Policy Brief: Women and Food Insecurity

The UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW) is dedicated to supporting research that promotes social justice and equality and disseminating it widely. I am writing today to share with you CSW’s recently initiated publications series rethinking public policy on gender, sexuality, and women’s issues. Each CSW Policy Brief presents research in support of a policy change that would substantially improve the health and well being ofwomen and their families.

As recent reports have documented, food insecurity is rising around the world. Because this issue is pressing globally, nationally, and locally, we selected “Women and Food Insecurity” as the focus of the first set of CSW Policy Briefs. While the global recession is a contributing factor–, our research shows that certain policy initiatives can have an unintended negative consequence on the food security of women and families. Because International Food Policy Research Institute has a long history of interest and advocacy in this area, we hope that the research presented in these briefs will be useful to your group in advancing its mission.

Links to the individual policy briefs on our website are included below:

Reducing Food Insecurity among Female Farm Workers and their Children

U.S. Farm Bill Makes Women and Children Food Insecure

Reductions in SNAP Increase Health Risks for Food Insecure Women

Helping Local Stores with WIC Certification Will Yield Better Food Options for All

Improving Health Outcomes for Populations Affected by Intimate Partner Violence and Food Insecurity

Reinstate Project Grow! Targeting Food Insecurity Among Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

All the CSW Policy Briefs are also available from the California Digital Library (http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=csw_policybriefs). If you would like to receive a printed copy of the set of briefs, please let me know.

Multimedia: Women and Agriculture: A Conversation on Improving Global Food Security

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State

See the two videos and transcription of the conversation on

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/09/172739.htm

News: Women are central to feeding Africa

In developing countries, more than 60% of women are directly involved in agricultural work, but very few gain access to information, training or supplies. More action and less rhetoric on this issue could put more food on the world’s table and help drive economic growth, writes Pamela Whitby.

Lindiwe Majele Sibanda has agriculture in her blood.

One of five children, she grew up on a farm in Zimbabwe where her parents still live and farm today.

“Farming,” says Ms Sibanda, who runs her own commercial cattle farm, “is a family tradition.”

She admits, however, that cattle farming is one type of agriculture that it is possible to run remotely and she does this from her base in South Africa.

“You vaccinate, you put in place your programme and you get a good manager,” she explains.

Having an extended family helps too, which is “the beauty of being an African”.

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Publication: Gender and the global food-price crisis

This article argues that it is imperative to take gender into consideration when evaluating the impact of the global food-price crisis and developing crisis-related policies. Consideration of gender is important, given the key role that women play in agriculture, the disproportionate impact that the crisis has on women, and the potential role that women can play in resolving the crisis. Recent research on differential impacts of the crisis is discussed, as are gender dimensions – or lack thereof – in policy responses.

Access it here

CALL FOR CONCEPT PAPERS: USAID Gender and Food Security

The United States Government (USG) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking concept papers first and then full applications from prospective partners to implement activities that create opportunities for women’s leadership and gender equality in addressing food security needs. These activities will contribute to the body of knowledge and effective tools for comprehensive integration of gender issues throughout USAID/USG development, humanitarian and transition work.

More information.

Event (DC): The Hidden Role of Gender in Food Security & Value Chain Development

Society for International Development Gender in Development Workgroup

When: Friday, April 22, 2011, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m Where: The National Press Club, Holeman Lounge, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. Please join the SID-Washington Gender in Development Workgroup for a panel discussion on “The Hidden Role of Gender in Food Security & Value Chain Development.” Investing in agricultural development has long been recognized as one of the best ways to reduce poverty in the long term, whether the goal is to feed individual families or to help economies grow.  In addition, research has shown that women in developing countries carry out much of the work with agricultural crops and production.  Women are also more likely to use income from these activities for food, healthcare and education for their children, helping lift entire communities out of poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth. This panel will focus on successful value chain strategies, particularly those involving women, to boost income and achieve food security.  Specific interventions, success stories and private sector alliances will be discussed in the context of capacity building, access to markets, quality standards and post-harvest handling. Presenters: Florie Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President Emmanuela Mashayo, Project Coordinator, Purchase for Progress (P4P), World Food Program, Rwanda Kathleen Vickland, Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, CARANA Corporation Lindsey Jones, Specialist, Monitoring, Evaluation and Gender, ACDI/VOCA Moderator:   Amanda Hilligas, Senior Manager, CARANA Corporation *Light lunch will be provided by The QED Group, LLC. This event is also sponsored in part by CARANA Corporation. For more information about the Gender in Development Workgroup, please visit the Ning site. Please RSVP by Monday, April 19th as capacity for this event is limited. https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/view/logout.do?hidOrgID=wdcsid

Funding: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security

The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) is searching for scientists who are interested in conducting research on gender issues related to the climate change, agriculture, and food security nexus. CCAFS will award women scientists enrolled in a PhD program or interested in a post doctoral opportunity, and who are citizens of and affiliated with an institution in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Bangladesh, India, or Nepal to a research grant of $35,000. Proposals must:

1.      Demonstrate and contribute to understanding the linkages between climate change and gender more specifically, while developing policy-relevant findings on climate change, agriculture, and food security more generally.

2.      Build research capacity of women scientists in partner institutions and increase their representation in agricultural research.

Proposals must be submitted by May 1, 2011.  The full call for proposals may be downloaded at http://ccafs.cgiar.org/sites/default/files/docs/call_for_competitive_small_grants_proposals.pdf and the application form is available at http://ccafs.cgiar.org/sites/default/files/docs/application_form_for_the_competitive_small_grants_proposals_0.pdf.

Multimedia: Hilary Clinton’s Video Remarks for the Rome Women and Food Event

On behalf of the United States, I want to thank the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Program, and the International Fund for Agriculture Development for continuing their shared tradition of celebrating International Women’s Day.

To some, it may not be clear why food and agriculture agencies would celebrate women. But when it comes to growing, harvesting, storing, and preparing the world’s food, women carry a heavy responsibility. In developing countries, women comprise nearly half of the agricultural labor force—and more than half in some countries. Yet few women own the land they farm, and few have access to markets, training, or credit for buying livestock, seeds, and equipment. By increasing our support for women farmers, we can increase food production; improve nutrition, health, and education; help women earn higher incomes; and support broader economic growth.

This is why women are at the core of President Obama’s Feed the Future Initiative and why the UN food and agriculture agencies are incorporating women into their policies and programs. We need to keep this momentum going, to help more women farmers gain equal access to land, technologies, and financial services… and to help women worldwide receive the support they need to become leaders in agriculture and full partners in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

Today, we celebrate past achievements in the global march toward equality. But this is also a day for looking ahead. The work underway in Rome and elsewhere must continue, so that future generations of women and girls can have an even greater impact on the world, wherever they live and wherever they work—including, and especially, in the fields.

Access it here

Funding: DFID

DfID’s Research and Evidence Division wishes to establish a new Research Programme Consortium (RPC) on Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security in South Asia. This is part of a 6-year program in South Asia to maintain and further expand DFID’s commitment to increase agricultural productivity and promote sustainable management of natural resources for improved food security and nutritional outcomes for poor people. The goal of this RPC is to ensure the use of new and existing research on how to deliver enhanced food and nutritional outcomes through agriculture, particularly women and children, by investment programs and policy makers. The RPC will include policy focused research into agriculture, food and nutrition security and will be driven by demands from national and regional policy processes and programs. The successful RPC will need to demonstrate at bidding stage its experience in the region, in handling complex political relationships and in forging collaborations between countries and between researchers and end users. The closing date for applications is on March 14, 2011. For supporting information, contract notice, terms of reference, and pre-qualification questionnaire, click on the following link:  http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Working-with-DFID/Procurement/Current-contract-opportunities1/Development-of-a-Research-Programme-Consortium-RPC-to-address-agriculture-food-and-nutrition-security-in-South-Asia/.

Webinar: Integrating Gender into Agriculture and Food Security Programs

USAID’s Bureau for Food Security and Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance invite you to participate in the rollout of two assessments that have examined USAID’s past performance with respect to gender integration into agriculture and food security. From these assessments, USAID has developed a series of briefs to help USAID field staff and implementers better integrate gender into agriculture and food security programming.

Following Ambassador Garvelink’s opening remarks, USAID staff will provide an overview of the resource materials. Through dialogue with the panel and open Q&A, implications and next steps will be discussed.

More information