Failed inclusion of women in agroecological projects

Topic: Gender Equality

Gender Equality

Sustainable Livelihoods

Central America

Climate Action

The problem

The problem was that FSM did not initially take into account existing gender gaps when implementing agroecological projects. These include:

land tenure is mostly in the hands of men
it is mainly men who carry out in agricultural activities
the training projects worked mainly with men on the issue of agricultural production and with women on marketing and gender issues

The experience

Most of our projects were focused on the production of vegetables and grains in an agroecological way, but most of the participants were men.
On the other hand, women participated in marketing activities, savings groups, and in gender trainings.
Women were sometimes counted as indirect participants in agroecological projects.
The project team had not been concerned with addressing this gender gap as it was not sensitized and did not have guiding tools.
FSM did not have an up-to-date gender policy.

01

Reasons for Failure

01

There were no guiding instruments for gender sensible work (institutional policies, strategic plan, etc.)
Project team not sensitised to gender issues
The issue had not been discussed as a strategic commitment in FSM and nor how to mainstream its incorporation in the design, execution and sustainability of projects

02

Measures

02

Train staff in the implementation of the gender approach and elaborate guiding documents of institutional gender work
Update the institutional gender policy, and conduct gender analysis and self-assessments
Implement agricultural activities with women from savings groups at the community level
Design ‘agroecological learning centres’ especially for women

03

Lessons Learned

03

Involve women as direct, not just indirect, participants, despite existing gender gaps
Include women from the beginning in project formulations
Seek equity in participation - if it does not exist, promote it
Have staff who are extensively trained in gender work

Realisation period 2018-2023

Location Municipio de Meanguera, El Salvador

Contact Lucas Arguetat

Partner organisation - Fundación Segundo Montes (FSM)

We are backed by more than 30 years of work in our communities in the department of Morazán, promoting the human capacities of women and men in sectors such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, the defence of human rights, soil conservation works, among others.