CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems Gender Strategy

Abstract

This Strategy views gender from two complementary perspectives and goals: equity and rights issues and goals and efficiency concerns. The efficiency perspective, inspired by the CGIAR’s Strategy and Results Framework, addresses concerns to increase the probability of widespread adoption of agricultural innovations that strengthen the food security, nutrition and livelihoods of the populations dependent on dryland systems. These two perspectives call for intertwined development approaches, both of which are essential. As the World Bank (2011) affirmed: “Gender equality is a core development objective in its own right. But greater gender equality is also smart economics, enhancing productivity and improving other development outcomes, including prospects for the next generation and for the quality of societal policies and institutions. Economic development is not enough to shrink all gender disparities - corrective policies that focus on persisting gender gaps are essential.”