Tool kit for Gender and Agriculture - Economic Commission for Africa

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Improving Agriculture through Gender Analysis
• Animal traction increases the area cultivated and so increases women’s work in
weeding, unless weeding by animal-drawn weeders is also adopted.
• Sedentarization of pastoral societies increases women’s work: women often assume
new responsibilities for crop production; the new grain-based diet requires more
processing, cooking, and, therefore, collection of water and fuel than did the previous
meat-based diet.
• The introduction of modern hybrid varieties requires additional, seasonal, and
timely labor inputs and increases female labor requirements for maximum yields.
Box 3: Underestimation of De Facto Female-Headed Households
In a survey of 3,405 households in the Senegal Valley, 95 percent of all households
were identified as male-headed; however, a baseline survey of 365 households in the
same area found only 91 percent of households to be headed by men. A breakdown of
these figures shows that of these male heads of households:
8 percent were under 8 years old
4 percent were 8 to 14 years old
26 percent were over 14 years old but absent
In fact, 47 percent of households were headed by men who were adult and present.
Similarly, in a Mauritanian survey, although 77 percent of households were
headed by men, only 53 percent had the traditional profile of a husband, his wife or
wives, and children present on the farm.
Constraints common to men and women farmers can be addressed by generally
improving the agricultural environment and the responsiveness of agricultural services
to all farmers. But often, merely gender-neutral policies are not adequate; a more proactive
strategy is required to ensure that projects take into account existing gender imbalances,
promote equitable access to resources and benefits, and motivate both men
and women to participate in project activities. Moreover, gender roles change over
time. These changes must be reflected in the design and implementation of agricultural
projects. Sector work and project preparation become crucial in this regard.
B. Borrower Country Ownership
Gender issues are more complex and difficult to address than technical or managerial
issues; they may need more time, sensitivity, and resources. The World Bank’s policy
is to:
• Review legal and regulatory frameworks
• Assist member countries to design gender-sensitive policies and programs
• Strengthen the data base for gender planning and monitoring