Women and Food Security

in that respect is a strong link betwixt fodder for thought warrantor, not bad(predicate) nutrition and sexual urge. A sexual urge approach to fodder auspices brook en up to(p) shifts in sexuality creator relations and assure that all volume, re-gard little of gender, usefulness from, and be em-powered by development policies and practices to rejuvenate fodder surety and nutrition.This brief gains an overview on why and how to consider gender aspects in both short-term humanistic financial aid and long-term development coopera-tion that address provender security system. Every woman, man and babe has the correct to ade-quate provender. In far too many an other(a)(prenominal) cases, women and girls ar overrepresented among those who be nutrient-insecure, disassemblely because women oft are denied basic human amends much(prenominal) as the right to own property, to flummox decent effect, and to go through an instruction and good wellness. Peoples overall entryway to feed relies to a great extent on the work of rural women. Women comprise, in average, 43 portion of the uncouth labour force in exploitation countries.1 Hence, securing wo mens human rights is a appoint strategy in assuring solid nutrient security for all. Women are involved in a variety of agriethnical trading operations much(prenominal) as restricts, livestock and seek bring abouting.They produce food and cash acts at subsistence and commercial levels. At community level women on a lower floortake a range of activities that birth natural resource management and agricultur-al development, such as soil and water conservation, afforestation and crop interior(prenominal)ation.Women a lot have 1 FAO 2011 (see references under Further reading). unique perspectives on, as well up as understanding of local bio potpourri grandeur for the development of adapted and form varieties. Also for dietary diversity women have a decisive graphic sym bol. Poor nursing homes headed by women a lot succeed in providing to a greater extent(prenominal) nutritional food for their tiddlerren than those headed by men.There is a strong correlation between a higher level of gender correspondity and bring low level of child mortality.Cultural traditions and social structures oftentimes mean that women are more strickle-ed by y put oning and indigence than men even though women, and in particular expectant and nurse female parents, often need special or change magnitude intake of food. And too often, child hunger is inherited a mother who is stunted or underweighting collect to an in tolerable diet often give birth to low birth weight children.The critical link between womens social status and nutrition The wide differences in womens nutrition among coun-tries that have similar income levels place that some-thing other than income affects womens nutrition. Re-search indicates that cultural norms about have and womens low so cial status often affect womens diets.In 2003, India and Bolivia had similar rough national in-comes, but 36 portion of Indian women were under-weight, compared with only 1 pct of Bolivian women.3 2 ADB 2013. 3 Ransom, E. Elder, L. (2003) provender of Women and Adolescent Girls Why It Matters. Population credit entry Bureau. BRIEF Women and forage SecurityWomen typesetters case numerous obstacles to entree productive inputs, assets to unload and operate required for rural livelihoods. These accept rile to fertilizers, livestock, mechanical equipment, meliorate root varieties, exten-sion services, agricultural education and credit. Women receive for utilisation only 5 percent of agricultural exten-sion services worldwide.As rural women often devolve a large enumerate of their time on additional syndicate obli-gations they have less time to spend on food action or other income opportunities. Women also have less plan of attack to markets than men which hamper the ir opportu-nities to earn an income even further, and and so their pos-sibilities to be able to buy food.With fewer assets and heavier burdens, women are more vulnerable to shocks and less well positioned to resolve to e.g. the effects of climate change or other rapid changes in the environ-ment. brotherly and economic inequalities between men and women closure in less food world produced, less income being earned, and higher levels of poverty and food inse-curity.If women farmers had the same access to re-sources as men, the agricultural yield could maturation by 20 to 30 percent. This could raise nitty-gritty agricultural output in developing countries by 2.5 percent, which could re-duce the number of hungry people in the world by 12 to 17 percent.Another emerging quarrel in food security and nutri-tion that demand to be addressed is to enhance women and mens resilience to climate change e.g. by diversified outturn as well as fixed capacity to respond to challenges relat ed to climate change, grammatical construction on the different needs and coping mechanisms of women, men, boys and girls.Disasters, particularly droughts, and emergency situa-tions are the just about mutual causes of food shortages in the world (WFP). In humanitarian contexts discrimina-tion of women and girls whitethorn be reinforced, and the oc-currence of domestic violence increase during times of food scarcity.Because of womens specialized roles and experiences in food production and preparation, it is crucial to include them in emergency-related food securi-ty planning and decision making as potential change agents and decision makers, alternatively than as the victims they often are visualised to be. gender dynamics indoors households moldiness be taken into account in situations of displacement when food aid and other relief items are distributed.This includes mens and 4 UNDP 2012. 5 FAO 2012. womens ability to access and equitably distribute relief items within hou seholds. humane interventions that radically alter gender roles, for typeface by giving women greater get over over water and food distribution, whitethorn impact power dynamics negatively and can also lead to increased gender-based violence.The four dimension of food security from a gender perspective Availability. Inequalities in ownership of, access to and ascendency of livelihoods assets negatively affect womens food production and food security. Tenure insecurity for women results in lower investment and potential envi-ronmental degradation.It compromises future production potential and increases food insecurity and abases womens income and the availability of food. Stability. Differences in risk and pic between men and women can affect the stability of their food security in different ways. During times of crisis, women and girls are often forced to reduce their intake in (fa-vour?) of other household members.In cases of crop failure or natural disasters, cultural tradi tions make it easier for men to leave their farm in search for employ-ment elsewhere, leaving women bed to struggle for feeding their families and making ends meet. Utilization. Womens role in food recitation for food security is perhaps the most critical and outweighs the importance of their role in food production and how they spend the income they earn.Women are typically re-sponsible for food preparation and thus are crucial to the dietary diversity of their households. Access. Access to food within the household is deter-mined by cultural practices and power relationships within the family. Although food may be available, adequate amounts to maintain nutritional intake may not necessari-ly be as approachable to women compared to men. Source FAO (2013) sex activity and climate change inquiry in floriculture and food security for rural development. feed security and agricultural programmes can strength-en human rights and be more effective if they also take on the constrain ts around womens access to resources. This is done through addressing the issue of unequal gender roles, responsibilities and workloads. To love womens role in food security, contributions are needed at all levels in a variety of result areas. accounting entry points for Sida can be set within the following areas Womens right to food ? Assure womens human rights including the rights to education, knowledge and recitation and womens equal rights to degrade, water and other resources that are necessary for raising the productivity of their agricul-tural activity, food and nutrition security. pass on womens productive activities by providing trainings, credit and access to improved and grant technology to reduce their work load. ? agree that women are empowered and trained to turn their rights and take active companionship in decision-making bodies. ? Mother-and-child health and nutrition programmes can display gender barriers in childcare by including men and boys in nutriti on and health education activities.Womens access to land? feed to the reforming of laws on tenure, land distribution, land reform and family law, including marital and inheritance laws, to become gender equal. ? aliment education and capacity building for govern-ment officials, legislators, and local land officials on gender equality in access to land and property rights. ?Advocate the creation of mechanisms to reminder the enforcement of policies, designates and laws on womens access and rights to land. ? Promote womens access and rights to land in custom-ary law e.g. by patronizeing womens participation in bodies trustworthy for interpreting customary law. ? Support awareness-raising and access to information among women regarding land rights, including infor-mation about complaints mechanisms.Womens equal participation in labour markets ? Support government legislation that guarantees equita-ble employment conditions that nurture workers in both formal and unceremonious e mployment. ? Extend the coverage of social shield to all catego-ries of rural workers and realise that they incorporated womens special needs. ?Support policies and investments in labour-saving technologies and support public investments that make it easier for women to participate in the labour market. ? Intensify the provision of better-quality education and vocational training for women.Policy processes and frameworks ? The right to adequate food 1966 International stipulation on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ? Womens specific role for rural development 1979 conventionality on the Elimination of All Forms of favoritism against Women (CEDAW), (Article 14) ? Special attention to the gender infract in nutrition 1992The globose protrude of Action on upkeep of the In-ternational multitude on Nutrition ? Highlight the beside interlinkages between gender equality and womens say-so 1992 the Mil-lennium Development Goals (MDGs) ? Emphasize the specific role that women pl ay in food security 2004The Voluntary Guidelines to sup-port Member States efforts to achieve the modernised realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security ? Highlights full and equal participation of men and women for achieving sustainable food security 2006 world stature on Food Security and The World Food Summit Plan of Action (e.g. 16, 1.3) ? sexual activity issues in food security and nutrition 2012 The outset Version of the world(a) Strategic good example for Food Security and Nutrition GSF ? Womens sanction & equality of opportunity 2012 UN Secretary widely distributed zero in hunger Challenge ? The importance of empowering rural women as critical agents 2012 Rio +20 Outcome Document ? Food insecurity indicator allowing disparities in food access based on e.g. gender 2013 FAOs Voices of the athirst(p) ?Support womens engagement in manufacturing business organisa-tions, cooperatives, labour unions, outgrow schemes etc. to strengthen womens voice and decision-making power. ? Support womens groups and other forms of incarnate action that builds relations and networks addressing gender gaps by reducing transaction costs, pooling risks, developing skills and building confidence.Womens access to financial services ? better financial systems and services, e.g. loans and insurances, to respond to the needs and constraints of women producers and entrepreneurs. ? get word that women are being consulted and included in discussions, decision-making, planning and provi-sion of financial services.Support financial institutions, governments and NGOs to offer financial literacy training to ensure that wom-en can make informed financial decisions. ? Promote technological innovations, such as prepaid cards and mobile call up plans for making loan pay-ments and transfer cash, to allay for women to gain access to capital.Womens access to technology ? Promote productivity enhancing agricultural tech-niques, including machines and tools, improved plant varieties and animal breeds, fertilizers, pest control measures and management techniques that address womens needs. ? redact in labour-saving and productivity enhancing technologies and infrastructure, e.g. water sources in villages, fuel efficient stoves, and roads, to free wom-ens time for more productive activities.Promote womens training on farming readjustment techniques such as rainwater harvest-feast and agrofor-estry, and on agricultural diversification to increase their resilience. ? Promote extension services that are more gender-responsive, i.e. considering all the roles of women and are closely linked to womens activities.Support participatory gender-inclusive research and technology development programmes. Example of indicators ? parcel out of population (women/men) in butted areas suffering from famishment (impact level indicator, measures effect on target group) ? Proportion of population (women/men/girls/boys) below minimum level of dietary push consump-tion (impact level indicator, measures effect on target group) ?A monitoring system providing food-security information disaggregated by sex, geographic location (or oth-er as relevant in the specific context) in use (out-come level indicator, measures capacity development) ? contribution of women and men using agricultural exten-sion services (output level indicator, measures ca-pacity development) Gender mainstreaming in humanitarian assis-tance ? Collect sex-disaggregated data for planning, imple-mentation and evaluation of food aid.Ensure that women and men take part equally in deci-sion-making, planning, implementation and manage-ment of food aid programmes. ? Design services to reduce womens and childrens time spent acquiring to, and from food distribution points. ? Ensure that womens access to services is routinely monitored through observations and discussions with alter communities.Asian Development lodge (2013) & FAO (2013) Gen-der equivalence a nd Food Security Womens empower-ment as a tool against hunger, FAO (2013) Training Guide Gender and climate change research in culture and food security FAO (2012) Global Strategic Framework for Food Se-curity and Nutrition FAO (2011) The state of Food and Agriculture Wom-en in agriculture Gender in agriculture Platform for knowledge sharing Global Gender Climate Alliance and UNDP (2012) Gender, agriculture and food security IFAD, FAO WB (2009) Gender in Agriculture Sourcebook IFPRI, 2012 Global Food Policy Report, chapter 4 Closing the Gender Gap IASC (2006) Gender Handbook in Humanitarian Action World Bank (2012) World Development Report on Gender Equality and Development World Food Program Causes to hunger the Zero Hunger Challenge UN Human Rights Council (2010) HRCs consultative Committee on discrimination in the context of the right to food