Livestock and Gender: A Winning Pair: Capitalisation of Experiences on the Contribution of Livestock Projects to Gender Issues

Is the livestock sub-sector a privileged entry point to promote gender balanced development in rural areas? Since women are the most important labour force in all livestock keeping communities, and since livestock production and management are joint activities in rural households, this report argues that the livestock sector offers an excellent entry point. Based on the work of SDC and other organisations, and a review of literature on this subject, nine main areas of livestock production are explored. Included are: ownership of and access to resources (land, livestock, capital, knowledge); division of labour; household nutrition; the household economy; training in livestock activities; and the role of farmers' organisations. An overview of experiences of integrating gender aspects in livestock projects is provided, and key points, risks and best practices are identified for each area. The implications of gender aspects for project design and monitoring are emphasised throughout, with indications in each section of required information and possible indicators needed to facilitate integration of these aspects.