A Guide for implementing gender-responsive nutrition programs

Abstract

This guide offers a detailed framework for incorporating gender considerations into nutrition-sensitive programs within agrifood systems. The guide explores the complex relationships between gender roles and nutritional outcomes in the agricultural sector, promoting strategies that advance gender equality, reduce hunger, and improve overall health. The guide also encourages the involvement of men and youth in nutrition programs, traditionally seen as women’s domain, and advocates for better dietary practices among adolescents and children, promoting intergenerational equity. The guide highlights the importance of understanding how gender influences food access, preparation, and consumption within households. It identifies systemic inequalities that limit women’s contributions to food security and provides methodologies for achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in nutritional outcomes. Designed for diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and community leaders, the guide offers practical tools, such as checklists and evaluation metrics, to ensure gender-sensitive approaches in nutrition programs. It focuses primarily on crop-based systems in developing economies, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where gender disparities are most evident. While acknowledging the unique challenges faced by different groups, the guide serves as a valuable resource for transforming agrifood systems through gender-responsive strategies, aiming to improve nutritional outcomes and promote equitable practices across communities.