I just wanted to share my experiences in evaluation of integrated programmes in food security, nutrition and gender in Tanzania.
I remember a case where, we identified through an evaluation that there are crops that are culturally considered "women crops" in certain areas. Invariably these include vegetables, ground (pea) nuts, beans among others. It was evident that when the "women crops" value chains were recognized and strengthened, then women increased their incomes from such crops and had significant control of incomes from the same. When we shared this insight with the local government officials (District agriculture and Trade officers), they were surprised and said "We as government prioritizes maize and rice in the districts, if only we knew that these are "men crops" and has effect on gender dynamics as much as incomes and control are concerned, then we would have atl east included some of these crops (peanuts especially) in the district plan so as to benefit women and thus poor households.
Another case was about coordinating nutrition programs especially for pregnant women and infants at the district level. It was observed that the agriculture wing of the local governments have extension workers that sensitize communities on biofortified crops such as the orange fleshed sweet potatoes, however there are also CSOs based community development/health personnel who educate poor households on issues of nutrition (and sanitation). At the same time, there are Ministry of Health community champions who do the same. The challenge was that even within the same communities, these community extension workers, do not know each other and neither do they know what the other is doing.
There are a lot of examples, however I can sum that the following in respect of the two cases are clear and have significant effect on gender equality and community development:
1. It should be understood that there are women and men crops at the community level, and the so referred to as "women crops" are more nutritious. They also have higher potentials to increase women (and household) incomes and nutrition, but only when policies recognize and intentionally include them in district/national agricultural development plans.
2. There are overlapping mandates on community nutrition interventions between government extension officers and CSOs and private sector. Coordinating such initiatives through community champions helps in integrating the roles and providing effective and holistic services.
3. The need to build capacity of extension workers to integrate food security, nutrition, sanitation and gender is something to be pursued.
M. Kennedy Oulu