Galiè, Alessandra

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The women’s empowerment in livestock index (WELI)Poster authors: Alessandra Galiè, ILRIContact: a.galie@cgiar.orgRelevance in breeding cycleThe introduction of new livestock breeds in a household can result in shifts in labor allocation, and in control over livestock and its products. These changes may increase the benefits for some household members only while adding to the workload of others ultimately affecting the adoption of new breeds or the impact of an intervention. Understanding gender dynamics affecting who are the actual ‘doers’ in livestock activities and breeding in particular, gendered constraints and opportunities, and access to benefits helps to develop breeds that respond to the needs of the whole household. The WELI was created to assess the empowerment of women involved in livestock systems. Its  focus on gender roles in key activities of livestock management and breeding, and on the related decision-making helps shape a breeding program in a gender responsive manner. It also helps assess the outcomes of a breeding initiative on the empowerment of women livestock keepers. Description of stagesThe WELI is a survey tool to be administered to individual women and men livestock keepers. It provides an overview of gendered activities and decision-making in the farm with a particular focus on livestock-related activities: animal breeding, feeding, health, cleaning, food preparation, and crop cultivation and off-farm employment. Quantitative analysis helps assess the empowerment of individual livestock keepers through key dimensions of empowerment and in relation to livestock (Fig 1). Next steps in developing toolRepeat use of the tool in the context of a livestock breeding intervention can provide longitudinal data to assess impact on various dimensions of empowerment (Fig 3). Such knowledge can help improve livestock breeding interventions to ensure the relevance of newly developed breeds for all household members and the equity of their outcomes. Example of useThe WELI has been developed based on formative and qualitative research in selected sites in Tanzania where the tool was also implemented in 2015 with 373 women. The information produced by the index helped livestock scientists identify key decision-makers and doers in breeding activities to improve the targeting of breeding programs. In conjunction with a nutrition survey the tool was used to assess whether women’s empowerment through livestock enhances household food security.  Partners:Fig 3. WELI results on dimensions of empowerment by districtFig 2. Empowering women through poultry breedingFig 1. Dimensions of empowerment included in the WELI

The women's empowerment in livestock index

https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/10568/89300/1/1.3%20Galie_WELI.pdf

The women's empowerment in livestock index

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