This project seeks to use the Women’s Empowerment in Agrifood Governance (WEAGov) framework to measure women’s voice and empowerment in the agrifood policy process.
Background
The Women’s Empowerment in Agrifood Governance (WEAGov) project addresses a critical global issue: the underrepresentation of women in decision-making processes within agrifood systems. Globally, women hold only a fraction of leadership positions in political and public spheres, including within agrifood policy making. This disparity not only hinders social inclusion but also obstructs long-term economic growth and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
In India, for instance, despite significant contributions to the agrifood sector, women constitute a mere 15% of lower house MPs, 13% of upper house MPs, and 16% of agrifood ministers. This lack of representation underscores the urgency to empower women in policy making roles related to agrifood systems.
To combat this, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has developed WEAGov—a robust assessment framework aimed at evaluating and enhancing women’s voice and agency across the agrifood policy cycle.
Methodology
The WEAGov framework employs a comprehensive methodology to assess women’s empowerment in agrifood governance. This methodological approach is structured into five key steps:
- Policy Landscape Analysis: A thorough examination of national policies, key actors, and organisations within the agrifood sector to understand the current governance landscape.
- Content Analysis of National Agri Food Policies: Detailed analysis of existing agrifood policies to identify their inclusivity and impact on women’s empowerment.
- Surveys of Key Organisations: Gathering insights from organisations actively engaged in the agrifood sector to assess their perspectives on women’s roles and influence in policy making.
- Surveys with Agri Food Policy Experts: Conducting surveys with experts in agrifood policy to gather informed opinions on the current state and potential improvements regarding women’s empowerment.
Technical Workshops: Engaging local experts through workshops to validate findings and gather further insights into practical measures for enhancing women’s participation and leadership in agrifood governance.
Implications
The WEAGov project seeks to establish a fairer and more sustainable agrifood governance framework, empowering women to assume key roles in shaping policies that significantly affect their lives and livelihoods. For more information on the WEAGov framework and its implementation, please visit IFPRI’s dedicated WEAGov page.
The impact of WEAGov goes beyond enhancing women’s participation in agrifood governance; it also promotes broader socio-economic benefits, sustainable development goals, and global efforts towards gender equality and inclusive growth.
Approach and Scoring
In conducting the content analysis of national agrifood policies, our approach focused on identifying two critical national-level policies or schemes from each of the thematic areas: Agriculture, Nutrition, and Environment. These selections were made considering both the timeline and a specific emphasis on gender. WEAGov utilises 11 indicators distributed across three stages of the policy cycle: Policy Design, Policy Implementation, and Policy Evaluation. Each indicator draws upon a variety of credible country-level data sources sourced from local agrifood organisations and policy experts, resulting in a total of 44 measurements.
It is essential to underscore that achieving women’s full and equal participation in the policy process is not merely aspirational (“strong”), but rather a fundamental target. This approach ensures a comprehensive assessment of women’s empowerment across agrifood governance, guiding policy interventions towards more inclusive outcomes.