Tsige, M., Synnevåg, G., & Aune, J. B. (2020). Is gender mainstreaming viable? Empirical analysis of the practicality of policies for agriculture-based gendered development in Ethiopia. Gender Issues, 37, 125-152.
Overview: The National Policy on Women’s Economic Rights (NPEW) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aim to reduce gender inequality in development. However, a gap has been identified in mainstreaming gender in agricultural development in Ethiopia. However, gender mainstreaming requires a feasible methodology and gender planning and implementation procedures. The study investigates the practicality of gender mainstreaming policies, focusing on gender equality in access to and control over agricultural inputs and institutional services for improved gendered agricultural livelihoods and food security.
Methodology: A mixed method approach was used to analyze data from quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative investigation assessed gender inequality in access to and control over agricultural inputs and access to agriculture-based institutional services. Qualitative data explored contextual gender and issues that constrain the operationalization of gender mainstreaming in agricultural development. The study involved 15 Kebeles, and a total of 344 respondents were involved in the survey.
Findings: The lower education status of women affects their application of agricultural technologies, such as herbicides and pesticides, which require a reading skill. Both age and education status limit the practicality of gender mainstreaming in agriculture in the study areas. The state’s involvement in both input and output agricultural markets often bypasses women smallholders, particularly in male-headed households. Land ownership rights could facilitate land ownership and development equality, but land law prohibits it. The study reveals limited access to and control over agricultural inputs and services for women in Ethiopia, highlighting the need for proper institutionalization and implementation of gender mainstreaming.
The Gender and Development (GAD) approach, which emphasizes the subordinate position of women, contributes to gender inequalities in agricultural development. The Women’s Rights Framework (WCD) should be considered in designing policies and local implementation strategies to address these constraints. The Women in Development(WID) approach, which uses a “women only” path, can indirectly contribute to gender mainstreaming in agriculture by enhancing women’s access to agricultural inputs like credit. The successful implementation of the GAD approach requires effective institutionalization and implementation of gender mainstreaming policies and strategies.
However, Ethiopia’s policies often design in a top-down approach, with political and technocratic influences affecting the practicality of gender mainstreaming. To improve gender mainstreaming, grassroots women should contribute their knowledge in designing locally-specific strategies and establish grassroots women’s organizations. A unity of purpose must be created between women and men farmers, agricultural projects, researchers, institutions, and policies to facilitate gender equality in agricultural development.
Conclusion: In conclusion, restructuring the policy and institutional environment is recommended to implement gender mainstreaming in agricultural development and strategise women’s access to and control over agricultural inputs and services.
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