Innovative approaches to gender and food security

The latest issue of insights, a thematic overview of recent policy-relevant research findings on international development, shows how policy and practice can potentially improve food security while supporting women's empowerment.

//  Changing attitudes, changing behaviours

The publication serves as a useful tool for engaging with related policy processes – from grassroots organisations to the highest levels of government. It is the result of a collaborative process involving experts in gender and food policy, research and practice from South Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

According to the publication, development policies and practice can focus on women's critical role as food producers, consumers and family carers, while transforming gender norms and inequalities within households and communities. There is no 'one size fits all' approach to achieving these outcomes, but it is vital to ensure that food security interventions:

• are informed by both women and men at the local level in their design and implementation
• are tailored to specific contexts, given the often vast disparities in experience, needs and gender roles within countries and regions
• take into account and respect women's instrumental role in food production
• involve women and men equally in decision-making around food production, consumption and distribution.

//  Contributors and articles

• Transforming gender relations in homestead food production in Bangladesh (Emily Hillenbrand)
• Challenging cultural values that affect food security in India (Suniti Neogy)
• Equal access for women to seeds and food security in Syria (Alessandra Galié)
• Engaging the whole family in food security planning in Zambia (Cathy Rozel Farnworth)
• Women's groups versus households; approaches to achieve food security and gender equality (Agnes Quisumbing and Neha Kumar)
• Food sovereignty and women's rights in Latin America (Pamela Caro)

//  Dowload

Innovative approaches to gender and food security: changing attitudes, changing behaviours

//  Source

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