A review of gender in agricultural and pastoral livelihoods based on selected countries in west and east Africa

Abstract

This scoping paper presents the results of a review of the landscape of research on gender and agricultural and pastoral livelihoods in select countries in west and east Africa (Burkina Faso, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and Uganda) published over 5 years (January 2016–March 2021). A keyword search of the Scopus database gave rise to an ultimate dataset of 169 papers which were coded for geographical location, approaches to gender, and theme based on inductive identification of clusters of research. There has been an increase in the number of published papers but there is an uneven geographical distribution of research. Studies vary in the way they treat gender: with an almost even split between modeling-based studies, where gender is one of many variables to be correlated with, or to determine, an outcome (e.g., poverty—for example, as a dummy variable in regressions); and studies where the expressed aim is to look at gender differences, whether through the gender of an individual or the gender of a household head. Clusters of papers look at gender differences in assets, health, perceptions of environmental degradation, agricultural perceptions and outcomes, and climate change perceptions, vulnerability, and adaptation. There is also a number of papers exploring women's empowerment, including intra-household decision making. Intersectional approaches have been employed both through modeling studies and through more in-depth qualitative studies that are able to trace changes in identity over time, and the implications therein. The household and household headship have remained common entry points and units of analysis, despite known critiques. The results highlight a need to address geographical gaps in gender research, expand the evidence base of intersectional approaches, explore other aspects of social inequality, and expand more innovative methodological studies.

Gender relations and decision-making on climate change adaptation in rural East African households: A qualitative systematic review

“…In this discussion, we engage particularly with two literature reviews concerning the gendered nature of CCA practices within rural East African households that were published while we were conducting our review. [7,8] While neither of these articles focus primarily on CCA decision-making, their findings are adjacent to the issues studied in the present review. We then conclude by discussing implications for gender-responsive adaptation interventions.…”

“…Lastly, we encountered two challenges inherent in the field under study: First, as has been noted before, [8] the concept of CCA decision-making remains vague in many studies, and there appears to be no consensus about how decision-making should be assessed in qualitative and quantitative research. One study included in the present review found that perceptions of men's and women's involvement in intra-household CCA decisions differed greatly between male and female participants.…”

“…Previous reviews indicate that CCA initiatives have the potential to reproduce or reinforce inequitable gender relations. [7,8] Furthermore, it has been argued that CCA initiatives may be more effective when women are involved in meaningful ways [9].…”

“…Moreover, the aforementioned scoping review revealed that many reviews concerning the gender-CCA nexus have covered a wide range of locations, [e.g. 8,15,16] but gender roles and decision-making in CCA processes appear to be highly contextdependent. Thus, focusing on East Africa provided the necessary geographical focus to ensure that synthesis is feasible, while also ensuring that we could access sufficient primary data to allow for a nuanced analysis.…”

Tailor-Made Development Pathways: A Framework to Enhance Active Participation of Youth in Agriculture

“…The Gender-Oriented Development Pathway for the Gender Sensitive Endowed with Negative PsyCap Typology Gender has been highlighted as one of the factors that influence participation in agricultural activities (Glazebrook and Opoku 2020;Vincent 2022), with the same applicable to youth (Moreda 2020). The participation of females in agriculture is complicated by the array of roles they are expected to fulfil by society and societal norms, as well as beliefs about gender roles that do not include female participation in agricultural activities, as they are considered male activities (Theeuwen et al 2021;Vincent 2022). In addition, the biases in ownership, access and control of productive resources such as land, inputs and credit, in favour of males, also constrain active engagement of females in agricultural activities (Gebre et al 2021;Holden and Tilahun 2021;Ake et al 2020;Abubakar 2021).…”