Gender in Agriculture: Sourcebook

Addressing gender disparities for sustained socio-economic development

This Gender in Agriculture Sourcebook focuses on the central role of agriculture in development. It looks at the need for gender equality and women's empowerment in rural areas. The sourcebook offers descriptive accounts of national and international experience in agriculture investments with practical guidance on designing agriculture-for-development strategies. It looks at gender equality and women's empowerment, and associated principles that can make a difference in the lives of rural poor. The sourcebook also compiles good practices and innovative activities that have successfully integrated gender into program design. Several principles such as focus on people, holistic approach, importance of timing and context, and heterogeneity of rural poor govern the writing of the sourcebook. It addresses gender inequalities in the following areas:

Access to and control over assets;
Participation and power in land, labor, financial, and product markets;
Distribution of risks and gains along value chains;
Market information, extension services, skills and training;
Participation and leadership in rural organizations;
Rights, empowerment and political voice;
Household composition and labor availability;
Physical and agro-ecological risks and their gender-differentiated impacts and vulnerability.