Alonso, Silvia

Galiè, Alessandra

Heckert, J.

Kakota, T.

Myers, E.C.

Njiru, Nelly M.

Heckert, Jessica

CGSpace

Understanding Empowerment among Retailers in the Informal Milk Sector in Peri-urban Nairobi: Informing an Adaptation of the project-level Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index Presented by Alessandra Galiè, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)withJessica Heckert, Emily Camille Myers, Nelly Njiru, Tasokwa Kakota, Silvia AlonsoANH Academy week 2019Overview: Gendered Opportunities and Constraints in Milk Trading in Peri-urban NairobiMoreMilk Sub-study is an intervention with peri-urban milk retailers Primary outcome: Improve child nutrition and health (via better milk quality) Secondary outcome: Empower milk retailersPresent study MoreMilk & GAAP2 CollaborationGAAP 2 Understand how agricultural development projects empower women Develop measures of women’s empowerment (pro-WEAI) for project impactPhoto: Jessica HeckertObjectives  Local understandings of empowerment  Examine the experiences of milk retailers in relation to existing pro-WEAI indicators and the accuracy of those indicators  Use qualitative findings to adapt pro-WEAI instrument and to evaluate intervention targeting milk retailersPro-WEAIMethods  Semi-structured in-depth interviews (SSIIs): 49 27 women; 22 men Key informant interviews (KIIs): 4 1 woman; 3 men  Focus group discussions (FGDs): 6 3 FGDs of women (2 current; 1 former) 3 FGDs of men (2 current; 1 former) Sampled for traits of successful milk retailers  Current or former Licensed (or not); Business type (shop, milk bar, milk ATM, street vendor, mobile vendor); Source (producers, processors, brokers)  Coding: deductive and inductiveResults Women and men   Economic success  Men: good business skills, own assets  Women: good business skills, own assets, soft skills  Support family and community  Women: community leader Men: benevolent patriarch Retailers Additional and more valuable assets  Women:  Soft skills (polite, cheerful)  ‘Too friendly’Local understandings of empowerment “Money is a matter of saving for you to be empowered.” Woman Photo: Jessica HeckertIndicator 1: Input in productive decisions Social networks: friends, family members, and those with business experience Men talk to men only  Women talk to women, and anyone after entering business  Collaborate with spouses  Some women were deferential to spouses No reprisal women’s independent choicesInstrumental Agency “I have to make calculations…I do consult my husband. We do sit down calculate, discuss and decide.” Woman Implications for pro-WEAI:Milk-specific productive decisions  “Handling, storing, and/or processing milk for sale, including boiling, making mala, etc.” “Buying and transporting milk from a farmer or supplier”Indicator 2: Asset ownership General Not land (may rent premise)  Gendered ownership  Men: borrow  Women: buy Licenses  3 types: City council, Kenya Dairy Board, Ministry of Health Application and licensing fees Risk of loss of milk and assets without one (though not a strong deterrent)  Confusing and costly licensing processInstrumental Agency “If one does not have a license, the authorities are constantly following them up, and they are not able to operate the business in peace. Sometimes one has to close shop and run away when the authorities come inspecting.” Man Implications for pro-WEAI:Milk Specific Assets, Licenses   Assets Aluminum milk cans Milk ATM Gum boots Licenses  knowledge questions Photo: Jessica HeckertIndicator 3: Access to and decisions on financial services Repayment  Milk spoilage  Sell milk on credit M-Pesa Secure Women and men Instrumental Agency “If you apply for a loan and say the milk spoils…And, you know, in a week maybe you are supposed to pay 500. Where will you get that 500 to pay back?” WomanImplications for pro-WEAI:M-Pesa, Repayment M-Pesa  If they have an account Repayment Credit questions Indicator 4: Visiting important locations Gendered constraints  Community perception of women’s promiscuity   Childcare obligations  Transportation Bicycles  Motorbikes  Trucks  Instrumental Agency “I know of a lady who was not married and was selling milk…The elders had to intervene and take her back to the parents and stop the milk business.” Woman Photo: Jessica HeckertImplications for pro-WEAI:Constraints to visiting important locations  Transportation too expensive  Not enough time  Forbidden to go by spouse/partner Lessons learned  Adapting pro-WEAI and other existing survey measures needs to be undertaken carefully Qualitative research is one approach that can systematically inform survey adaptations The topics addressed by the pro-WEAI indicators resonate with the lived experiences of milk retailers Revising some items will help make the pro-WEAI instrument more relevant for a non-producer population 

Understanding empowerment among retailers in the informal milk sector in peri-urban Nairobi: Informing an adaptation of the project-level Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index

https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/10568/102169/1/Retailers%20empowerment.pdf

Understanding empowerment among retailers in the informal milk sector in peri-urban Nairobi: Informing an adaptation of the project-level Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index

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