Gender equality, food security and the sustainable development goals

Abstract

This paper examines the potential and limitations of SDG 5 (Gender Equality), in helping to achieve household food security. The potential lies in the attention it pays to women's access to land and natural resources, which can significantly enhance women's ability to produce and procure food. Its limitations lie in a lack of attention to the production constraints that women farmers face; its failure to recognise forests and fisheries as key sources of food; and its lack of clarity on which natural resources women need access to and why. Moreover, other goals which bear on food security as important providers of nutrition, such as SDG 15 as it relates to forests and SDG 14 as it relates to fish resources, make no mention of gender equality, nor does SDG 13 (Climate action) recognise the vulnerabilities of women farmers. A bold interpretation of SDG 5 and establishing synergies with other SDGs could provide ways forward. This includes not only SDGs which recognise the importance of gender equality, such as SDGs 1, 2, and 13 on poverty, hunger, and climate change respectively, but also SDGs 14 and 15 whose silence on gender could prove detrimental not just to attaining food security, but also to furthering their stated objectives of resource conservation.

Building resilience by challenging social norms: integrating a transformative approach within the BRACED consortia

“…On a global scale, men are more likely to be landowners than women (Agarwal, 2018;Deere and Leon, 2003). On a global scale, men are more likely to be landowners than women (Agarwal, 2018;Deere and Leon, 2003).…”

“…Despite their important contribution to household livelihood strategies, women in developing countries are often excluded from efforts to improve resilience to climate shocks and disasters. On a global scale, men are more likely to be landowners than women (Agarwal, 2018;Deere and Leon, 2003). As such, men are often considered the primary producers and decision-makers within their households.…”

An Analysis of Grey Multiattribute Decision-Making Optimization Concerning Gender and Sustainable Environment

“…Those who have the ability to acquire knowledge, from inheritance rights to market information and employment opportunities, are best able to take advantage of these opportunities. The potential and limitations of gender equality in sustainable development have been discussed in the literature with the aim of achieving household food security [24]. The potential lies in paying attention to women's access to land and natural resources, which can significantly improve their ability to produce and procure food.…”

Status Quo of Gender Equality in Eu Rural Business Management

“…Agarwal highlights the role of gender equality (UN Sustainable Development Goal -SDG 5) in implementing other SDG goals, including eradicating poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2) (Agarwal, 2018). Johnson et.…”