Your search found 5 records
1 Buchy, Marlene; Elias, M.; Khadka, Manohara. 2023. Invisible women: barriers for women professionals in the water, energy, food, and environment sectors in Nepal. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7:1146187. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1146187]
Gender equality ; Social inclusion ; Role of women ; Barriers ; Leadership ; Water management ; Energy ; Food production ; Environment ; Nexus approaches ; Climate change ; Social norms ; Decision making ; Marginalization ; Discrimination ; Caste systems ; Ethnicity ; Sexual harassment ; Public sector ; Private sector ; Non-governmental organizations ; Policies / Nepal / Kathmandu
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052233)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1146187/pdf?isPublishedV2=False
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052233.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052233.pdf
(0.38 MB) (390 KB)
Despite evidence of women’s roles and expertise in the management of water, energy, food, and the environment (WEFE), the WEFE literature is almost silent on gender issues. In the context of climate change, achieving more inclusive management of natural resources is vital; yet women continue to be underrepresented as professionals in WEFE sectors, and largely absent in leadership positions. Using Nepal as a case study, this paper explores the enduring barriers to their exclusion, and entry points for greater equity among professionals in these sectors. To do so, we draw on key informant interviews with 34 male and 31 women professionals from government, civil society, non-governmental organizations and consultants, as well as a roundtable discussion with 20 women professionals specifically focused on gender barriers in these sectors in Nepal. Drawing on Gaventa (2006)’s power cube, this paper examines how power dynamics within and between the public and the private spheres create a web of barriers that conflate to sideline women professionals. While women have reached the “closed space” as defined by Gaventa (i.e., are recruited to professional positions in WEFE sectors), different sources of “hidden” and “invisible” power at play in the public and private spheres continue to limit their participation, influence and decision-making. We argue that the continued marginalization of women professionals calls for a focus on understanding the power and intersectionality dynamics that sustain exclusion. This focus is critical for the development of strategies to increase the voice and leadership of women professionals in WEFE decision-making.
2 Nigussie, Likimyelesh; Minh, Thai Thi; Schmitter, Petra. 2023. Institutional gender mainstreaming in small-scale irrigation: lessons from Ethiopia. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 29p. (IWMI Research Report 185) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2023.218]
Gender mainstreaming ; Small-scale irrigation ; Institutional development ; Irrigation development ; Development projects ; Gender-transformative approaches ; Strategies ; Women farmers ; Gender equality ; Equal rights ; Participatory approaches ; Decision making ; Smallholders ; Farmer-led irrigation ; Irrigation technology ; Microirrigation ; Climate resilience ; Income generation ; Markets ; Capacity development ; Water user associations ; Extension approaches ; Stakeholders ; Private sector ; Government agencies ; Partnerships ; Governance ; Policies ; Frameworks ; Social norms ; Communities ; Households / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H052414)
(1.12 MB)
Achieving gender equality in irrigation can result in greater production, income, and job opportunities for both men and women smallholder farmers from diverse social groups, while building climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, national irrigation agencies, donors, and researchers have been assisting project implementers to mainstream gender issues into the planning and implementation of irrigation programs. However, although efforts to close gender gaps in irrigation have been increasing, little is known about how interactions among institutions at different scales may determine the success of gender-mainstreaming strategies. This study presents a qualitative analysis of how the interaction of institutions at multiple levels can shape the success of gender-mainstreaming strategies. Specifically, the study analyzed how institutions' rules, roles, and capacities at state, market, community, and household levels shaped strategies in Ethiopia's nine small-scale and micro irrigation development projects. The findings show that ‘rule-based’ strategies adopted by small, scheme-based irrigation projects emphasize policies and rules for equal rights and opportunities for equal participation in individuals' and institutions' decision-making and capacity development. ‘Role-based’ strategies adopted by projects promoting small-scale and micro irrigation technologies focus on challenging social norms to address the imbalance of power and workloads by developing the capacity of all stakeholders. Both strategies focus on women and use participatory approaches to ensure gender equality. Negative stereotypes about women from families, communities, and the private sector often make it difficult for gender mainstreaming to succeed. Furthermore, institutional biases and limited capacities reproduce gender inequality by reinforcing stereotypical gender norms. Transformative gender mainstreaming strategies are critical to holistic approaches that facilitate change at different scales through broad-based partnerships between actors. It calls for 1) enacting policy, creating an institutional environment, and developing governance mechanisms for mainstreaming gender; 2) enhancing the accountability system and adoption of gender-transformative approaches to involve more women farmers in designing, planning, and management; 3) creating a supportive institutional environment at market, community and household level that helps women farmers invest in irrigation; and 4) applying an intersectional lens in gender analysis and mainstreaming.
3 Sarker, F.; Mamun, K. A.; Uddin, J.; Ahmed, S.; Nisha, N. A.; Joshi, Deepa. 2023. Inclusion in agri-food systems in Bangladesh: the digital innovation and transformation initiative. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation. 11p.
Digital technology ; Innovation ; Agrifood systems ; Digital divide ; Gender equality ; Social inclusion ; Social norms ; Institutions / Bangladesh
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052502)
(1.22 MB)
Agriculture has played a crucial role in supporting smallholder livelihoods in Bangladesh. Despite being actively involved in various stages of production, including seed sowing, harvesting, and postharvesting, women's contributions are often undervalued. They are often regarded as a cheap labor force and are not given meaningful roles in the supply and value chains. One of the primary challenges they face is the lack of access to and ownership of land, which results in limited and unequal access to resources such as credit, services, markets, and information on modern technologies. These disparities hinder women's participation in market systems and further widen gender gaps and digital divides. Studies have shown that Bangladesh has one of the highest gender gaps in mobile internet usage among low and middle-income countries. This study examines the gender digital divide in Bangladesh, focusing on the reasons behind women's exclusion from digital information highways and their limited access to, use of, and benefits from internet-based agriculture and climate-related services and innovations. In addition to a comprehensive review of secondary data, we conducted a needs-based assessment using both quantitative and qualitative indicators in three divisions. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and key informant interviews. Both the qualitative and quantitative studies shed light on the social, economic, and contextual issues related to the digital ecosystem in the agriculture sector. The assessment also evaluates the effectiveness of public, private, and civil society interventions in the study areas. Our findings reveal that most digital initiatives fail to address the economic gaps and challenges faced by smallholder farmers, poor women, and rural youth. To address these challenges and promote gender equality in agriculture, it is crucial for the government to implement consistent policies across government agencies and develop strategies that prioritize closing digital divides in the agricultural sector.
4 Minh, Thai Thi; Osei-Amponsah, Charity. 2024. Cultural competence-based framework: a multilevel and multidimensional perspective on contemporary science culture. Cultures of Science, 7(1):49-63. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/20966083241241575]
Cultural factors ; Frameworks ; Sociocultural systems ; Research ; Scientists ; Social norms ; Political aspects ; Organizations ; Governance
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052699)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10.1177/20966083241241575
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052699.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052699.pdf
(0.78 MB) (797 KB)
This article presents a cultural competence-based (CCB) framework to analyse contemporary science culture. Starting from the observation that two separate views of culture-as-context and culture-as-practice cannot address the ongoing transitions in the contemporary sciences towards esoteric–exoteric trans-sphere governance and multicultural science, we introduce key ideas from ‘older’ varieties of competence-based culture theories. We argue that a spectrum of cultural and sociocultural systems shapes contemporary science culture by being (un)supportive of individual scientists acquiring cultural competence and guiding scientists’ research practices. In contrast, individual scientists’ cultural competence shapes the fabrication of cultural and sociocultural systems through their scientific practices, thereby shaping contemporary science cultures. We also synthesize different concepts of science culture, reflect the transitions in contemporary sciences and construct three dimensions of the cultural system, sociocultural system and cultural competence from various elements. By providing a conceptual framework that contributes to a better understanding and management of contemporary science culture, we hope to enhance effective work ethics and fit-for-purpose science knowledge to address emerging ‘wicked’ societal challenges.
5 Nigussie, Likimyelesh; Diallo, A.; Minh, Thai Thi. 2024. Investment and cultivation strategies for women and youth inclusion: cases from on-farm, off-farm and non-farm activities in Ethiopia and Mali. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 24p. (IWMI Working Paper 211) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2024.203]
Investment ; Cultivation ; Strategies ; Women's participation ; Youth ; Social inclusion ; Agricultural production ; Surpluses ; Agricultural value chains ; Livelihoods ; Assets ; Natural capital ; Human capital ; Social capital ; Cultural capital ; Gender ; Social norms ; Farmers ; Social groups ; Markets ; Agribusiness ; Small-scale farming ; Food security ; Households ; Poverty ; Cooperatives ; Access to finance ; Institutions ; Capacity development ; Policies ; Governmental organizations ; Nongovernmental organizations ; Private sector ; Case studies / Sahel / Ethiopia / Mali / Tiyo / Ziway Dugda / Wegnia / Sourou
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H052838)
(1.99 MB)
Africa's agriculture sector is vital for food security, employment, and economic growth. Women and young people, who contribute to innovation, diversification, and income, face limited opportunities in the sector due to social and economic power imbalances. This disparity wastes resources and impedes agricultural value chain development (VCD). Inclusive VCD aims to empower women, men and youth from diverse social groups and strengthen the agriculture sector. However, the literature on inclusive VCD in Africa is limited due to urban biases, and the lack of a framework to address gender inequality and poverty. This study explores how livelihood assets, strategies for accessing the assets, and enabling and discouraging factors in the value chain shapes the inclusion of women and youth in on-farm, off-farm and non-farm activities. It is based on the Safeguarding Sahelian Wetlands for Food Security (SaWeL) program that aims to make the market work for the poor through inclusive VCD in the Ziway-Shalla Sub-basin of Ethiopia, and Wegnia and Sourou basins in Mali. A qualitative dataset of 32 focus group discussions, 48 key informant interviews and 40 in-depth interviews were analyzed. We identified investment and cultivation inclusion strategies that demonstrates how women and youth from diverse social groups actualize business opportunities, overcome challenges and create new opportunities for inclusion. Investment strategies involve women and youth from better-off households with good access to natural, social, political and physical capital for capital-intensive roles. On the other hand, cultivation strategies involve women and youth from resource-poor households who can harness natural, social and political capital to participate in off-farm and non-farm activities. Our results show that women and youth who adopt either one of the strategies are encouraged by good support from social networks, cooperatives, Government Organizations, Nongovernmental Organizations and private sector actors. However, access to productive resources and services for women and youth adopting any strategies is hampered by gender and intergenerational norms, poverty and insufficient institutional capacity. We argue that it is essential to understand how social disparities and local environments interact to inform the design and implementation of inclusive value chains. Additionally, inclusive value chains necessitate building capacities of institutions at different scales.
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