Pro-Poor Value Chain Development - Capacity.org

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Box 1.1 Gender in value chains
BOAM pioneered a number of innovative approaches to promote gender
equity in value chain development, as illustrated by the upgrading of
the honey value chain. The upgrading process started with participatory
mapping and analysis of gender-specifi c involvement in the honey value
chain (Mayoux and Mackie, 2007). The ‘invisible women stakeholders’
mapping confi rmed that women were involved in the honey sub-sector but
were largely excluded from higher-level activities with greater potential for
generating increased income, such as input supply, production and trade.
The analysis highlighted some ways to create win-win opportunities for
all chain actors through (1) upgrading of the value chain, (2) creating
higher margins in the sub-sector and (3) contributing to gender equity
and increased incomes for women. One of the interesting insights from
the analyses was the role of female tej (traditional honey wine) brewers
in ‘blocking’ quality improvements. By providing technical support to the
more profi table business of processing table honey, the BOAM intervention
thus helped address a major constraint to the upgrading of the entire
chain. Another fundamental driver for change was the adoption of ‘womenfriendly’
transitional beehives.
Unlike traditional honey production that relied on forest-based beehives
and was dominated by men, the dissemination of beehives that could be
installed close to the home, making honey production and processing an
attractive enterprise for women. It fi tted in well with their other household
and farm activities and they had more control over the honey produced.
Furthermore a female entrepreneur discovered that the higher management
levels and quality requirements provided additional income opportunities for
the production of protective clothes.
As a consequence thousands of women became involved in honey
production for the fi rst time and established business relationships with
processors. The rapid integration of women in the honey value chain is
exemplifi ed by the selection of a female processor as chairperson of the
regional honey board in Oromiya.
A demonstration of wax
foundation making for an
improved beehive