By Ruth Smith, Jonas Cromwell, and Susannah Sallu (University of Leeds), Maureen Miruka, Nedjma Ouerdane and Caitlin Shannon (CARE USA), Haji Msangi and Betty Waized (Sokoine University of Agriculture), Lenka Suchá (Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences)
August 1, 2023
Women play an integral role in the agricultural sector across much of sub-Saharan Africa where 66% of women’s employment is in agrifood systems. Considering the current calls for transformation of these food systems to tackle widespread structural inequities in the production, distribution and consumption of food, understanding the role of women within such transformations and leverage points for their empowerment is important. In Tanzania, a commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment has gained salience within national policy frameworks over recent years. A key focus has been on the economic empowerment of rural women – integrating female farmers into market systems with a focus on their productivity and productive asset gaps, business skills and employment opportunities. Pertinent to Tanzania's development agenda, the FoSTA-Health project will explore the relationship between women's empowerment, food system transformation and engagement in markets through empirically grounded research in Tanga region, northeast Tanzania.
Read more: The relationship between women’s empowerment, engagement in markets, and food systems...
By Peter Yiga, Pui Yee Tan, Yun Yun Gong (University of Leeds), Caitlin Shannon (Care International), and Mathews Mhuru (National Food and Nutrition Commission, Zambia)
July 25, 2023
Zambia is experiencing a double burden of malnutrition- which may signal an ongoing nutrition transition- shaped by food supply and demand pressure, alongside international food and agriculture policies. However, nutrition transitions are insufficiently documented in the Zambian context. Furthermore, there is little knowledge of the short and long-term impact of a nutrition transition on interrelated human, animal and environmental health.
Rachel Mkandawire (FANRPAN) provides a roundup of stakeholder workshops and field visits organised during the period. Findings have helped finalise research questions, develop research plans, and fine-tune the stakeholder engagement strategy.
Read more: FoSTA-Health stakeholder engagement and scoping activities (March-May, 2023)
by Hemant Tripathi and Steve Sait (University of Leeds), Akbar Ganatra and Sander Koenraadt (Wageningen University) and Martin Simuunza (University of Zambia)
June 26, 2023
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are a major health problem in Africa, exacerbated by the interaction of ecological, climate, and socio-economic factors. These diseases burden humans and livestock, and strain healthcare systems. The occurrence of VBDs is significantly influenced by interactions among agricultural practices, landscape structure, and vectors within and between species interactions. Understanding these interactions can help design effective interventions against these diseases. However, significant knowledge gaps exist in the local as well as landscape-scale understanding of the complex interplay between vectors, pathogens, hosts, and their environment, as well as the effect of changes in farming practices.
Read more: Farm management, landscape structure, and vector-borne diseases in Southern Africa
by Willem Colenbrander, Kulima Integrated Development Solutions
June 26, 2023
The Food Systems Transformation in Southern Africa for One Health (FoSTA-Health) project is evaluating the One Health implications of food systems transformation in Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia from 2023 until mid-2026.
Scoping visits of farmers’ groups were conducted in Malawi and Zambia during April and May 2023 by project team members to assess the food systems baseline for FoSTA-Health as regards food production, marketing and consumption.
Willem Colenbrander (Kulima Integrated Development Solutions) participated in the visits in both countries and compares his impressions.
By Mapenzie Tauzie (University of Leeds), Patience Mgoli Mwale and Caitlin Shannon (CARE International UK)
June 6, 2023
The food systems transformation agenda of the UN Food Systems Summit has identified equality for women in agriculture as a central tenet of a just transformation. 43% of world’s agricultural labour force and 90% of household food preparation is undertaken by women. It is acknowledged that the systemic obstacles that women face are deeply embedded within their socio-economic context. Women own just 5% of the world’s farmland and access only 5% of formal agriculture training. Malawi’s long and medium-term development vision; Vision 2063 and Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) III respectively, are anchored in agriculture and a commitment to women’s inclusion through investment in gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Read more: Women’s empowerment and maize-pigeon pea transitions in Southern Malawi
