A recent study by Yami et al. (2024) titled “Factors influencing gender and youth integration in agricultural research and innovation in Africa” published in CABI Agriculture and Bioscience shows that gender and youth inclusion were primarily project-based and strongly tied to donor requirements.
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Gender and youth integration in African agricultural research is primarily donor-driven, with imbalances and limited youth-focused policies reinforcing inequalities. – Yami et al. 2024
The article emphasizes the importance of integrating gender and youth into Agricultural Research and Innovation (R&I) to enhance the inclusiveness and effectiveness of research initiatives. It highlights the pressing need for this integration in Africa, where entrenched gender and age norms often marginalize the roles of women and youth in food systems. The prevailing perception of women and youth as “helpers” rather than primary farmers perpetuates inequalities in resource access, income opportunities, and decision-making. Recognizing these challenges, the research and development community increasingly acknowledges that effective gender and youth integration in R&I can significantly improve the adoption of agricultural products, services, and processes. The study focuses on ongoing discussions about gender and youth inclusion, particularly through the Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) project database. It utilizes the gender integration continuum framework to critically assess various approaches to gender integration and their impacts on women and youth in agriculture.
How the Study was Conducted
The researchers reviewed published literature on gender and youth integration in agricultural research and innovation (R&I) to gather data on the extent of integration and its impact on food and nutrition security and entrepreneurship. The authors applied a gender lens to the LEAP4FNSSA project documents, reports, publications, and communication materials to determine the extent of gender and youth consideration in R&I. The authors also employed scientific databases such as ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, focusing on keywords related to gender, youth, innovations, and agricultural research. The study involved 30 interviews with key informants engaged in FNSSA projects across various African countries, including Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Ghana, Madagascar, Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, Sudan, Togo, and Uganda. Semi-structured questionnaires with open and close-ended questions were used to gather insights on opportunities and challenges for gender-responsive and youth-friendly R&I. An interactive workshop was held with key stakeholders working on gender and youth integration issues across Africa to gather feedback on the key findings. In addition, the study used the gender integration continuum conceptual framework, spearheaded by the Interagency Gender Working Group (IGWG), to critically examine different approaches to gender integration and their impact on women and youth.
What the Authors Found
The authors found that gender and youth inclusion were primarily project-based and strongly tied to donor requirements. Projects that included women and youth were mainly designed to target them as primary or sole beneficiaries. Some R&I projects made promising efforts in developing youth and gender-specific work packages and action plans outlining the end-to-end engagement of men, women, and youth in R&I, and also there was an imbalance in gender integration compared to youth integration. Youth received little consideration in R&I policies and practices, reinforcing intergenerational inequality. In addition, the study posits that an intersectional lens is needed for the meaningful involvement of different community groups in R&I interventions and for reducing the various causes of inequalities and marginalization that hamper the transformation of Africa’s food system.
Why is this important?
Inclusiveness and Equity: Historically, women and youth have been marginalized in agricultural sectors, often seen as ‘helpers’ rather than primary farmers. This marginalization leads to inequalities in accessing resources, income opportunities, and decision-making processes. By integrating gender and youth, we can work towards more equitable and inclusive agricultural systems.
Enhanced Adoption of Innovations: Effective gender and youth integration in R&I can significantly increase the adoption of new products, services, and processes. When research initiatives consider the needs and perspectives of women and youth, the resulting innovations are more likely to be accepted and utilized by these groups, leading to broader and more effective dissemination of agricultural technologies.
Economic and Social Outcomes: Gender and youth integration is central to achieving equal economic and social outcomes in the agricultural sector. By addressing the specific needs of women and youth, R&I can help improve their livelihoods, enhance food security, and promote entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.
Sustainable Development: Integrating gender and youth aligns with international frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). It also supports regional frameworks like the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which emphasizes gender equality for development in Africa.
Holistic Approach: The study highlights the need for a holistic approach to gender and youth inclusion in R&I. This involves not only targeting these groups as beneficiaries but also involving them in decision-making processes and leadership roles. Such an approach can help address the root causes of gender and age-based inequalities and foster a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector.
What the Authors Recommend
- They emphasize the need for a holistic approach to gender and youth inclusion in R&I. This involves considering the critical roles that women and youth can play in innovation scaling and ensuring their meaningful involvement throughout the R&I process.
- There is a call for increased investment in translating R&I interventions into opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment. This includes providing adequate resources and support to ensure that women and youth can benefit from these innovations.
- The authors recommend using an intersectional lens to involve different community groups meaningfully. This approach helps address the various causes of inequalities and marginalization that hinder the transformation of Africa’s food system.
- Strengthening the capacity of R&I teams and institutions to integrate gender and youth dimensions effectively is crucial. This includes training and developing the skills needed to address gender and youth issues in R&I projects.
- The study suggests aligning policies and practices to support gender and youth integration. This includes developing gender- and youth-specific work packages and action plans that outline their engagement in R&I from the beginning.
- Implementing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the progress and impact of gender and youth integration in R&I projects is essential. This helps ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
- The authors highlight the importance of addressing structural constraints that limit the participation of women and youth in R&I. This includes improving access to resources, leadership roles, and decision-making processes for these groups.
In conclusion, the study by Yami et al. (2024) underscores the pressing need to integrate gender and youth dimensions into Agricultural Research and Innovation (R&I) to address entrenched inequalities and enhance the inclusiveness of Africa’s food systems. By adopting holistic, intersectional approaches and aligning policies with international and regional frameworks, stakeholders can empower women and youth as active contributors to sustainable agriculture. Strengthened capacity, targeted investments, and robust monitoring mechanisms are pivotal in translating R&I efforts into meaningful socio-economic outcomes, fostering equitable development, and advancing the transformation of Africa’s agricultural sector.
Cite this article as (APA format):
AR Managing Editor (2024). Enhancing Gender and Youth Inclusion in Agricultural Research: Insights from Africa’s FNSSA Projects. Retrieved from https://www.africanresearchers.org/enhancing-gender-and-youth-inclusion-in-agricultural-research-insights-from-africas-fnssa-projects/
The African Research (AR) Index is a comprehensive scholarly directory and database focused explicitly on journal publishers that publish and disseminate African research.
