At the Ethiopia small ruminants value chain strategy and implementation planning workshop held on 13-14 June 2014 at the ILRI Addis Ababa campus, the gender flagship theme of the Livestock and Fish CGIAR Research Program reviewed the past year’s achievements and future plans.

The theme conducted three gender strategic studies. The first study, a cross country study on resource ownership carried out in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Nicaragua established that ownership is associated with resource acquisition, decision-making, benefiting from resource and responsibility.

The second study looked at gender analysis in the Ethiopia small ruminants value chain. In this study, they found out that there was low participation of women in supply and marketing nodes and consumption of animal source foods is influenced by socio-economic conditions. More details on the study has been published and can be accessed from the article: A review of Ethiopia small ruminant value chains from a gender perspective

The third study on the ‘Assessment of safe food fair food in Ethiopia small ruminant value chains from a gender perspective’ established that men and women understand some basic issues associated with food safety and nutritional aspects of animal source foods. Further investigation of the health risks associated with gender roles and consumption of animal source foods is recommended.

Gender flagship theme planned activities for the period 2014-2016 include:

• Conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the community-based sheep breeding program from a gender perspective
• Generating community profiles for the remaining sites including activity clocks, seasonal calendars, access to and control of resources, mobility assessment
• Doing more of the integrated gender research in the already existing interventions e.g. fodder
• Identifying gaps in existing knowledge and practices of smallholder farmers
• Exploring perceptions of food safety and nutrition amongst men and women farmers and pastoralists and health risks associated with their gender roles

Through gender research, the Livestock and Fish program aims to positively affect the lives of poor women and men in the value chain. Expected benefits of gender research are, greater access to and control over new technologies, resources, leadership and market opportunities among poor women and men; improved household food and nutrition security outcomes and equality in their distribution; enhanced range and quality of choices for poor women and men in where and how to participate in the small ruminant value chain; and expanded capacity of value chain stakeholders to understand and integrate gender balanced approaches in their work.

View the presentation on Gender in the Ethiopian small ruminant value chain by Annet A. Mulema, ILRI gender social scientist :