Gender and Food Security

Gender is a very important element in analysis if one takes into account its role. In this post we discuss the importance of taking gender into account when designing and implementing food security interventions. We also explain that addressing gender based constraints to attainment of food security will make women contribute effectively to both household and national food security.

Definition of Gender

Gender refers to the different socio-economic roles and dispositions that women face in society relative to those faced by their male counterparts. Gender advocacy aims at ensuring that these roles and dispositions are equitable to both women and men.

Relationship between Gender and Food Security

In traditional African society women play a central role in contributing to household food security. Women and young girls play multiple roles in ensuring that household food security is achieved. They work the land as farmers and labourers while in urban areas they work as marketers and vendors in order to generate incomes and food for their households.

In the homes they exclusively perform domestic chores including preparation of meals and are directly responsible for the nutritional status of individual household members. Therefore, capacity building of women as a targeted gender group is a critical element in achieving household level food security while also contributing to national food security. This will require clearly identifying and addressing constraints that are peculiar to women as a gender group in relation to food security.