Opportunities and constraints to women's access to, and control over, resources in the small...
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Opportunities and constraints to women's access to, and control over, resources in the small ruminant value chain in Ethiopia
Annet A. Mulema
23rd International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE) Annual Conference, Accra, Ghana, 27-29 June 2014
Presentation outline
Introduction
Conceptual framework
Methodology
Findings and discussion
Conclusion
Recommendations
Introduction
Importance of small ruminant (goat and sheep) production in Ethiopia
Women’s access to and control of resources is limited
Knowledge gap
gendered constraints and opportunities to women’s access to, and control over, resources
understanding of the various capitals that women mobilize to improve their livelihoods
Objectives of the study
1. Document women’s participation in the small ruminant value chain
2. To identify existing gender constraints and opportunities which can be built on to improve women's ability to engage successfully in the target value chain
3. Determine intra-household distribution and consumption of animal source food and any factors which hinder women’s consumption of milk and meat
Conceptual framework
Community capitals framework: stock of assets, interaction and flow of community capitals
Human capital
Natural capital
Cultural capital
Built capital
Financial capital
Political capital
social capital
Access to and control over resources
Capabilities
Methodology
Study was conducted in six woredas (districts)
Borana (pastoralist community)
Doyogena, menz, Horo, Amhara Abergelle and Amhara-Tirgay (agro-pastoralist communities)
Selected two kabeles (village) per woreda
Key informant interviews with different actors
Separate and mixed focus group discussions with female and male farmers in each site
Data analysis
Women’s participation in the small ruminant value chain
• Women mostly involved in work related to production around the home
• Milk processing and marketing was sole responsibility of women
• Local collectors and small traders were mostly men except in Doyogena
• Abergelle export abattoir employed both men and women but preferred hiring men for tasks that require knowledge of quality assurance
Productive resources
Opportunities: Joint ownership of productive resources In Amhara, women could own 50% of animals she
brought into marriage Women had access to and controlled small ruminant
products and the revenue
Constraints Decision making dominated by men Men considered more knowledgeable
Cultural capital presents opportunities but may also constrain women’s access to and control over resources
Productive resources…
“To sell animals, we discuss together with my husband about what animal to sell but its my husband's decision which is mainly considered. If he suggests that we sell a goat and I say we sell the sheep, normally I go by his decision” (female farmer, Borana, Feb 27, 2014).
“I make decisions over livestock. I am the boss. I have more knowledge about livestock. However, my wife is equally knowledgeable. If I left, my wife can handle everything. Although I am the boss, I involve my wife in decisions” (male farmer, Borana, Feb 27, 2014).
Breeding stock
Constraints Both men and women had limited access to breeding
stock Selection of ram/ewe made by men
Opportunities Community support programs thru’:
• Government• Local NGOs• International research institutions e.g. the community-based
sheep breeding program
Breeding stock…
“The outcome of certification was very interesting… it increased women’s awareness of their rights. In one of the training days, after certification, the extension agent was planning to conduct a session, and as usual he invited only men excluding the women; This time the women did not accept him; so they claimed that as long as they are entitled with the small ruminant certification, they deserve the training as well. As a result the extension agent was convinced and the women were able to attend the training” (Male researcher, Horro, 28 Dec. 2013).
Linking social capital enhances access to natural, human, financial and political capitals
Labor saving technologies
Constraints Both men and women lacked labor
saving technologies Lack of knowledge about improved
processing methods Lack of human capital and financial
capital constrained access to built capital
Opportunity Improvement of enterprises that
women dominant
Credit services
Constraints Women’s low membership to groups Women’s low political capital Low social capital amongst women which
hinders enhancement of human, political and financial capitals
Opportunities NGO programs Government support services e.g. Household
Asset Building program Linking and bridging social capital
Extension and veterinary services
Constraints Men more advantaged to
access extension services Distance to location of health
services Poor linkages between women
and service providers Gender biased norms and
beliefs
Opportunity• Sensitization of women about their
rights to services
Markets and market information
Constraints Women’s mobility to markets restricted by
cultural norms in Abergelle Amhara and Tigray Women not involved in buying or selling sheep Men considered better negotiators Women lack of mobile phones, access to radio
and access to social spaces
Opportunities In Menz and Yabello, women were considered
good negotiators Bonding and bridging social capital enhances
human capital
Access and consumption of animal source foods
• In Abergelle, women and girls were forbidden to consume whole milk
• Social status and culture influenced access to and consumption of meat
• The best cut was given to the husbands
• Women’s who freely participated in markets consumed meat more often like the men
• Poor women were unlikely to consume meat especially in female headed households
Conclusion
• Women’s access to and control over resources is associated with access to community capitals and the relationship between and flow of the capitals
• Growth in the stock and flow of capitals would increase the capacity of women to engage and benefit from SRVC
• The interaction between the capitals spurs the momentum to generate more opportunities for women to access resources
• There is need to enhance capitals and transform gender constraining norms, beliefs, attitudes and practices
CGIAR is a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. The CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish aims to increase the productivity of small-scale livestock and fish systems in sustainable ways, making meat, milk and fish more available and affordable across the developing world.
CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish
livestockfish.cgiar.org