Interview of the month: Alejandra Safa Barraza, Global Coordinator of the Joint Programme on Gender Transformative Approaches for Food Security and Nutrition

When women suffer, numerous households experience food insecurity and poverty. The importance of eliminating gender-based violence (GBV) lies not only in its violation of human rights but also in its reinforcement of various contributing factors. This perspective is underscored in an interview with Alejandra Safa Barraza, FAO's Programme Officer on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and Global Coordinator of the Joint Programme on Gender Transformative Approaches for Food Security and Nutrition (JP GTA), on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. 

Alejandra, you are the Global Coordinator of the Joint Programme on Gender Transformative Approaches for Food Security and Nutrition (JP GTA), what exactly is your role? 

Safa Barraza: "In my role, there is never a dull day! As you may know, the JP GTA is a joint initiative of the three Rome-based Agencies – FAO, IFAD, and WFP – in close collaboration with the European Union, and we are implementing activities in two focus countries, Ecuador and Malawi. This means that my job consists primarily of creating linkages and promoting collaboration between the various partners. It is my responsibility to ensure that we are meeting our objective: supporting the uptake of gender transformative approaches by the Rome-based Agencies to help them tackle the root causes of gender inequalities. Some days this means raising awareness or building capacity amongst colleagues and partners. Other days it means travelling around Brazil to learn from the experiences of rural communities, or meeting local partners in Ecuador."  

In what ways does gender-based violence (GBV) undermine livelihoods, nutrition, and food security outcomes?

Safa Barraza: "The impact of GBV is devastating – for livelihoods, food security and nutrition, and agricultural productivity. GBV undermines women’s and girls’ well-being, impacts their unpaid care and domestic work, and constrains their involvement in non-domestic work and market activities as well as their access to and control over assets; all of which increases food insecurity. However, the effects on individuals, families, and communities are not always visible, which makes it more difficult to recognize GBV as a real problem and act in consequence. We also know that there are many forms of violence, not only physical violence. Women and girls are often disadvantaged in terms of social power and influence, control of resources, control of their bodies, and participation in public life, all of which result from rigid gender roles and unequal power relations. By questioning discriminatory social norms held by women and men alike, gender transformative approaches are key to preventing GBV."  

Could you tell us more about FAO’s activities and programmes to spark gender transformative change in the context of food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture? 

Safa Barraza: "FAO has recognized that transformative approaches are needed to create long-lasting and meaningful change for women and girls around the world. In the recent report on The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems, Director-General Qu Dongyu advocates for “utilizing gender-transformative approaches to a greater extent in our projects and programming for inclusive rural development”. For instance, since 2008, FAO has been implementing its flagship Dimitra Clubs methodology to promote community engagement, gender equality, and women’s empowerment. Through the JP GTA, we have also been able to pilot other gender-transformative methodologies, for instance using social norms diagnostic tools. Our Programme plays a key role in building individual and collective agency, generating inclusive institutions, and challenging unequal power relations. It also acts as a catalyst by enhancing skills and knowledge within the Rome-based Agencies to design and implement gender transformative approaches". 

What are some of the results FAO has seen from its work? Could you give us a few examples of FAO’s initiatives that were able to address GBV? 

Safa Barraza: "The gender transformative approach I mentioned earlier, FAO’s Dimitra Clubs, helps rural women and men to improve their dialogue and communication skills, both at the household and community levels. Rural women in particular increase their self-confidence and strengthen their leadership skills and agency. For instance, a Dimitra Club was set up in a rural community where several cases of rape and sexual violence were reported when women and girls travelled to the marketplace several kilometers away. The Dimitra Club decided to tackle the issue in the next village assembly and proposed a two-pronged strategy: collecting funds to set up their own local market and facilitating community dialogue around the norms and beliefs that promote and perpetuate violence. This was achieved through inclusive discussions that also engaged men and boys in changing gender-discriminatory behaviors and promoting positive masculinity.  

We are seeing similar discussions take place in the context of the Joint Programme. Dimitra Club leaders are paying close attention to power imbalances and are encouraging all members – men, women, and young people – to participate in Dimitra Club activities and be heard" 

Thank you very much for this Interview.