This document summarizes gender research from Egypt and Bangladesh conducted by the WorldFish organization in 2014 and outlines thoughts for future research. In Egypt, research focused on documenting retailer models and conducting consumer studies on the role of fish in diets. Issues around staffing and funding constraints were noted. In Bangladesh, research initiated value chain work and conducted diagnostics on gender norms, technology adoption, and the fish seed sector. Challenges around staffing levels and partner engagement were mentioned. The document proposes expanding nutrition research and developing gender integrated research designs, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and capacity building for 2015-2016.

1. Gender research update and ways
forward: Egypt and Bangladesh
Paula Kantor (WorldFish)
Livestock and Fish Gender Team Meeting
Ascoli Piceno, Italy, 15-16 September 2014

2. Egypt

3. 2014 gender research
IEIDEAS project closing; Aswan project starting now
• Documenting models and learning from retailer work
• Retailer gender analysis: informality ‘trumps’ gender in
many ways; time available is key consistent gender
difference
– Results influence approach in next phase – work with
men too! Enhance attention to gender vs women
• Consumer study on role of fish in poor people’s diets
• Diagnosis in Aswan to start: focus on people, poor, youth,
women as well as fish & technologies
– Opportunity for WorldFish-Egypt

4. Issues, challenges…
• CARE’s approach, staffing issues, contractor versus
partner
– Link into Pathways project? Shift to women’s rights
team
• Social science staffing in WF Egypt
– Aswan diagnosis…
• Funding constraints in 2015: CARE’s work will be limited

5. Thoughts for 2015-16: Research and capacities
• Refine and test retailer models & prepare for scaling in 2016
– New proposals for retailer work : priority
– Innovation platform work related to policy issues (informality)
• Aquaculture VCA done with greater focus on people & fish –
more detail in retailer, trader, consumer nodes (test GTA tools)
– Link to ‘diagnose’ phase in SASI: tools, gender integration
– Design GTA integrated best bets for 2016
• ME&L framework contextualized
• Initiate research stream on nutrition (nutrition strategy)
• Need to bring in & develop social science & gender capacity
– Post doc Ghana/Egypt: gender & value chains; KIT?

6. Bangladesh

7. 2014 gender research
L&F VC work initiated in 2014, focusing in SW Bangladesh
• Diagnosis-heavy year:
– Benchmarking/SGA on gender norms and agriculture
innovation (report in 2015; feed into R4D design)
– Gender and AQ technology adoption study: homestead
ponds (technology x methodology variations; partnerships)
• Report & journal article
– Gender analysis of fish seed sector (report, R4D design)
– Testing of GTA VCA tools (Paper? R4D design in 2015) – where
to focus this?
• Consumer study on place of fish in the diets of poor (GIZ)
• Proposal development with KIT based on tech flagship
options

8. Issues, challenges…
• FTE & capacity levels to deliver on the range of work we
could do
– Loss of some players (short term & long term) -
transitions
+ Commitment from L&F and AIN to jointly fund nat’l
gender specialist
+ Interesting partners to work with on gender integration
• AIN entry points for gender integration: a slow dance
– Link to KIT helpful here!

9. Thoughts for 2015-16: Research & capacities
• Plan for and deliver cross-technology flagship socio-econ
assessment (2015-16): review existing info, fill gaps
– Contribute to diagnosis & evidence base
• Gender analysis of feed sector
• Design and implement R4D on GTA integrated packages
– Implement result of Nov proposal development meeting
– Stakeholder event with partners to design GTAs,
• Funds needed – empowerment/GTA concept note
– Commonality across VCs in GTA packages? BCC?
• Expand nutrition research agenda (nutrition strategy)

10. Thoughts for 2015-16: Research & capacities
• Contextualize ME&L framework
• Gender integrated VC research design (multi-disc team) on
process of VC transformation and its gendered aspects
(2015-16)
– How much of this is in ME&L framework? What needs to
be added?
• Gendered perceptions of ownership study
– Draft proposal and raise funds
• KIT inputs are essential to making all of this happen, with
concurrent capacity development

11. CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish
livestockfish.cgiar.org
CGIAR is a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. The CGIAR
Research Program on Livestock and Fish aims to increase the productivity of small-scale livestock and fish systems
in sustainable ways, making meat, milk and fish more available and affordable across the developing world.