In Asia and the Pacific, women play vital roles in managing livestock and ensuring animal health. Unfortunately, traditional gender roles often limit their access to resources, affecting their ability to manage the health and productivity of their livestock and address animal health crises. To improve this situation, it is essential to promote gender equality and empower women in decision-making, thus enhancing the planning and delivery of veterinary assistance and reducing the risks and impacts of disease threats.

To understand the roles of men and women in the livestock sector, FAO ECTAD supports Member Nations in conducting comprehensive gender analyses. These analyses help tailor projects and programmes to address gender equality aspects. For instance, FAO conducted a gender analysis for a project in Myanmar, creating roadmaps to integrate gender perspectives and approaches into the programme.

In collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), FAO conducted a project-based analysis of Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) through its project on Strengthening Mechanisms in Animal Health for a Resilient ASEAN. Recommendations were provided to align with various gender-related guiding documents in the region. Building on these recommendations, FAO is exploring potential collaboration with research partners to assess the impact of ASEAN interventions on GEDSI issues related to priority animal diseases in the region.

With support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), FAO implemented an independent adaptation of the Women’s Empowerment in Livestock Index (WELI). This standardized index measures women’s empowerment in the livestock sector. A quantitative questionnaire on WELI, conducted alongside focus group discussions, identified key gender roles and challenges in pig raising in specific local contexts, promoting the adoption of good pig husbandry practices in countries such as the Philippines.

FAO is also exploring opportunities to train women poultry owners in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Pakistan and Thailand on biosecurity practices, particularly in preventing diseases like avian influenza. Through partnerships with private sectors, these trained women will share their knowledge with others, promoting best practices in addressing disease risks in poultry production. This not only increases productivity and income but also reduces health and safety risks in the poultry sector.

FAO remains committed to striving toward gender equality in our projects and programmes, and endeavour to align our work, where relevant, with overarching FAO guidance including the FAO Policy on Gender Equality and the Regional Gender Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2025.

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