Ms. Manisha Kabra, Freedom from Hunger India TrustDr. Arindam Das, IHMR University, Institute of Health Management Research

Ms. Bobbi. L. Gray, Freedom from Hunger, USA

Towards ‘Gender—Transformative’ Food security for Tribal Rajasthan

Gender & Food Security

Close correlation between high levels of gender inequality and food insecurity, malnutrition and other nutritional deficiencies60% of malnourished people globally are women and girls Inter- and intra-generational and intra-household food insecurity persistsDespite economic growth in India, stunting and undernutrition have not improved; known as India Enigma

Rajasthan

50% of women and adolescent girls suffer from anemia 36% children below 5 years are stunted, girls are more stunted (31%) than boys (27%)Poor women’s empowerment, Rajasthan index score of 0.4; national is 0.5 on 0-1 scale Stunting is the highest among children of tribal region (54%) compared to children of non-tribal region (45%)

Purpose of Presentation

Purpose of presentation: explore the relationship between

household food security and gender among women from tribal communities in rural Rajasthan

discuss the implications for practices and policies that target a more gender-transformative food-secure world

Rajasthan Nutrition Program

Actors: Freedom from Hunger India Trust, VAAGDHARA, PRADAN, Chetna

Program: Integration of agriculture, nutrition, financial services and gender

Location: Two tribal districts in Banswara and Sirohi

Baseline Assessment Methods

Baseline study: May –June 2015 403 women in self-help groups Simple random sample among mothers with

children ages 0-2; pregnant women (20%) Data collection: consultants from IHMR

University Jaipur Data analysis: Brigham Young University, USA

& IHMR UniversityStatistical associations between food security, breastfeeding behaviors, use of ICDS centers and household decision-making, autonomyAutonomy index= Cronbach’s alpha (.738), reliable scale

Survey Content

Household poverty level: $1.25/day, National Poverty Line

Food security: four-point food security scale Coping strategies Index Dietary Diversity Index Sanitation and safe water Curative care; treatment-seeking behaviors (use of

ORS, etc.) Household decision making Utilization of ICDS services Breastfeeding/Infant feeding

Results (1)

Majority of survey participants were Hindu (99.8%)

44.7% live below IPL $1.25; 94.2% live below IPL $2.50/day; 34.6% live below the NPL.

77% children of household were food insecure; 79% of women were food insecure

61% women reported using ICDS benefit in the prior 12 months (primarily immunization and supplementary foods)

47% were breastfed in the first hour; 28% exclusively breastfed for six months

Results (2)Gender PercentWife makes decision:

on food purchases 19.6about how much food to serve family members 40.5

on how money is spent 5.2on whether she seeks healthcare for herself 3.5

on whether she can visit family or friends 4.2Spoke to husband in past 6 months regarding food needs 71.2

Spend money most of the time without discussing with husband first

27.5

Mobility Can go to market alone 28.3

Can go to health facility alone 23.3 Can visit friends or family within the village alone 37.7

Can visit friends or family outside of the village alone 11.9

Results (3)

1. Accessibility to ICDS services significantly associated with 3/14 gender variables: decision making of food quantity to be served within household, had spoken to husband about household nutrition needs, spends money without first discussing with someone else

2. Food security was sig. assoc. with 8/14 gender variables: all the decision-making variables, unrestricted access to income, household finances, fear of husbands

Results (4)

3. Initial breastfeeding: only associated with decisionmaking regarding visits to family

4. Exclusive Breastfeeding sig. assoc. with 6/14 gender variables: joint decisions with their husbands regarding finances, healthcare decisions, and decisions regarding visiting family, have spoken to their spouse of household nutrition needs, have unrestricted access to income

Results (5)

Women’s Autonomy

Results (6)

* p<.001

Conclusions (1)

Gender matters for food security, access to ICDS services, breastfeeding (mainly exclusive)

Women’s and children’s food security status were similar and both were associated with a woman’s level of autonomy

Conclusions (2)

What does this mean for how we design for improving food security as well as measure it? Definitions of food security are quite

multidimensional Yet most measures look at access; not

intra-household distribution of food Very few existing tools include a gender

dimension that are practitioner-friendly

Conclusions (3)

Great opportunity exists to improve household food security not by simply improving food supply but also by addressing the “social

access” dimension = improving the autonomy of women for resource allocation and resource management at the household- and community-level

Conclusions (4)

Need more collaboration between government, ICDS centres, community-based organizations, and self-help groups

Multidimensional definitions of food security require multidimensional approaches (ag, financial services, gender, nutrition, etc.)

Have to engage men and boys, not just women. The findings helped to assess the needs for interventions and planning gender based approaches.

• RNP led the torch with cadre of 1280 community volunteers (SHG members)called as Community Nutrition advocates in two districts , who are trained in gender based approaches. They develop skills among Community members for gender and nutrition, IYCF, maternal adolescent health, service linkages and financial literacy to engage in dialogue with men to improve household nutrition.

Gender transformative Theory of change in RNP

I have held a pen/crayon for the first time in my life. I have never drawn on a paper will show this to my children I have given my introduction in this way for the first time. I have never been asked about my likes and dislikes Will my “Thali “ be filled like man’s?

Thank You