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Examining the Barriers to Gender Integration in Agriculture, Climate Change, Food Security, and Nutrition Policies: Guatemalan and Honduran Perspectives
Brief about:
Journal Article (2021)
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Other researchers:
This research is about understanding the gender gaps and possible solutions in agriculture, climate change, food security and nutrition policies that can exist in Guatemala and Honduras, through narrative and policy document analysis.
Our study examined the barriers leading to poor gender mainstreaming and potential solutions in policies applying to gender, agriculture, climate change, food security and nutrition, in both Guatemala and Honduras. Indeed, to include gender in policy is key to achieve national development goals and global challenges such as climate change and food and nutrition insecurity in the agriculture sector.
Key findings
- One of the key findings of this research is that a gap exists between policy elaboration and policy implementation.What it means
We identified that in Guatemala and Honduras, there are many gender policies that have been elaborated. In some cases, it was a very participatory process, where not only government personnel were participating in the elaboration of the policy, but also NGOs, international cooperation organisations and researchers. However, at the end there is no budget and no project or program to implement this policy. We understood that it is not enough to have policy documents, you must look at policy implementation to understand the gap that exists.
- International corporations have a key role, because in many cases they are the ones who are pushing the government to elaborate gender policy to create gender units within the different ministries.What it means
Sometimes they are also key to funding the elaboration of the policy. However, they only focus on the elaboration of documents, and they are not pushing beyond the creation of the policy.
- International cooperation have a key role and power to influence the governments.What it means
They should go beyond the technical issue of not having gender policy and should instead be much more ambitious in terms of bridging this gender gap in these countries.
- Another finding was that there was a very pessimistic view from those working in gender towards the situation and the future in terms of bridging gender gaps.What it means
They were very negative in terms of seeing a solution, at least in the short-term. It is important to note that they did not see an easy solution to these gender issues.
Proposed action
- For organisations working to close the gender gap in policy, it is important to have several strategies within the program
They should not only work with government, but should try to work with, strengthen and empower civil society. We found it is very difficult to establish change within the government, as they are opposed to gender equality and gender mainstreaming and their interests are very far away from these goals. It is very difficult to initiate change in government, so as well as attempting to work with them, advocating laws, financing and strengthening gender units and programs led by the government, it is also important to seek other real roles pushing for change in this matter. Need to focus on how we can make civil society stronger and gain more knowledge, information, and data so that we can use these to implement change related to gender.
- We observed that it is not enough to say that your program is gender-friendly or gender-sensitive and that you are monitoring the number of women that participate in your workshop
In the design of this program, the indicator and the objective should be beyond only participation of women. The indicator and the objective should look at empowerment and active participation. They should be more ambitious and have intangible objectives to effectively bridge the gap.
- It is important to continue to conduct research on gender and gender gap in order to carry out evidence-based advocacy
- The pandemic caused by Covid-19 has been a factor that has increased the vulnerability of the already vulnerable, such as women
Therefore, it is recommended to take advantage of this global situation to keep the gender issue in the framework of the post-Covid-19 recovery agenda.
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Acknowledgements
Thank you to iDE Global
These insights were made available thanks to the support of iDE Global, who are committed to the dissemination of knowledge for all.
Special thanks to Jasmyn Spanswick for preparation assistance
We would like to extend a special thank you to Jasmyn Spanswick, for their invaluable contribution in assisting the preparation of this research summary.
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Examining the Barriers to Gender Integration in Agriculture, Climate Change, Food Security, and Nutrition Policies: Guatemalan and Honduran Perspectives
Cite this brief: Howland, Fanny. 'Examining the Barriers to Gender Integration in Agriculture, Climate Change, Food Security, and Nutrition Policies: Guatemalan and Honduran Perspectives'. Acume. https://www.acume.org/r/examining-the-barriers-to-gender-integration-in-agriculture-climate-change-food-security-and-nutrition-policies-guatemalan-and-honduran-perspectives/
Brief created by: Fanny Howland | Year brief made: 2022
Original research:
- M. A., Howland, F., & et al., ‘Examining the Barriers to Gender Integration in Agriculture, Climate Change, Food Security, and Nutrition Policies: Guatemalan and Honduran Perspectives’ 5 https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.664253. – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.664253/full
Research brief:
This research is about understanding the gender gaps and possible solutions in agriculture, climate change, food security and nutrition policies that can exist in Guatemala and Honduras, through narrative and policy document analysis.
Our study examined the barriers leading to poor gender mainstreaming and potential solutions in policies applying to gender, agriculture, climate change, food security and nutrition, in both Guatemala and Honduras. Indeed, to include gender in policy is key to achieve national development goals and global challenges such as climate change and food and nutrition insecurity in the agriculture sector.
Findings:
One of the key findings of this research is that a gap exists between policy elaboration and policy implementation.
We identified that in Guatemala and Honduras, there are many gender policies that have been elaborated. In some cases, it was a very participatory process, where not only government personnel were participating in the elaboration of the policy, but also NGOs, international cooperation organisations and researchers. However, at the end there is no budget and no project or program to implement this policy. We understood that it is not enough to have policy documents, you must look at policy implementation to understand the gap that exists.
International corporations have a key role, because in many cases they are the ones who are pushing the government to elaborate gender policy to create gender units within the different ministries.
Sometimes they are also key to funding the elaboration of the policy. However, they only focus on the elaboration of documents, and they are not pushing beyond the creation of the policy.
International cooperation have a key role and power to influence the governments.
They should go beyond the technical issue of not having gender policy and should instead be much more ambitious in terms of bridging this gender gap in these countries.
Another finding was that there was a very pessimistic view from those working in gender towards the situation and the future in terms of bridging gender gaps.
They were very negative in terms of seeing a solution, at least in the short-term. It is important to note that they did not see an easy solution to these gender issues.
Advice:
For organisations working to close the gender gap in policy, it is important to have several strategies within the program
- They should not only work with government, but should try to work with, strengthen and empower civil society. We found it is very difficult to establish change within the government, as they are opposed to gender equality and gender mainstreaming and their interests are very far away from these goals. It is very difficult to initiate change in government, so as well as attempting to work with them, advocating laws, financing and strengthening gender units and programs led by the government, it is also important to seek other real roles pushing for change in this matter. Need to focus on how we can make civil society stronger and gain more knowledge, information, and data so that we can use these to implement change related to gender.
We observed that it is not enough to say that your program is gender-friendly or gender-sensitive and that you are monitoring the number of women that participate in your workshop
- In the design of this program, the indicator and the objective should be beyond only participation of women. The indicator and the objective should look at empowerment and active participation. They should be more ambitious and have intangible objectives to effectively bridge the gap.
It is important to continue to conduct research on gender and gender gap in order to carry out evidence-based advocacy
The pandemic caused by Covid-19 has been a factor that has increased the vulnerability of the already vulnerable, such as women
- Therefore, it is recommended to take advantage of this global situation to keep the gender issue in the framework of the post-Covid-19 recovery agenda.