Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/140560

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IWMI gender researchers are helping to shape “transformative agendas” in the CGIAR Science Programs
(Blog Post, 2024-11-19) Mokhema, Seipati; Koirala, Sanju; Begum, Khadija; Khalid, Sidra; Enokenwa Baa, Ojongetakah; Mapedza, Everisto; Nortje, Karen; Joshi, Deepa
Contributions at the CGIAR Gender Science Exchange emphasized the importance of social and environmental justice.
Empowered by solar tech: women farmers in K-P thrive with innovation
(News Item, 2023-05-21) Begum, Khadija
A novel programme introduced solar irrigation to K-P women farmers before men
Rising above the torrents
(Blog Post, 2024-12-20) Begum, Khadija; Ilyas, Nouman; Hussain, Kashif; Jamal, Amjad
The gender dynamics, community strategies, and vulnerabilities in South Punjab’s hill torrent floods.
The hidden costs of gender-blind investments in agriculture
(Blog Post, 2024-12-11) Begum, Khadija
Embedding a strong gender perspective in project planning and design is imperative to achieve substantive gender equality.
Empowering women in agriculture: critical role of gender-intentional investments in Pakistan
(Journal Article, 2025-09) Begum, Khadija
Despite substantial investments in Pakistan’s irrigated agriculture sector, women’s conditions have seen limited improvement, emphasizing the need for gender-intentional investments. This study aims to provide evidence on the status of women in the marginalized areas of Dera Ismail Khan and Tank to guide more gender-responsive investment decisions that align with gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals. Conducted in the Gomal Zam Dam command area (comprising District Tank and Dera Ismail Khan (DIK), the study surveyed 122 dual-headed households (households where both male and female decision-makers were surveyed), revealing that only 23 % of women have achieved empowerment, compared to 78 % of men. Women’s disempowerment primarily stems from limited control in leadership and income, while men face constraints related to leadership and workload. Men have greater autonomy over production inputs and income decisions, with indicators of asset ownership and income contributing 0 % to their disempowerment. The study identifies critical barriers to women’s empowerment, such as lack of group membership and control over income and suggests further research into the socio-economic and cultural factors affecting gender disparity. The findings underscore the need for tailored policies and gender-intentional investments to close the gender gap and promote women’s empowerment in agriculture.
A multi-dimensional framework for responsible and socially inclusive digital innovation in food, water, and land systems
(Journal Article, 2025-04) Opola, Felix Ouko; Langan, Simon; Arulingam, Indika; Schumann, C.; Singaraju, N.; Joshi, Deepa; Ghosh, Surajit
Digital innovations can offer solutions to various food, water, and land systems challenges globally. However, there are concerns on the ethical and social inclusivity aspects of these innovations, particularly for marginalized groups of people in less industrialised countries. In this article, we describe the design and development of a digital inclusivity framework, which builds from a detailed synthesis of inclusivity in digital literature. Key insights from the review were collated into five dimensions: risk mitigation, accessibility, usability, benefits, and participation. These dimensions can be assessed by means of twenty-one concrete and measurable sub indicators. Our focus was to enable a more holistic approach to the usually technocentric design of digital innovations. The framework, including the associated indicators, lays the groundwork for the development of a digital inclusivity index, a tool for assessing and fostering the inclusivity of digital innovations in food, water, and land systems.
Changing the decision context to enable social learning for climate adaptation
(Journal Article, 2025-06) Colloff, M. J.; Gorddard, R.; Munera-Roldán, C.; Locatelli, B.; Lavorel, S.; Allain, S.; Bruley, E.; Butler, J. R. A.; Dubo, T.; Enokenwa Baa, Ojongetakah; González-García, A.; Lécuyer, L.; Lo, M.; Loos, J.; Palomo, I.; Topp, E.; Vallet, A.; Walters, G.
1. Successful adaptation often involves changes to the decision context to enable new ways of thinking and acting on climate change. Using 16 adaptation initiatives the authors were engaged with, we analysed how and why decision contexts changed to identify ways to improve adaptation as a process of collective deliberation and social learning. 2. We used the scope of the adaptation issue and governance arrangements to classify initiatives into four types and scored changes in the decision context using three frameworks: (1) the values, rules and knowledge (VRK) perspective to identify changes to adaptation decision-making; (2) the five dimensions of futures consciousness to identify the building of adaptation capabilities and (3) the social learning cycle to reveal evidence of reflexive learning. 3. Initiatives using novel governance arrangements for discrete problems (‘problem governance’) or complex, systemic issues (‘systems governance’) scored highest for influences of VRK, futures consciousness and the social learning cycle on the decision context. Initiatives using existing management for discrete problems (‘problem management’) scored moderately for change in the decision context, while those using existing management for systemic issues (‘systems management’) scored low because change was often impeded by existing rules. 4. All three frameworks influenced decision contexts in systems governance initiatives. Problem governance initiatives revealed interactions of VRK and futures consciousness but limited influence of VRK on the social learning cycle. Scope and governance arrangements differ with the adaptation issue and initiatives adapt over time: some small-scale ones became more systemic, developed novel governance arrangements and changed the decision context. 5. Our findings do not show that some adaptation initiatives are better or more transformative than others; just that their scope and appropriate governance arrangements are different. This questions the notion that successful adaptation requires building generic transformative adaptation approaches and capabilities. There is a diversity of arrangements that work. What is important is to align the approach to the adaptation problem. We suggest two directions for improving adaptation initiatives: first, by influencing how they can shift between problem and systems focus and between standard management and novel governance, and secondly, by using methods to diagnose and direct change in the decision context.
Creating safe spaces for decision-making in conservation agriculture: using the Gender Action Learning System methodology
(Report, 2024-12-30) Enokenwa Baa, Ojongetakah; Chinyopiro, A.; Nortje, Karen
The CGIAR Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa also known as Ukama Ustawi (UU) Initiative’s goal is to empower millions of vulnerable smallholder farmers to transition from maize mixed systems to sustainably intensified, diversified, and de-risked agrifood systems is well underway. The initiative is being implemented in 13 African countries using coordinated transformative change interventions driven by an understanding of the unique multidimensional challenges and the opportunities they present in the different local and national contexts. Gender Action Learning System (GALS) is a powerful household Gender Transformative Approach (GTA) that guides people toward the desired development and growth within the household and communities. The methodology helps to nurture and grow the desire and passion of those involved to invest their efforts and resources towards sustainably achieving realistic desired futures, the vision. It brings satisfaction to household members by encouraging togetherness and united focus to coordinate their work energies and share equitably their material and financial resources. When GALS users experience challenges, the methodology builds their resilience by addressing them appropriately before seeking external assistance. This brings about a mindset change in people to see leadership responsibility as an opportunity and not a challenge. GALS provides an effective means for planning as well as for monitoring the implementation of the planned individual or household activities and for evaluating the attainment of results. It helps all people involved to generate lessons that guide future planning, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (PM&E). The flexibility in adapting the GALS methodology tool allows for use across age groups, genders, ethnicities, educational levels, and other social classification criteria. The CGIAR Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa, therefore recruited the expertise of MERAMO Consulting through Work Package Five (WP5) to facilitate the implementation of GALS in the communities of two of its implementing partners namely Machinga Agricultural Development Division (MADD) and Total LandCare Malawi (TLC). The implementation of this activity was delivered to 4,095 beneficiaries surpassing the planned target of 4,000 households. UU WP5 managed to sensitize and involve the stakeholders of TLC and MADD in the respective communities of Nkhotakota and Balaka on GALS as a household gender transformative methodology. The process imparted GALS knowledge and its facilitation skills to the 40 selected ‘GALS Champions’ 1 and 404 household trainers as well as training 3,651 household members. It has mobilized the communities to work together as households in pursuit of their jointly developed visions, enabling them to analyze their household gender division of roles and find ways of addressing their anticipated challenges while creating ways of creating valuable networks and relationship building. A summary of the GALS implementation has been captured in this GALS YouTube video from across different communities with participants sharing key insights and lessons learned. The main recommendation emanating from this work is that UU and future CGIAR Science Programs consider delivering its other community programs using adapted GALS tools to achieve adequate mobilization of communities, active participation, and effective utilization. By embarking on participatory GALS impact monitoring and evaluation, UU will not only motivate the communities to achieve more using the methodology but also expand the initiatives’ ability to provide coaching, ensure continued GALS momentum, and co-create, and co-design participatory research with local households and communities.
Sustainable AgriVentures for Empowered Women and Youth (SAVE-WY) Intervention Program in Zimbabwe
(Report, 2024-12-30) Rukasha, T.; Musemwa, L.; Mokhema, Seipati
The Sustainable AgriVentures for Empowered Women and Youth (SAVE-WY) project is implemented by Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology in partnership with Bindura University of Science Education. This project is supported financially by the International Water Management Institute in South Africa and is an Ukama Ustawi Work Package 5 Project activity. Funded by CGIAR with a budget of USD 45,000, the SAVE-WY project targeted 150 households in Mashonaland Central and Masvingo provinces of Zimbabwe. Through the SAVE-WY project, a revolving fund was established to provide financial support to households with a strong emphasis on promoting gender equality and social inclusion. Then revolving fund provided seed funding and a sustainable avenue for wealth regeneration that would enable beneficiaries to access essential resources and services, facilitating the development of resilient livelihoods and transforming household and community dynamics. In addition to establishing a revolving fund, the SAVE-WY UU WP5 project also provided support through capacity building and mentorship for the youth and women who were recipients of the revolving fund. The project provided extension services to minimize default risks, ensuring a gender-transformative approach throughout its implementation. The SAVE-WY project was thus launched to address the critical challenges faced by marginalized groups in Zimbabwe's agricultural sector, particularly women and youth. With a youth unemployment rate of approximately 14% and agriculture accounting for a significant portion of employment and GDP, this project aimed to empower these demographics through capacity building and financial support. Key findings demonstrate that the project successfully improved participants' business practices across sectors such as poultry farming, mushroom farming, vending, baking, and agro-retailing. However, challenges like climate-induced droughts and limited resources necessitated adaptive strategies. This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the project objectives, activities, financial assessment, impact, challenges faced, and recommendations for future sustainability. The SAVE-WY project demonstrated a holistic approach to capacity building, emphasizing both skills enhancement and practical support. By empowering women and youth in agriculture, it contributed not only to individual economic resilience but also to broader community development.
Proceedings of the Pre-launch of the Ministry of Agriculture Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines
(Conference Proceedings, 2024-12-30) Nigussie, Likimyelesh; Opola, Felix; Mapedza, Everisto; Joshi, Deepa
Does a citizen science approach enhance the effectiveness of flood early warning systems? Evidence from the Akaki Catchment, Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2025-02) Nigussie, Likimyelesh; Bekele, Tilaye Worku; Haile, Alemseged Tamiru; Mdee, A.; Nicol, Alan; Cohen, J.; Osei-Amponsah, Charity; Tedla, H. Z.; Demissie, Kirubel
Flooding has emerged as a significant concern in the Akaki catchment area of Ethiopia, affecting settlements and properties. Early warning systems (EWSs) are implemented to reduce flood risks, but power dynamics among at-risk communities and stakeholders have raised concerns about the reliable accessibility of warning information. We integrated a citizen science approach into existing flood EWSs to promote inclusivity, local perspectives, and equitable expertise distribution in flood early warning. It draws on primary data collected through diverse methods, alongside an extensive review of documents from the years 2021 to 2022. The analysis of qualitative data indicates the integration of citizen science into a flood EWSs delivers dependable early warning information and encourages the establishment of networks. This approach reduces dependence on external entities, enhances local decision-making capabilities, and promotes a sense of ownership, empowerment, and trust. This can transform the dynamics and responsibilities linked to flood management. However, the longer-term participation of citizen scientists in flood EWSs is challenging due to the disparity between commitment levels and benefits, lack of legal frameworks, and insufficient recognition of community diversity within policy frameworks. The research herein emphasizes the significance of understanding power dynamics and institutional capacities in integrating citizen science into flood EWSs. It offers valuable perspectives for policymakers, practitioners, and communities on participatory governance, social equity, and the resilience of communities in the face of environmental challenges.
Shrimp farming and the struggles of landless women in Paikgacha, southern coastal Bangladesh: implications for nutrition-sensitive agri-food system
(Brief, 2024-12-30) Begum, Salma; Sharma, Indu K.; Joshi, Deepa; Garrett, J.
Advancing equitable access to common pool water resources for fishers in coastal Bangladesh
(Brief, 2024-12-30) Sharma, Indu K.; Joshi, Deepa; Rahman, M.; Moyna, S. S.; Mukit, T.; Mou, M.; Haque, N.; Ghosh, J.; Basnet, Sahara
Guidelines for developing a multi-stakeholder agriculture knowledge-hub for strengthening mixed farming systems in Nepal’s mid-hills
(Report, 2024-12-30) Koirala, Sanju; Khadka, Manohara; Neupane, Nilhari; K. C., Jibesh
Enabling socio-technical innovation bundles (STIBs) implementation in Ethiopia: a literature review of the policy context
(Report, 2024-12-30) Chakona, G.; Mapedza, Everisto; Nigussie, Likimyelesh; Nchanji, E.; Ketema, D. M.; Gartaula, H. N.; Joshi, Deepa; Puskur, R.
This report provides a comprehensive review of the intersection of agriculture, gender and socio-technical innovation bundles (STIBs) in Ethiopia, with a focus on understanding how policies, strategies and legislation can support the empowerment and resilience of women within the country's agrifood systems. STIBs are a comprehensive approach to tackling multifaceted challenges in agrifood systems by integrating technology with social and cultural innovations. Understanding how the innovations can be embedded into the existing policies within the agricultural sector to empower women and enhance gender equality, including women’s resilience and self-confidence is crucial. Agriculture remains the cornerstone of Ethiopia's economy, contributing 34% to the GDP and employing about 75% of the population. The report explores how aligning STIBs with Ethiopia's national development strategies can support key priority areas such as agricultural productivity, gender equality, food security, climate change adaptation, inclusive economic growth, technological advancement and education and training initiatives.
Youth-led aquaculture in Northern Ghana
(Blog Post, 2024-08-12) Tall, Maimouna; Appiah, Sarah; Buisson, Marie-Charlotte; Zane, Giulia
Reflections on multi-actor, transdisciplinary leadership training on the water, energy, food, and ecosystems nexus approach for women in Nepal
(Report, 2024-12-30) Buchy, Marlène; Koirala, Sanju; Khadka, Manohara; Pradhan, M. S.; Onta, N.
Focus and impact on gender equality, youth, and social inclusion
(Brief, 2024-12-30) CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains
A NEXUS Gains impact area brief shares how the Initiative uses people-centered approaches to prioritize the well-being and strategic interests of women, youth, and marginalized groups across the water–energy–food–ecosystems nexus.
Focus and impact on poverty reduction, livelihoods, and jobs
(Brief, 2024-12-30) CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains
A NEXUS Gains impact area brief shares examples of how policy research and engagement in water, energy, food, and ecosystems can help to address rural poverty by increasing agricultural incomes and creating jobs.
Breaking biases and building momentum for transforming agricultural research for development practices: recommendations and research opportunities
(Journal Article, 2025-01-07) McGuire, Erin; Ewell, Hanna; Bailey, Arwen; Leñero, Eva Marina Valencia; Luu, Thi Thu Giang; Sylvester, Janelle Marie; Al-Zu’bi, Maha; Liani, Millicent L.; Kabirigi, Michel
Ongoing food system inequalities and pressures on planetary boundaries requires a paradigm shift among agricultural research for development (AR4D) actors to produce effective innovation for sustainable environmental and social outcomes. Building on insights from Agricultural Innovation System literature and recognizing the influence of personal and systemic biases within AR4D, the following recommendations address upstream challenges, interdisciplinary collaboration, emphasize outcome-driven scaling, adaptive project implementation, and integrate critical considerations for social differentiation.

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