Women s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI): Foundations and adaptations for project use

Transcription

1 Women s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI): Foundations and adaptations for project use ANH Academy Week 2017 Kathmandu, Nepal Hazel Malapit, Jessica Heckert, and Elena Martinez

2 Objectives Participants should be able to: Understand how and why gender considerations and women s empowerment matter for nutrition-sensitive agricultural programs Understand how the WEAI can be used to diagnose areas of disempowerment, and monitor intended and unintended impacts of agricultural development programs on women s empowerment Understand how the WEAI is being adapted for use in a project context Understand how the WEAI data is collected, and be familiar with best practices on survey implementation

3 Agenda Introduction to WEAI and pro-weai Agriculture-nutrition pathways and gendered pathways Introduction to the project-level WEAI Integrating quantitative and qualitative research Pro-WEAI nutrition and health module Interactive case studies: using pro-weai for nutrition-sensitive projects LUNCH BREAK Interactive case studies (continued) Report back and discussion Baseline results from pro-weai nutrition

4 Photo credit: Flickr/Farha Khan, IFPRI

5 Photo credit: Flickr/ Ollivier Girard, CIFOR

6 Household assets and livelihoods Agricultural Production Conceptual pathways between agriculture and nutrition National economic growth National nutrition profile Food market environment Enabling environment Natural resources Health environment Food production & gathering Processing & storage Individual nutrition outcomes* Agricultural income Women s empowerment Food expenditure Non-food expenditure Nutrition and health knowledge Household Food access Health care Caring capacity & practices *individual nutrition outcomes refer to the general population, including women, men, and adolescents (not just mothers and children) Diet Health status Female energy expenditure Child nutrition outcomes Mother s nutrition outcomes Individual Source: Herforth and Harris 2013

7 Gender along ag-nutrition pathways 1. Agriculture as a source of food for own consumption 2. Agriculture as a source of income 3. Agricultural policies affect prices of food and non-food crops 4. Women s participation in agriculture and the effect on her social status and empowerment & in particular her access to and control over resources 5. The impact of women s participation in agriculture on their time allocation 6. The impact of women s participation in agriculture on their own health and nutritional status (and also child nutrition) (Ruel and Alderman 2013) IFPRI Images

8 Photo credit: Flickr / Finn Thilsted, WorldFish

9 14 What is the WEAI? Developed by IFPRI, USAID, and OPHI Designed to measure inclusion of women in the agricultural sector for Feed the Future (FTF) Initiative Survey-based index - interviews men and women in the same household Similar to multi-dimensional poverty indices (Alkire and Foster 2011, J of Public Econ) and the Foster-Greere- Thorbeck (FGT) indices Details on index construction in Alkire et al. (2013), World Development

10 Five domains of empowerment

11 Five domains of empowerment

12 A woman s empowerment score shows her own achievements Five domains of empowerment

13 Five domains of empowerment Abbreviated WEAI (A-WEAI) 1/5 2/15 1/5 1/5

14 Disempowerment Index (1-5DE) Cross-country baseline findings: credit, workload, and group membership are most important constraints across countries Source: Malapit et al. (2014) Leisure Workload Speaking in public Group member Control over use of income Access to and decisions on credit Purchase, sale, or transfer of assets Ownership of assets Autonomy in production Input in productive decisions 19

15 Photo credit: Flickr/Neil Palmer, CIAT

16 WEAI for projects Making the perfect omelet Photo source: omletteshoppe.com

17 What do projects want? Adaptable to project context Streamlined, easy to collect Autonomy beyond agriculture Understand QUALITATIVE aspects (hows & whys) Empowerment relating to health & nutrition Photo source: omletteshoppe.com

18 Developing a Projectlevel WEAI (pro-weai) Comparable metrics for empowerment Core set of WEAI empowerment modules + Standardized add-on survey modules and qualitative protocols

19 Choosing respondents Original WEAI Population-based indicator Self-identified primary male and primary female decisionmakers in the household Not necessarily husband and wife Project WEAI Project-level indicator (not nationally or regionally representative) Who is your project trying to empower? (e.g., farmers growing/raising specific crops/animals; mothers with young children; members of specific types of groups, etc.) Pro-WEAI respondent can be target beneficiary and spouse / other decisionmaker in household Sampling design and respondent choice are key differences between original WEAI and project WEAI Does this compromise comparability across different projects? Maybe, but not as problematic within clusters BUT: projects have to be able to define their respondents based on project objectives

20 Comparison of original WEAI, A-WEAI and pro-weai Original: 5 domains, 10 indicators A-WEAI: 5 domains, 6 indicators pro-weai: proposed domains, indicators DOMAIN INDICATORS DOMAIN INDICATORS DOMAIN INDICATORS 1 Production Input in productive Production Input in productive Production Input in productive decisions decisions decisions Autonomy in production Autonomy in production 2 Resources Ownership of assets Purchase, sale, or transfer of assets Access to and decisions on credit 3 Income Control over use of income 4 Leadership Group membership Speaking in public 5 Time Workload Leisure Resources Ownership of assets Access to and decisions on credit Resources Access to information Use rights over land Ownership of assets Access to and decisions on credit Access to a financial account Income Control over use of Income Control over use of income income Autonomy in use of income Leadership Group membership Leadership Group membership Time Workload Time Workload (+childcare) Physical mobility Intrahousehold relationships Individual empowerment Domestic violence Nutrition Frequency and decisions on physical mobility Mutual respect Self-efficacy Life satisfaction Attitudes about domestic violence Input in healthcare decisions Input in reproductive health decisions Input in IYCF decisions Input in food consumption decisions Input in food consumption decisions while pregnant/breastfeeding Input in purchasing decisions for food and medicine

21 Draft pro-weai main modules Module G1: Individual identification Module G2: Role in household decision-making around production and income Module G3(a): Access to productive capital Module G3(b): Access to financial services Module G4: Time allocation Module G5: Group membership Module G6: Physical mobility Module G7: Intrahousehold relationships Module G8(a): Autonomy in decision-making Module G8(b): New general self-efficacy scale Module G8(c): Life satisfaction *optional* MODULE G9: Attitudes about domestic violence *some elements are optional*

22 Photo credit: IFPRI Images / Milo Mitchell, IFPRI

23 Implementing pro-weai in the field PROBLEMS Enumeration translation, interviewer bias, long interview duration, interviewing men and women separately, NGO speak Logistics travel to remote areas, internet connectivity, seasonality Money - budget constraints Polygamous households defining a household, deciding which wife to interview Data collection instruments - overload of instruments, qualitative tools are not project-specific SOLUTIONS Experienced enumerators strong language skills, anticipate difficult questions, both male and female Attention to translation connotation, word choice Quick data review for quality control and re-training Communication between researchers and implementers involve PIs and in-country research staff in training and piloting Use qualitative research to understand local context Flexible funding

24 Why add qualitative to good quantitative? Not just to illustrate quantitative findings, but illuminates different aspects of topics/themes Research questions framed differently Identify how and why a behavior occurs (mechanisms) Differences rooted in different philosophies of how knowledge is produced Useful for reframing existing research questions May help better identify target populations For intervention and research questions

25 Research questions related to dairy production How to increase production among rural dairy-producing households and improve their nutritional status and quality of life? Quantitative Qualitative Question 1? Question 1? Question 2? Question 2? Question 3? Question 3?

26 Research questions related to dairy production How to increase production among rural dairy-producing households and improve their nutritional status and quality of life? Quantitative Qualitative Does a nutrition-sensitive program that distributes dairy animals improve nutritional status? How do households allocate care for and output from dairy animals? Does an intervention reduce the spread of zoonotic disease (and improve nutritional outcomes)? Does the rise of supermarkets affect milk production and consumption among rural dairy farmers? What are the roles of different household members in dairy production? How and why do male and female farmers link with markets?

27 Potential methods for addressing the qualitative questions Qualitative How do households allocate care for and output from dairy animals? What are the roles of various household members in dairy production? How and why do rural farmers link with markets? Focus group discussions around workload and household food allocation Participant observation and semi-structured interviews with men, women, hired workers (following the milk) Semi-structured interviews and participant observation with men, women, hired workers (following the milk) Identify participant households according to whether they have a few cows or many cows Participant observation in markets (attention to activities that occur alongside financial transactions) Semi-structured interviews with buyers and sellers

28 Potential methods for addressing the quantitative questions Quantitative Does a nutrition-sensitive program that distributes dairy animals improve nutritional status? Does an intervention reduce the spread of zoonotic disease (and improve nutrition)? Household surveys with modules on Gender disaggregated ownership of livestock Consumption by household member Anthropometry and other biomarkers Household surveys with modules on related hygiene practices and anthropometry. High frequency data collection of milk quality, human morbidity, and presence of pathogens. Does the rise of supermarkets affect production and consumption among dairy farmers? Multiple waves of a household surveys that covers period of interest, including detail on dairy production, sales, and consumption. Complimentary data on supermarkets, including location and tenure.

29 Linking quantitative and qualitative Quantitative Qualitative Does a nutritionsensitive program that distributes dairy animals improve nutritional status? Qualitative integrated in sequential design: Women may manage livestock that households receive but not control milk (sold rather than consumed). Or, the increased workload decreases time spent on child care related activities. How do households allocate care for and output from dairy animals? Does an intervention reduce the spread of zoonotic disease (and improve nutritional outcomes)? Qualitative as formative research to shape and target the intervention: Young women with limited power in household may do milking (direct contact). Men may store and sell milk (maintain cold chain). What are the roles of various household members in dairy production? Does the rise of supermarkets affect production and consumption among dairy farmers? Qualitative to explain quantitative results: As milk becomes more valuable, it shifts from female- to male-dominated production Preference for known agents may persist to fulfill social reciprocity (e.g., extended kin) How and why do rural farmers link with markets?

30 Photo credit: Nesbitt/UNICEF Ethiopia

31 Nutrition and health module Types of nutrition targeting in the GAAP2 portfolio Women s own health and nutrition (e.g., dietary diversity or quality) Children aged 2 years and younger, including intervention during pregnancy General household nutrition and expected spillover to children (broad age range) Timeframe of program impact: questions GX.04 & GX.08 Some questions that refer to now are relevant regardless of implementation timing (e.g., what a woman eats, whether her child eats nutritious foods). Some questions refer to a specific experience in the past (e.g., pregnancy, lactation). Change timeframe in GX.04 & GX.08 to reflect length of implementation you will want to cover at follow-up interview (e.g., only want pregnancy information for women who became pregnant since the start of program implementation).

32 Draft pro-weai nutrition module NOTE: Respondent is the mother or primary caregiver of index child Decisions on healthcare, reproductive health, and types of food children can eat Now I d like to ask you some questions on making decisions about the health of you and your child and about the types of food that your child can eat. For respondents who have been pregnant or given birth in last 3 years: Decisions on healthcare, types of foods that can be eaten while pregnant/breastfeeding, breastfeeding and complimentary feeding The next set of questions asks only about decisions that were made while you were pregnant or breastfeeding your youngest child. Purchasing and acquiring certain types of food and medicine The next set of questions asks about your ability to obtain the types of food and medicine that you want for you and your child.

33 Photo credit: Cassie Chandler/Freedom from Hunger

34 Case studies Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) Bangladesh Hellen Keller International and University of Heidelberg Building resilience of vulnerable communities Burkina Faso Grameen Foundation Targeting and Realigning Agriculture to Improve Nutrition (TRAIN) Bangladesh IFPRI and BRAC Empowerment, Resilience, and Livestock Transfers Nepal Heifer International Deploying improved vegetable technologies to overcome malnutrition and poverty Mali World Vegetable Center

35 Case studies Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) Bangladesh Hellen Keller International and University of Heidelberg Building resilience of vulnerable communities Burkina Faso Grameen Foundation Targeting and Realigning Agriculture to Improve Nutrition (TRAIN) Bangladesh IFPRI and BRAC Empowerment, Resilience, and Livestock Transfers Nepal Heifer International Deploying improved vegetable technologies to overcome malnutrition and poverty Mali World Vegetable Center

36 Case studies Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) Bangladesh Hellen Keller International and University of Heidelberg Building resilience of vulnerable communities Burkina Faso Grameen Foundation Targeting and Realigning Agriculture to Improve Nutrition (TRAIN) Bangladesh IFPRI and BRAC Empowerment, Resilience, and Livestock Transfers Nepal Heifer International Deploying improved vegetable technologies to overcome malnutrition and poverty Mali World Vegetable Center

37 Case studies Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) Bangladesh Hellen Keller International and University of Heidelberg Building resilience of vulnerable communities Burkina Faso Grameen Foundation Targeting and Realigning Agriculture to Improve Nutrition (TRAIN) Bangladesh IFPRI and BRAC Empowerment, Resilience, and Livestock Transfers Nepal Heifer International Deploying improved vegetable technologies to overcome malnutrition and poverty Mali World Vegetable Center

38 Case studies Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) Bangladesh Hellen Keller International and University of Heidelberg Building resilience of vulnerable communities Burkina Faso Grameen Foundation Targeting and Realigning Agriculture to Improve Nutrition (TRAIN) Bangladesh IFPRI and BRAC Empowerment, Resilience, and Livestock Transfers Nepal Heifer International Deploying improved vegetable technologies to overcome malnutrition and poverty Mali World Vegetable Center

39 Putting it into practice 1. What do you think would be the potential impact of this project, specifically on women s empowerment? Use the impact pathways. 2. How would you use the quantitative and qualitative tools to examine the program impact and associated pathways you identified in #1?

40 Putting it into practice 1. What do you think would be the potential impact of this project, specifically on women s empowerment? Use the impact pathways. 2. How would you use the quantitative and qualitative tools to examine the program impact and associated pathways you identified in #1? Last 10 minutes: Pair up and select a module from the quantitative survey Practice the module with your partner

41 Lunch Break!

42 Putting it into practice 1. What is the project s impact, focusing specifically on women s empowerment? Use the impact pathways. 2. How would you use the quantitative and qualitative tools to examine the program impact and associated pathways you identified in #1? 3. What potential challenges do you foresee in the field? 4. What tools would you like to add to this toolbox to address these challenges?

43 Discussion

44 Pro-WEAI Nutrition and Health: Preliminary Results Project Abbreviation N Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition FAARM 287 Building resilience of vulnerable communities Grameen 380 Targeting and Realigning Agriculture to Improve Nutrition Deploying improved vegetable technologies to overcome malnutrition and poverty TRAIN 5,040 WorldVeg 714 TOTAL 6,421

45 Pro-WEAI Nutrition and Health: Preliminary Results Project Abbreviation N Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition FAARM 287 Building resilience of vulnerable communities Grameen 380 Targeting and Realigning Agriculture to Improve Nutrition Deploying improved vegetable technologies to overcome malnutrition and poverty TRAIN 5,040 WorldVeg 714 TOTAL 6,421

46 Pro-WEAI Nutrition and Health: Has input into decisions about GX.01=self or GX.02>=3 FAARM Grameen (Bangladesh) (Burkina Faso) TRAIN (Bangladesh) WorldVeg (Mali) Total Healthcare decisions (A-B) Contraception (D) Food consumption (E-F) Healthcare during pregnancy (G) Egg consumption during pregnancy (J) Working while lactating (M) Respondent makes the decision solely or jointly or can participate to at least a medium extent in the decision

47 Pro-WEAI Nutrition and Health: Has input into decisions about GX.01=self or GX.02>=3 FAARM Grameen (Bangladesh) (Burkina Faso) TRAIN (Bangladesh) WorldVeg (Mali) Total Healthcare decisions (A-B) Contraception (D) Food consumption (E-F) Healthcare during pregnancy (G) Egg consumption during pregnancy (J) Working while lactating (M) Respondent makes the decision solely or jointly or can participate to at least a medium extent in the decision

48 Pro-WEAI Nutrition and Health: Has input into decisions about whether to purchase GX.09=self or GX.10=1 FAARM (Bangladesh) Grameen (Burkina Faso) TRAIN (Bangladesh) WorldVeg (Mali) Total Food (A-C, E) Medications and supplements (H-I) Care and hygiene related products (J-L) Respondent makes the decision solely or jointly or can acquire the item(s) if needed

49 Pro-WEAI Nutrition and Health: Has input into decisions about whether to purchase GX.09=self or GX.10=1 FAARM (Bangladesh) Grameen (Burkina Faso) TRAIN (Bangladesh) WorldVeg (Mali) Total Food (A-C, E) Medications and supplements (H-I) Care and hygiene related products (J-L) Respondent makes the decision solely or jointly or can acquire the item(s) if needed

50 Pro-WEAI Nutrition and Health: Has input into decisions about eggs, meat, or milk GX.01=self or GX.02>=3 GX.05=self or GX.06>=3 GX.09=self or GX.10=1 FAARM Grameen TRAIN (Bangladesh) (Burkina Faso) (Bangladesh) WorldVeg (Mali) Total Whether you can eat any of them during pregnancy Whether you can eat any of them during lactation Whether your child is offered any of them to eat Purchasing any of them Respondent makes the decision solely or jointly, can participate to at least a medium extent in the decision, or can acquire them item(s) if needed

51 Connecting to the WEAI community GAAP2 Website: gaap.ifpri.info WEAI Resource Center: ifpri.org/topic/weai-resource-center Pro-WEAI Resource Center: Stay tuned! Thanks for joining us! For more information, contact Hazel Malapit: