Elucidating linkages between women’s empowerment in livestock and nutrition: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT

This article investigates knowledge and perceptions of women’s empowerment from the perspective of female livestock keepers and elucidates linkages between women’s empowerment and household nutrition in relation to livestock. Eight focus groups with 62 female livestock keepers were conducted in Tanzania. Women’s empowerment in livestock was associated with improved household nutrition. Other opportunities for empowerment were identified that could contribute to women’s decision-making power. The article recommends that all development interventions in the livestock sector be gender sensitive and engage local men in conversations about gender inequities. It also discusses other pathways to increase women’s empowerment and household nutrition.

KEYWORDS:

• Food security
• Gender and diversity
• Labour and livelihoods
• Sub-Saharan Africa

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Mindy J. Price is a social science research associate at the University of Texas at Austin with expertise in global health practice, nutrition, and qualitative research methods. This research was conducted as part of her master’s thesis at the University of South Florida.

Alessandra Galié is a social scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute in the Gender, Livelihoods, and Impact programme. Her work focuses on gender issues in the livestock value chain in Tanzania and framework of empowerment, agricultural research for development, and food security.

Jennifer Marshall is an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, Department of Community and Family Health. Her research draws from over 25 years of professional experience working with community-based programmes in maternal and child health and community systems of care.

Ngozichukwuka Agu is a doctoral candidate at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. Ngozichukwuka has expertise in mixed-methods research, community and family health, and interpersonal violence.

ORCID

Mindy Price http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5458-1427

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by US Borlaug Fellows in Global Food Security: Subagreement number 8000069614 (Grant No.207495) with the University of South Florida Under the Collaboration Agreement with The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT, INT.) (Purdue No. 14098851, Grant No. 207495).