPRI+Gender+News&utm_campaign=554a5b0a1f-IFPRI_Gender_Round_Up_May_20134_29_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1ae6f2926b-554a5b0a1f-412911909http://www.conftool.com/landandpoverty2013/index.php?page=browseSessions&presentations=show&search=quisumbing&utm_source=IFPRI+Gender+News&utm_campaign=554a5b0a1f-IFPRI_Gender_Round_Up_May_20134_29_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1ae6f2926b-554a5b0a1f-412911909http://www.landesa.org/women-and-land/research-and-resources/http://www.landesa.org/women-and-land/research-and-resources/http://wbl.worldbank.org/http://www.crsprogramquality.org/storage/pubs/microfinance/household-impact-fee-for-service-silc.pdfhttp://www.crsprogramquality.org/storage/pubs/microfinance/group_performance_silc.pdfhttp://www.crsprogramquality.org/storage/pubs/microfinance/silc_fee_for_service.pdfhttp://wlsme.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/G20_Women_Report%20_FINAL_ONLINE.pdfhttp://www.giz.de/Themen/en/dokumente/giz-gender-strategy-en-2012.pdfhttp://www.ausaid.gov.au/Publications/Documents/guidetogenderanddevelopment.pdfhttps://docs.gatesfoundation.org/Documents/gender-responsive-orientation-document.pdfhttps://docs.gatesfoundation.org/Documents/gender-responsive-orientation-document.pdfhttps://docs.gatesfoundation.org/Documents/gender-responsive-orientation-document.pdfhttps://docs.gatesfoundation.org/Documents/gender-responsive-orientation-document.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/67582/strategic-vision-girls-women.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/67582/strategic-vision-girls-women.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/67582/strategic-vision-girls-women.pdf


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When conducting in-country research for a proposal, usinga gender checklist can help ensure that the proposal teamcollects the information it needs to design appropriate genderprogramming from the start. The questions asked under thischecklist may vary based on the focus areas of a proposal, butshould generally be guided by two overarching questions:

What constraints limit womens full involvement alongall parts of the value chain in question?

What are appropriate areas for intervention, so thatthese constraints can be mitigated?

Information from a gender perspective to gather during aproposal research/information gathering/reconnaissance tripincludes:

National and cultural policies around assetownership(i.e., womens ability to legally own assets

without male permission, joint ownership, ability to

make asset-related decisions). National and cultural policies around womensaccess to land and access to inputs.

National and cultural policies around inheritance. How women organize childcare(i.e., Will women

watch each others children?; Is an older child leftbehind?; Can small children come to meetings/

trainings/ places of employment?). Womens mobility(i.e., How far are women able to

travel for trainings, to deliver milk, etc.? Are they ableto travel alone or do they need to be accompanied?)

The literacy and numeracy skillsof targetbeneficiaries.

National policies around womens access tofinance/loans.

Need a gender

checklist?

Land OLakes Using a GenderLenschecklist provides a quicklist of pertinent questions thatcan be used during proposalresearch. Land OLakes also usesits own Gender Analysis Toolkit,which provides a methodology for

collecting information about lawspolicies, and sociocultural normsaffecting gender power dynamics

The Gender Analysis Toolkitalsocontains tools for conductingfocus groups to learn aboutvarious factors that affectcommunity power dynamics,

and the ways imbalanced powerdynamics create vulnerablepopulations (women or otherwise)

Additionally, these tools canbe used to analyze how powerdynamics impact womensabilities to participate in differensegments of agriculture andenterprise value chains.

The Using a Gender Lenschecklisis available as an Annex to thisdocument on page 44. To learnmore about the Gender AnalysisToolkit, contact Giselle Aris [email protected].

Use a Gender Checklist during Proposal Research
mailto:GDAris%40landolakes.com?subject=mailto:GDAris%40landolakes.com?subject=mailto:GDAris%40landolakes.com?subject=mailto:GDAris%40landolakes.com?subject=


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Integrate Gender into Recruitment

Promoting gender sensitivity during the proposaldevelopment process is critical to an organizationscompetitiveness. Donors and host countrygovernments alike have strongly prioritized genderintegration; organizations that fail to keep up with

this trend are less likely to be selected to implementprojects. Likewise, as numerous studies havedemonstrated, gender-balanced leadership is a key

determining factor in an organizations long-termsuccess28. To build a gender-sensitive culture from

within an organization and to demonstrate to donthat the organization puts gender at the core of itsproposals and practices, it is important to includea gender specialist/expert on every project team,and to exhibit a commitment to gender-balanced

leadership.

Case Study from Land OLakes:How can an international development

organization begin integrating gender intorecruitment?

Organizations around the world have deployed diverse approachesand techniques to improve the gender balance of their staff. AtLand OLakes, the International Development divisions recruitmentdepartment recently embarked on an effort to form a global gendernetwork. This will ultimately be comprised of a pool of qualified

professional women who possess expertise in agriculture the primarysector for Land OLakes. The network will be built largely throughinternal Land OLakes references and managed through its customerrelationship management (CRM) tool.

The idea for the global gender network came about through thechallenges the Land OLakes International Development divisionregularly experienced in accessing women to fill leadership or senior-level positions during the recruitment process. One of the reasonswomen are often more difficult to recruit compared to men is that many

feel comfortable remaining in the same position for a longer periodof time, rather than starting with a new employer that may not offersimilar levels of flexibility or benefits. In general, women are moretrusting of referral networks than unknown external recruitment.

Through Land OLakes CRM tool, members of the global gendernetwork receive updates to keep abreast of new job openings. Duringproposal efforts, recruiters draw from this group to ensure genderdiverse teams are being put forward from the start.


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When a cost proposal is being drafted for a newprogram, it is essential that adequate resources

be allocated for gender-related components ofthe project. Experience has shown that whenresources for gender-focused aspects of projectimplementation are not allocated during the costproposal phase, these aspects of programmingoften altogether fail to become a part of a projects

life cycle. Examples of gender-related componentsto be incorporated into a project budget includea gender analysis, gender sensitization trainingsand the inclusion of an on-staff Gender Specialist.

Depending on project needs and resourcesavailable, the Gender Specialist position could be

combined into a hybrid position such as a Gendand Communications Specialist or a Gender andMonitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist.

It is recommended that each proposal budgetinclude a gender assessment and a gender trainingfor local staff in Year 1. Costs associated with this

training may include space rental and the hire ofa local gender consultant or in-house expert toconduct the training.

Cost Impacts of Gender-BalancedTrainings

Land OLakes now recommends that two or three membersfrom each household attend all project trainings (e.g.,trainings on planting methods or quality assurance

methods). This recommendation is based on results fromtheGender, Agriculture and Assets Project (GAAP)29,which Land OLakes conducted in conjunction with IFPRIand the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) inconnection with its U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded Mozambique Smallholder Dairy DevelopmentProject. This approach, discussed in detail later in thisdocument, is effective from a gender-sensitive perspectivebecause it aids in the knowledge transfer between variousfamily members especially husbands and wives. When

only one household member attends a technical training, it imost often the husband, and frequently he does not transfewhat he learned to his wife. When husbands and wives areable to attend trainings together, both obtain new technicalknowledge, and the incidence of the partners consultingone another on technical decisions increases. This form of

couples training is therefore highly encouraged. It does,however, come at a cost, and therefore needs to be reflectedin project budgets.

Integrate Gender into Cost Proposals
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Chapter 2

Integrate Gender into ProjectDesign, Approaches andActivities


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For all of the examples mentioned in the text box above,and in all cases where development practitioners andimplementing organizations have observed differences inopportunities, performance and output on a gender-basisalong value chains, focused monitoring, evaluation and

learning is needed. Collecting robust data and conductingrigorous analysis will make a meaningful contribution to

the sectors evidence base, and will also help to ensureimproved, gender-sensitive project design in the future.

Did You Know?

Anecdotal evidence from various Land OLakes projects shows that women, compared to men,excel in certain components of value chains. For example, quantitative and qualitative datafrom Land OLakes International Development divisions dairy development projects suggestthat women are better than men at dairy quality control and hygiene assurance. In Rwanda,women took better care than men when washing milk buckets; in Zambia, they provided betteranimal health care; and in Mozambique, they delivered higher quality milk. From a private sectorperspective, project results in Zambia and Tanzania support the international body of evidencethat indicates that when women work as artificial insemination technicians, they achieve higherpositive pregnancy rates. This is thought to be the case because women pay more attention thanmen to the details of their trade and because women are more focused than men on achievingstrong results so they can maintain their vocation.

More information on examples of Land OLakes efforts to effectively integrate women along allparts of value chains can be found in this presentation30, which was given at the 2012 Easternand Southern Africa Dairy Association (ESADA) conference. The presentation quantitativelyand qualitatively demonstrates that developing strong value chains and supporting genderequity are mutually supportive goals that increase productivity, competitiveness, food securityand profitability. Supporting examples from projects in Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania,Zambia and Zimbabwe are provided.

When designing projects that target women, it is important to recommend opportunities along the entirvalue chain, and to build these technical approaches into the proposal. Women are often targeted forprimary production activities and some value addition. They are commonly overlooked when developinginput/service delivery, processing and retail sales, for example, and particularly for managementand leadership positions that pay higher wages. Readying women for these leadership positions willoften entail providing relevant skills and capacity training, as these training programs are traditionallyprimarily marketed and provided to men. Mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities, as well as

womens support networks, can serve as an effective form of complementary support.
http://www.idd.landolakes.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/web_content/ecmp2-0165977.pdfhttp://www.idd.landolakes.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/web_content/ecmp2-0165977.pdfhttp://www.idd.landolakes.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/web_content/ecmp2-0165977.pdf


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How can gender be integrated into agricultural value chains?

Use the GATE Handbook31, produced by USAIDs Office of Women in Development; theChallenging Chains to Change32manual, jointly produced by the Royal Tropical Institute, Agri-Pro Focus, and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction; and the Making the Strongest

Links33document, produced by the International Labor Organization, as guides. The GATE Handbookfocuses on promoting equitable opportunities in agricultural value chains. It is based on research studieand training programs conducted in seven countries, all of which shared the objective of integratinggender considerations into economic growth and trade-related programs.

Challenging Chains to Change identifies and addresses various constraints to womens participation invalue chains, with an overarching goal of making these value chains more efficient and more just. Makinthe Strongest Links is a guide for mainstreaming gender analysis in value chain development.

Reach Women Without Alienating Men andBuild Mens Support

In some cultures where women are limited in terms of movement and restricted in their contact with men

outside of their families or communities, it is critical to assess the degree to which women can be targetedand the most appropriate ways to reach them. It is essential that this be done in a manner that activelyinvolves men. The following list of approaches outlines different ways this can be accomplished. Whenappropriate, multiple approaches can be implemented at once. Use female extension workers to meet with

women in appropriate locations (i.e., homesteads, designated meeting locations, etc.):

Interact with male members of households(fathers, brothers, husbands) and negotiatetheir approval for their wifes/daughters/sisters participation in an activity.

Approach local male religious and/or traditional leadersto negotiate womens

involvement in an activity and when appropriate, enlist their support to build community acceptanand support of womens participation in an activity.

Speak with men who allow female members of their family to participate inactivitiesand ask them to speak with other men in the community regarding the benefits of thisinvolvement.

Facilitate gender sensitization trainingsfor men and boys. These trainings can be usedas a forum for facilitating joint household planning activities between men and women, and foreducating men and boys about nutritional, health and educational needs of all family members.
http://www.kitpublishers.nl/net/KIT_Publicaties_output/ShowFile2.aspx?e=2008http://www.kitpublishers.nl/net/KIT_Publicaties_output/ShowFile2.aspx?e=2008http://www.kitpublishers.nl/net/KIT_Publicaties_output/ShowFile2.aspx?e=2008http://www.kitpublishers.nl/net/KIT_Publicaties_output/ShowFile2.aspx?e=2008http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_emp/@emp_ent/documents/instructionalmaterial/wcms_106538.pdfhttp://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_emp/@emp_ent/documents/instructionalmaterial/wcms_106538.pdfhttp://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_emp/@emp_ent/documents/instructionalmaterial/wcms_106538.pdfhttp://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_emp/@emp_ent/documents/instructionalmaterial/wcms_106538.pdfhttp://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_emp/@emp_ent/documents/instructionalmaterial/wcms_106538.pdfhttp://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_emp/@emp_ent/documents/instructionalmaterial/wcms_106538.pdfhttp://www.kitpublishers.nl/net/KIT_Publicaties_output/ShowFile2.aspx?e=2008http://www.wemanresources.info/documents/Page3_GenderMainstreaming/3_4_ValueChain/Final%20GATE%20gender%20value%20chain%20handbook%20low%20res.pdf


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MEAS CaseStudies

To learn more about Ghanaswomen extension volunteer

model,read this casestudy38. To learn about howwomens groups in India

have improved the delivery

of extension services, read

this case study39.

Foster the development of women-friendly businessesby speaking with theowners and managing directors of businesses along the value chains you are working with andencouraging them to declare themselves women-friendly. This declaration could be backed up ba sign put up in the shop, a change in the companys hiring practices, or a shift in the companyscustomer service policy. Various criteria for what makes a business women-friendly can be useddepending upon the context. For guidance on developing these criteria, review the WomensEmpowerment Principles34 a set of principles, developed by the United Nations (UN)Global Compact and UN Women, for businesses on how to empower women in the workplace,marketplace and community. For examples of companies successfully adhering to theseprinciples, and enacting their own gender policies, review the Business Practice section of the

Womens Empowerment Principles website.

Why does it matter if extension agents are male or female,and what can be done to ensure women farmers have access to

extension services?Readthis post35by USAIDs Gender Advisor for more information and ideas, as well as this paper36by IFPRI about how gender differences in access to extension services affect technology adoption andagriculture productivity rates.

How can the gender gap in agriculture extension and advisoryservices be reduced?

Read thisdiscussion paper37, written by a group of academics and practitioners practitioners atModernizing Advisory and Extension Services (MEAS), to learn more.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15810717/MEAS%20Case%20Studies/MEAS%20CS%20Ghana%20-%20Women%20Extension%20Volunteers%20-%20Hird-Younger%2C%20M%20and%20B%20Simpson%20-%20May%202013.pdfhttps://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15810717/MEAS%20Case%20Studies/MEAS%20CS%20Ghana%20-%20Women%20Extension%20Volunteers%20-%20Hird-Younger%2C%20M%20and%20B%20Simpson%20-%20May%202013.pdfhttps://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15810717/MEAS%20Case%20Studies/MEAS%20CS%20Ghana%20-%20Women%20Extension%20Volunteers%20-%20Hird-Younger%2C%20M%20and%20B%20Simpson%20-%20May%202013.pdfhttps://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15810717/MEAS%20Case%20Studies/MEAS%20CS%20Ghana%20-%20Women%20Extension%20Volunteers%20-%20Hird-Younger%2C%20M%20and%20B%20Simpson%20-%20May%202013.pdfhttps://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15810717/MEAS%20Case%20Studies/MEAS%20CS%20India%20-%20SEWA%20Women%20groups%20-%20Gale%2C%20Collett%2C%20Freccero%20-%20Aug%202013.pdfhttps://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15810717/MEAS%20Case%20Studies/MEAS%20CS%20India%20-%20SEWA%20Women%20groups%20-%20Gale%2C%20Collett%2C%20Freccero%20-%20Aug%202013.pdfhttp://weprinciples.org/http://weprinciples.org/http://weprinciples.org/http://weprinciples.org/http://agrilinks.org/blog/extension-agents-why-does-it-matter-if-they-are-male-or-female?bcsi-ac-e9bbc1793ef8fa01=1F9A6DEE00000003dse73NMTT/shQ4ibTL/QsbKmlLQdBwAAAwAAAKW+agAQDgAAAAAAAILdBwA=http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/essprn21.pdf?utm_source=IFPRI+Gender+News&utm_campaign=554a5b0a1f-IFPRI_Gender_Round_Up_May_20134_29_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1ae6f2926b-554a5b0a1f-412911909http://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/gender_ag_extension_services_2013.pdfhttp://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/gender_ag_extension_services_2013.pdfhttp://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/essprn21.pdf?utm_source=IFPRI+Gender+News&utm_campaign=554a5b0a1f-IFPRI_Gender_Round_Up_May_20134_29_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1ae6f2926b-554a5b0a1f-412911909http://agrilinks.org/blog/extension-agents-why-does-it-matter-if-they-are-male-or-female?bcsi-ac-e9bbc1793ef8fa01=1F9A6DEE00000003dse73NMTT/shQ4ibTL/QsbKmlLQdBwAAAwAAAKW+agAQDgAAAAAAAILdBwA=http://weprinciples.org/http://weprinciples.org/https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15810717/MEAS%20Case%20Studies/MEAS%20CS%20India%20-%20SEWA%20Women%20groups%20-%20Gale%2C%20Collett%2C%20Freccero%20-%20Aug%202013.pdfhttps://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15810717/MEAS%20Case%20Studies/MEAS%20CS%20Ghana%20-%20Women%20Extension%20Volunteers%20-%20Hird-Younger%2C%20M%20and%20B%20Simpson%20-%20May%202013.pdfhttps://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15810717/MEAS%20Case%20Studies/MEAS%20CS%20Ghana%20-%20Women%20Extension%20Volunteers%20-%20Hird-Younger%2C%20M%20and%20B%20Simpson%20-%20May%202013.pdf


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The underlying cause of gender-based violence(GBV) is unequal power relationships, combined

with sociocultural beliefs that permit or, in some

cases, provide justification for violence against aperson or persons because of their gender. Anyone men, women, boys, or girls can be victims ofGBV, but the vast majority of victims are women andgirls40.

Reaching women withoutalienating men is complex,

particularly whenimplementing a projectthat distributes assets,information, education orother resources specifically

to women a scenario thatis likely to affect gender-based power dynamics in acommunity. To help ensure

that changes in powerdynamics do not lead to GBV,it is important to ensure

that a gender analysis isalways conducted early onin a projects life cycle, and that it includes analysisof community power dynamics. Informationcollected from these analyses can then be used to

directly influence program design. Additionally,the approaches listed in this document on reachingwomen without alienating men and building menssupport must be implemented carefully, particularlyin cases where women are solely targeted for

training (in the absence of men). If this work is notundertaken with great sensitivity, women may beunable to apply new approaches, may not benefitfrom an activity, or in extreme cases, could be

subjected to GBV. Even though many developmentorganizations do not specialize in GBV preventionand response, each organization can still play a rol

in reducing project participants risk of becomingGBV victims by engaging in responsible projectdesign and implementation.

Land OLakes recognizes that GBV is a risk in allproject contexts, particularly those where conflict

is present; displacement ofindividuals and families is

occurring; food insecurity isevere; access to resourceslike land, water, and cashis limited; and/or societalstructure is highly stratifiedLand OLakes thought

leadership in this area hasbeen recognized by externapartners, including Women

Thrive Worldwide, whichpublished this blog postduring Domestic Violence

Awareness Month. Thepost41, written by the head

of the Land OLakes Gender Task Force, MaraRussell, examines how violence transcends thehousehold environment to impact all aspects of da

life, and demonstrates that violence against womeis not solely a health issue, but is also an agriculturissue and an economic issue. Land OLakes workand findings on the nexus of livelihoods and GBV,particularly in the agriculture sector, has beenshared broadly, including at the United NationsCommission on the Status of Women. Land OLakmost recent presentation on this topic can be founon The Hunger Projects website here42.

Gender-based Violence in Development

If we turn a blind eye toGBV when implementingagricultural andeconomic developmentprograms, we unwittinglyfoster it and may evenendanger the verywomen whose lives wehope to better.

Mara Russell in her blog on GBV

posted on Women Thrives website40.
http://womenthrive.org/blog/violence-against-women-agriculture-and-economic-issuehttp://www.thp.org/es/blog/hunger_project_land_o_lakes_development_host_panel_halting_gender_violencehttp://www.thp.org/es/blog/hunger_project_land_o_lakes_development_host_panel_halting_gender_violencehttp://womenthrive.org/blog/violence-against-women-agriculture-and-economic-issue


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Gender issues are often viewed as synonymous with womens issues, even though gender actually refe

to both men and women. This common confusion occurs for good reason: discussion around gender andgender integration methods heavily focus on women, as diverse communities and stakeholders worldwide

work to undo and move past long-entrenched inequalities that have negatively impacted women.

Although it is true that in many cases women encounter more constraints and confront more discriminaticompared to men, it is also true that for gender equity to be achieved men must be actively involved at everstage. Insufficient attention has been given to the importance of mens involvement in all gender-relatedissues, but recent efforts have begun to correct this oversight. For example, the Gender Task Force of the

Washington, D.C.-based Food Security and Nutrition Network (FSN)43 recently facilitated its firdiscussion about how mens participation in gender-focused discussions can be increased, and how men

viewpoints can reach all stakeholders involved in the advancement of gender equity.

Key points made during the discussion included:

To draw more men into gender discussions, gender must be included in targeted technicaldiscussions. This integrates rather than isolates.

Men should be personally invited to join in meetings/panels/etc. It helps to identify their value-a

to the discussion up front. Capacity needs to be built at the program/field level around gender integration and awareness, bu

solid leadership is also crucial. If the organization recognizes gender as an important componentof change and program implementation, men and women are both involved in the dialogue. Safespaces around gender discussions emerge/can be built.

Men can seem unaffected by the gender dialogue. Once men shift to absorb their responsibility ingender discussions, they will begin to show up at meetings. For women, leading the discussion ongender is natural. Regardless, emotions need to be left behind so that a productive conversation c

take place. Men should be considered as co-chairs for gender task forces and for gender specialist positions

These points serve as helpful guidance for programs working to maximize impact by integrating mens voiin discussions on gender, project design, and project implementation.

Ensure Mens Involvement in Gender-RelatedDiscussions and Activities
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What about tools for men?

Alongside efforts to better integrate men into discussions about gender, implementingorganizations are increasingly dedicating resources to developing gender equity tools targetedat men and boys. For example, this Fathers Group Manual44was developed by World Vision,

Promundo, and MenCare. It is intended for use by fathers working in the tea estate regions of SrLanka and was designed to promote gender equality in home environments. The manual offersa series of tested activities and group discussion topics that provide a strong foundation foraddressing and transforming gender and masculinity norms within families and communities.Although tools of this nature are currently few and far between, their numbers are likely to growin the near future.
http://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/mencare_fathers_groups_manual_sri_lanka.pdfhttp://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/mencare_fathers_groups_manual_sri_lanka.pdfhttp://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/mencare_fathers_groups_manual_sri_lanka.pdf


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In many cases, womens attendance rates at technical

trainings pales in comparison to that of men. Thisdifference in attendance rates is often caused byconstraints that are specific to women. The list belowoutlines ways these constraints can be addressed, so

that they do not prevent women from attending andfully participating in technical trainings.

Encourage women participantsto attend trainings regardless of

whether they will be bringing achild with them.During the training,create a welcoming environment for

women with their children and encouragethem to actively participate. Emphasizingthat women will not be penalized formissing a session due to childcarecommitments and that opportunities

to learn missed information can beaccommodated later are recommended tohelp create a women-friendly, welcomingenvironment.

Make proper accommodationsfor infants and young children attrainings.These accommodations mayinclude providing milk and soft foodsduring meal times, and ensuring that an

easily accessible and appropriate area fo

breastfeeding is available. Whenever possible, include twomembers from householdsin trainings (also known asCouples Training). Couples Traininghelps household members learn fromone another as well as build a morecollaborative approach to technicalactivities, and to engage in joint decision

making. This method also ensuressuccessful knowledge transfer to bothheads of household, instead of relying o

the less dependable method of one headof household sharing information learne

with the other upon returning home. Trainings that involve women should be

held during the day at times that are

convenient for women(usuallywhen children are at school), in locationclose to their homes. They should notrequire extensive travel or overnightstays, whenever possible. Ensuringthe availability of childcareservices during trainings is alsorecommended.

Ensure Womens Involvement in Trainings


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People who participate in development projects

represent various segments of the socioeconomicspectrum. In some projects, developmentpractitioners work with the poorest of the poor asegment of the population that tends to include adisproportionately high number of women. Themost vulnerable households, including female-headed households, commonly lack access to land,

livestock, and other productive resources. Lackof capital (both tangible capital, such as land and

livestock, and intangible capital, such as socialcapital and human capital), due to lack of assets,is also a major constraint. These households,particularly in areas that have been affected by HIV/

AIDS, often include a large number of dependentscoupled with extremely limited resources. Under

these circumstances, it becomes that much moreimportant to ensure that resources available are

used as effectively and efficiently as possible. Thisincludes not only financial resources, but also timeresources, as women in impoverished and/or female-headed households are often very constrained in

terms of time.

As the most vulnerable households commonly havedifficulty producing or purchasing food, equitableintra-household food distribution is criticallyimportant. Yet, consumption patterns (order ofeating among household members, types of foodsprovided to men, women and children) may bedictated by cultural gender biases rather than actualneeds. See this documents section on Health andNutrition for more information on this topic.The obstacles confronted by a societys mostimpoverished individuals and households require

appropriate interventions. For each country

and project, a household level food security andlivelihoods assessment should be carried out todetermine the ability of households to produce(increase availability) and purchase (improveaccess) food, as well as current and potentialhousehold income opportunities.

In situations where we target vulnerable householand/or smallholders, there is a great likelihood tha

the women targeted possess very minimal literacyand numeracy skills. It is challenging to take anenterprise development approach if women cannoread, write or do basic arithmetic. In addition, asmen manage finances in most households, womenmay lack even a basic understanding of financialconcepts.Incorporating basic literacy,numeracy, and financial literacy in all

training activities for vulnerable groupsrecommended.

Projects of this type may also take place ingeographic regions that are highly prone toshocks, and households in such areas may havedifficulty protecting and maintaining their assets.It is important that such communities gain a fullunderstanding of the various potential shocksand risks that may exist within their environment

that may reduce their ability to improve their foodsecurity and livelihoods and develop means to cop

with and mitigate these risks. In many cases, risksmay be related to climate change or environmentaimpacts such as erosion. In such instances, it isimportant to ensure that community membersunderstand these risks, and seek to mitigate them

Considerations for Projects Working with Vulnerableand/or Female-Headed Households


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It is important that communities seek the meansto cope with shocks and threats through thedevelopment of early warning systems (EWS)and disaster mitigation plans (DMP).

Women should be involved in the development ofEWS and DMP and the needs of men, women, boys

and girls should be taken into full consideration.For instance, if an area is prone to flash flooding,it is critical that warnings are provided far enoughin advance and reach people in distant locationsin order to ensure that women, children, disabledand elderly people can evacuate safely. Practicedrills can be an effective means to improve warningand response times, by identifying and addressingfactors that limit the coverage and effectiveness of

warnings. In drought prone areas, developmentof improved, multi-use water systems that provide

water for humans, crops and animals can reducedrought hazards.

However, it is important to ensure that womenare fully involved in decisions regarding theplacement of these water systems, since women ar

the members of household most likely to remainresponsible for fetching water.

Appropriate financial mechanisms, such as villagesavings and loans associations (VSLAs), rotatingsavings and credit associations (ROSCAs),and micro-insurance, are another importantmitigation tool that can reduce exposure toshocks. These financial mechanisms can providea safety net to households and communities where

traditional financial tools are often not available,or community members are not eligible to utilize

them. It is important that both women and men fuunderstand how these financial mechanisms workand that they have the opportunity to take advantaof them if they are available.

Want to learn more?

The USAID Resilience Policy46providesexcellent guidance on buildingresilience in shock prone areas.Additional information on disasterrisk reduction47from the Office ofForeign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)also provides useful guidance, as doesinformation on how Women and GirlsReduce Disaster Risk Every Day48.

How can vulnerable groups, including women, be integrated intofood security programs?

ReviewGender Integration in USAID Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, andHumanitarian Assistance Office of Food for Peace Operations45to learn more. Although

this document has a particular focus on Title II projects, many of its aspects are more widely applicable.
http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/USAIDResiliencePolicyGuidanceDocument.pdfhttp://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/working-crises-and-conflict/disaster-risk-reductionhttp://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/working-crises-and-conflict/disaster-risk-reductionhttp://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/working-crises-and-conflict/disaster-risk-reductionhttp://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/working-crises-and-conflict/disaster-risk-reductionhttp://blog.usaid.gov/2012/10/women-and-girls-reduce-disaster-risk-every-day/http://blog.usaid.gov/2012/10/women-and-girls-reduce-disaster-risk-every-day/http://blog.usaid.gov/2012/10/women-and-girls-reduce-disaster-risk-every-day/http://blog.usaid.gov/2012/10/women-and-girls-reduce-disaster-risk-every-day/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADZ581.pdfhttp://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADZ581.pdfhttp://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADZ581.pdfhttp://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADZ581.pdfhttp://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADZ581.pdfhttp://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADZ581.pdfhttp://blog.usaid.gov/2012/10/women-and-girls-reduce-disaster-risk-every-day/http://blog.usaid.gov/2012/10/women-and-girls-reduce-disaster-risk-every-day/http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/working-crises-and-conflict/disaster-risk-reductionhttp://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/working-crises-and-conflict/disaster-risk-reductionhttp://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/USAIDResiliencePolicyGuidanceDocument.pdf


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Although this document is intended for a wide variety of development organizations, it includes a sectionspecifically focused on cooperatives and agricultural and dairy development because of Land OLakesexperience and expertise in these areas. Listed below are key topics Land OLakes staff have endeavored t

ask and learnabout in the early phases of project implementation, so that they can use the informatithey gather to update project design accordingly. Other organizations are invited to make use of the list oftopics below, and to make new versions of this list for different types of development projects. Below aresome suggested topics to ask and learn about.

Considerations for Projects Involving Cooperativesand/or Focused on Dairy and Agricultural

Development

Ask and learn when promoting cooperative membership: Is membership for an individual or the entire household? Can husbands and wives have separate membership? If it is a joint/household membership, who collects the weekly/monthly payment? Is it possible to set up credit or advance payment systems so women can buy items against the

monthly check and/or take an advance on the check to buy immediate needs? This may enhancewomenscontrol over their dairy or crop income.

Example:Under the M-pesa (mobile money) system, which is widely used in Kenya andTanzania, payments are electronically transferred to womens mobile accounts. By replacincash payments with electronic payments, women maintain greater autonomy over the use of

their earnings.Example:From Madagascar to Papua New Guinea, cooperative members set-up shopsselling used household goods and items, such as oil and sugar. Members can arrange partiain-kind payments, in the form of theseitems, for their product sales to thecooperative in place of cash. Womenregularly review this payment systemfavorably, as it ensures a portion

of their income will be spent onhousehold necessities they have pre-selected.

Are women encouraged to join thecooperative or producer group?

Are women encouraged to participate inleadership roles, including on the boardof directors, other than through the role ofsecretary?

A gendered approach tocooperative farming

There are indications that agriculturalcooperatives, especially cooperatives

with a gendered approach, can effectivelyincrease womens empowerment, genderequity and economic wellbeing if women cansuccessfully participate. Tolearn more, reathis SNV-produced article49, which analyzethe impact of agricultural cooperatives onwomens empowerment using the PKWIFarmer to Farmer Cooperative Society innortheastern Uganda as a case study.
http://www.snvworld.org/sites/www.snvworld.org/files/publications/pkwi_making_the_best_better_july_2012.pdfhttp://www.snvworld.org/sites/www.snvworld.org/files/publications/pkwi_making_the_best_better_july_2012.pdfhttp://www.snvworld.org/sites/www.snvworld.org/files/publications/pkwi_making_the_best_better_july_2012.pdf


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Encourage: Support the inclusion of at least one woman on every board. How much input do women have in cooperative decision-making? Are there safeguards built into

by-laws that ensure that womens voices are heard in cultures where womens views are often notconsidered?

Ask and learn when promoting milk collection center (MCC)

development:Collection times can impact womens ability to send in milk. Often she must rely on a milk transporter, whcreates an additional expense, and who may or may not pick up milk in time. Ask and learn the followingquestions:

Can the MCC stagger milk collection times, without affecting product quality? Can the MCC develop alternative/creative milk delivery practices (i.e., establish satellite collectio

points, etc.) that support women?Example:Support MCC in developing a milk collection system that works for women.

What about crops?

Prepared for the Science and Technology Team of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, TheEvans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington published a series of crop-specifiresearch papers analyzing gender and cropping in Sub-Saharan Africa. Each paper examinesgender dimensions throughout the entirety of the agricultural cycle, from land preparationto harvesting and household use. Background information can be found in the executive

summary50 and overview51. Relevant crops include rice52, maize53, wheat54and cassava55.
http://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2064_Gender%20and%20Cropping%20Series%20Executive%20Summary_03_02_2010.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2064_Gender%20and%20Cropping%20Series%20Executive%20Summary_03_02_2010.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2033_Gender%20and%20Cropping%20Overview_Jan-19-2010.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2027_Gender_and_Cropping_Rice_in_SSA_05-09-2009.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2038_Gender%20and%20Cropping_Maize%20in%20SSA_06-01-2009_0.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2036_Gender%20and%20Cropping_Wheat%20in%20SSA_05-18-2009%20_0.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2064_Gender%20and%20Cropping%20Series%20Executive%20Summary_03_02_2010.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans_UW_Request%2032_Gender%20and%20Cropping_Cassava_05-20-2009.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2064_Gender%20and%20Cropping%20Series%20Executive%20Summary_03_02_2010.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2033_Gender%20and%20Cropping%20Overview_Jan-19-2010.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2027_Gender_and_Cropping_Rice_in_SSA_05-09-2009.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2038_Gender%20and%20Cropping_Maize%20in%20SSA_06-01-2009_0.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2036_Gender%20and%20Cropping_Wheat%20in%20SSA_05-18-2009%20_0.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans_UW_Request%2032_Gender%20and%20Cropping_Cassava_05-20-2009.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans_UW_Request%2032_Gender%20and%20Cropping_Cassava_05-20-2009.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2036_Gender%20and%20Cropping_Wheat%20in%20SSA_05-18-2009%20_0.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2038_Gender%20and%20Cropping_Maize%20in%20SSA_06-01-2009_0.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2027_Gender_and_Cropping_Rice_in_SSA_05-09-2009.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2033_Gender%20and%20Cropping%20Overview_Jan-19-2010.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2064_Gender%20and%20Cropping%20Series%20Executive%20Summary_03_02_2010.pdfhttp://evans.washington.edu/files/Evans%20UW_Request%2064_Gender%20and%20Cropping%20Series%20Executive%20Summary_03_02_2010.pdf


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In many countries, women provide much of the labor and time for livestock tasks but are denied ownershirights, particularly for large stock such as cattle and camels. Women tend to have particularly limited

decision-making power regarding when to buy and sell livestock, and for what price. If a project isrecommending a livestock-based product (milk, meat, etc.) for private sector development, the project

leaders should highlight how their implementation plan will help toensure that the income earnedis not removed from womens control and/or that the nutrition from the animal-based product isnot removed from womens/childrens diets. The latter may require the promotion of nutrition and healthbehavior change communications conveying the nutritional value of these products for family members(men, women, infants, and children).

Livestock production, genderand project design

For more information on gendered aspectsof livestock production, ownership andmanagement, review this document58fromFAO. For guidance on designing livestockprojects that address gender-related needsand constraints, consult these techniquesand tools59from the World Bank and thispaper60produced by the International Fundfor Agricultural Development (IFAD). For achecklist on integrating gender issues intolivestock projects, refer to this FAO booklet6

What about pastoralists?

In pastoralist communities, the gendereddynamics and negotiations that take placeconcerning livestock as a part of the householdenterprise often differ from those of sedentarycommunities. To learn more about this topic,read thisworking paper56about women, men,children and livestock in Nigers pastoralistFulbe community.

Considerations for Projects Involving Ownership andManagement of Livestock

Learnings from Land OLakesMozambique Gender Project

Through Mozambique GAAP, Land OLakespartnered with ILRI and IFPRI to examine

the differences in livestock ownershipandmanagement between men and women,including identifying instances of jointownership and the impacts of these varyingpractices. More information on thesefigures and outcomes can be found in thispresentation30. A presentation on themethodologies used and outcomes achievedunder GAAP can be found here57.
http://www.fao.org/WAIRDOCS/LEAD/X6106E/x6106e06.htmhttp://www.fao.org/WAIRDOCS/LEAD/X6106E/x6106e06.htmhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTGENDER/0,,contentMDK:20208245~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:336868,00.htmlhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTGENDER/0,,contentMDK:20208245~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:336868,00.htmlhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTGENDER/0,,contentMDK:20208245~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:336868,00.htmlhttp://www.ifad.org/lrkm/factsheet/genderlivestock.pdfhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTGENDER/0,,contentMDK:20208245~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:336868,00.htmlhttp://www.ifad.org/lrkm/factsheet/genderlivestock.pdfhttp://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3216e/i3216e.pdfhttp://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3216e/i3216e.pdfhttp://gencen.isp.msu.edu/documents/Working_Papers/WP301.pdfhttp://gencen.isp.msu.edu/documents/Working_Papers/WP301.pdfhttp://www.idd.landolakes.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/web_content/ecmp2-0165977.pdfhttp://www.idd.landolakes.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/web_content/ecmp2-0165977.pdfhttp://www.idd.landolakes.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/web_content/ecmp2-0180965.pdfhttp://www.idd.landolakes.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/web_content/ecmp2-0180965.pdfhttp://www.idd.landolakes.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/web_content/ecmp2-0180965.pdfhttp://www.idd.landolakes.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/web_content/ecmp2-0165977.pdfhttp://gencen.isp.msu.edu/documents/Working_Papers/WP301.pdfhttp://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3216e/i3216e.pdfhttp://www.ifad.org/lrkm/factsheet/genderlivestock.pdfhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTGENDER/0,,contentMDK:20208245~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:336868,00.htmlhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTGENDER/0,,contentMDK:20208245~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:336868,00.htmlhttp://www.fao.org/WAIRDOCS/LEAD/X6106E/x6106e06.htm


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Led by UN institutions such as FAO and the WorldBank, numerous research institutions and donorsregard women as the nexus between agriculture,nutrition and health. Taking different gender rolesinto account during program design can assist in

tackling inequalities that affect nutritional status.Women, girls, men, and boys have physiologicallydifferent nutritional requirements. Additionally,

they are often subject to different socio-culturalexpectations that put them at different risks for

becoming malnourished. Incorporating gender-sensitive actions as part of nutrition programdesign can aid in accounting for these social andbiological differences and ensure that activities

to reduce under-nutrition achieve their maximumeffectiveness.

Womens Biological RoleWomen are most often targeted for nutrition andhealth interventions because they play a central rolein the well-being of other household members. In

the smallholder household, women of reproductiveage, particularly those who are pregnant or lactating,

have increased physiological requirements forkey micronutrients such as iron and folic acid.

Without proper diets, women are more likely tobecome undernourished. This can reduce their

work capacity, escalate their risk of complicationsand death during childbirth, and increase their

likelihood of having low birth weight babies who ain turn at heightened risk for undernourishment apoor development during infancy and childhood.

Additionally, lack of proper nutrients during

lactation leaves a woman at a disadvantage duringfuture pregnancies.

An additional aspect of womens reproductive roleis acting as primary caretaker for young children,and ensuring that these children are fed adequatelsafelyand appropriately. Research conducted byFAO62 and by IFPRI63has revealed that because

women are more likely than men to spend theirincome on food and other family needs, there is astrong association between womens income andchild health and nutritional status.

Considerations for Projects with a Focus on Nutritionand Health
http://www.fao.org/gender/gender-home/gender-programme/gender-food/en/http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/pubs/pubs/ib/ib33.pdfhttp://www.fao.org/gender/gender-home/gender-programme/gender-food/en/http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/pubs/pubs/ib/ib33.pdfhttp://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/pubs/pubs/ib/ib33.pdfhttp://www.fao.org/gender/gender-home/gender-programme/gender-food/en/


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Womens Empowerment andNutritionAlthough an increase in womens income isstrongly associated with improvements in childnutrition, health, and education, women oftenhave fewer resources and less decision-makingpower within the household. The degree to

which a woman can access medical treatment andservices for her children depends on her levelof household bargaining power and resourceaccess (particularly financial access). When theirown resources are sufficient, women have beenfound to actively provide care and treatment for

their children. However, if larger budgets arerequired, then womens ability to influence other

household decision-makers such as spouses andgrandparents via intra-household bargaining isimportant.

This World Bank research paper64looks athousehold gender inequality and nutrient allocationin Bangladesh. It shows that, when headed by

women, these households may use a greater portionof their resources on health and nutrition; however,

these female-headed households may have lowerincome levels on average, depending on the context.This research is complemented by this academicpaper65that analyzes how womens bargainingpower affects child nutrition, with evidence fromrural Senegal.

Gender, Labor and Child HealthDivision of labor, which is influenced by cultural,social, and economic norms and values, determine

the type of work men and women do. It can result men playing less of a role in childcare and womenbecoming overburdened with both productive and

reproductive roles. In the dual role of caretakerand producer/farmer, women can experience timeconstraints or time poverty that can cause them

to reduce healthy behaviors, including seekingtreatment for child illnesses and adhering toappropriate child feeding practices. For furtherreading on time use and gender in Sub-Saharan Africa, read this World Bank

working paper66

.

In addition, the incidence of women gaining incomthrough participation in paid labor has significantpositive effects on child health. However, thesecan be countered by womens inability to obtainappropriate childcare or substitute caregivers. Inmany situations, there are indications that men arnot the best alternative childcare providers, since

they have other duties. In many cases, childcare istherefore assigned to older children, who are notnecessarily well-equipped to fulfill child-rearingresponsibilities.

Gender influences on child survival, health and nutrition

The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Liverpool School oTropical Medicine, recently conducted a thorough assessment of this topic. You can review thfull assessment here67.

Why are women in a unique position to reduce householdmalnutrition?

Read FAOs facts and strategies about this topichere68, IFPRIs findings here63.
http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64165259&piPK=64165421&theSitePK=469372&menuPK=64166093&entityID=000158349_20130219110837http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X13000065http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X13000065http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X13000065http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X13000065ht