Women in northern Kenya play an important role in livestock value chains but face barriers to full participation and empowerment. A study with 660 participants in Marsabit and Isiolo examined how empowering women through livestock interventions could improve maternal and child nutrition. The study found that women's time-consuming responsibilities negatively impact nutrition and market access. While women control income from livestock products, men predominantly control income from live animal sales. Increasing women's engagement in production and sale of livestock products may help improve feeding practices and nutritional status.

1. Background study on Empowering Women through
Investment in Livestock Value Chains: A Pathway for
Improving Maternal and Child Nutrition in Northern
Kenya
Adere, W1., Roach, T2., Kotutt, J2., Beda, A2., Lains, G2., Patel, K2., Webb Girard, A2.
1. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
2. Emory University
Background
There is growing interest in approaches that improve women’s engagement in
livestock value chains, their impact on women’s empowerment and maternal
and child nutrition (MCN). Strategies to enhance women’s participation in
livestock production, marketing, income control, time management, group
participation and nutrition education on consumption of Animal Source Foods
(ASF) can be powerful in improving the diets of women and children. This study
in Marsabit and Isiolo, was aimed at understanding how empowerment of
women through livestock interventions can enhance MCN. The objective of the
study was to understand the pathways through which livestock influence
women’s empowerment and MCN.
Methods
Data was collected through observation and 66 focus group discussions with
660 purposively selected participants and subjected to content analysis
Pictures
Conclusion
Women’s empowerment domains identified include livestock products and
market participation. Increased women’s engagement in production and sale
of livestock products can improve feeding practices, and the nutritional status
of communities.
This document is licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.
November 2016
Findings
• Women are responsible for time-consuming activities (search for fodder,
firewood and water) that affect MCN and market participation. Barriers to
women’s market participation include distance, household responsibilities,
theft, harassment and discriminatory pricing.
• Men predominantly control the sale and income earned from live animals,
whereas women control the sale and income earned from livestock
products (milk, meat, eggs).
• There is variability across communities on expenses for household and
health needs.
• Mostly men make final decisions on large costs (e.g. school fees) whereas
women make them for small costs (e.g. food).
• Factors that influence households’ ability to purchase or consume ASFs
included income, climate, distance, availability, culture, and women’s
income control.
November 2016
This project is part of the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative