Tool kit for Gender and Agriculture - Economic Commission for Africa

Box 1: Gender Analysis in a Natural Resources Management Project
14
Gender in Agriculture
Identification of interests of various stakeholders in use of land area, resources, and
products.
• Who uses what area of land for what purpose?
• Who owns or takes cares of which livestock?
• Who participates in decisionmaking at individual, household, and community levels?
Monitoring of:
• Gender differences in participation in project activities, such as:
Consultation on land-use patterns
Decisionmaking on the community action plan
• Gender differences in constraints to participation:
Time availability
Cultural restrictions on attendance and speaking at community discussions
• Gender differences in receipt of benefits: to what extent the project meets the different
needs of men and women.
Table 3 highlights some typical but erroneous perceptions that often constitute pitfalls
in incorporating a gender-balanced approach in project and sector work in agriculture.
It also suggests some “escapes” or ideas that counter these frequently visited pitfalls.
Table 3: Seven Frequent Pitfalls in Design
Pitfall Escape
1. Adding gender issues will make the
project into a Christmas tree.
2. Funds are too tight or time is too short
to allow a gender expert on the project.
3. A woman on the project team assures
attention to gender.
Gender is not an add-on but a mode of
analysis to ensure responsiveness, sustainability,
and beneficiary ownership of the
project.
Removing constraints to women’s productivity
can be a good investment, and
attention to gender can improve project
sustainability at low cost.
All women are not experts in gender
analysis. A woman on the team will facilitate
access to women but will not ensure
gender expertise, unless she is trained in
gender issues.
4. Working with NGOs in a participatory Participation or work with NGOs will not