Women's Knowledge and Food Security

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Women play a vital role in the production of food. Most
importantly, they are critical in the storage, processing
as well as the provision of food at the household level.
It is also a fact that as in the case of all policies, those
on food are supposed to be informed by existing
evidence and realities whose dynamics keep on
changing. As key stakeholders in food handling,
women have a wealth of knowledge on issues of food
and nutrition status. This paper argues on the
importance of this knowledge in informing policy issues
and programming issues related to food security and
nutritional status. The study draws from the findings of
a study done in Kenya by the African Women’s Studies
Centre (AWSC) of the University of Nairobi and the
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics in 2014. The study
aimed at documenting women’s knowledge in relation
to food security and generating proposals ensuring
the full implementation of Article 43(1)(c) of the
Constitution of Kenya (2010); as well as suggesting
policy recommendations at the national and county
levels. The study used Moser’s Gender Analysis tool
(1986) and adopted a descriptive survey approach.
Selected women in each of the ten counties across
Kenya provided information through focus-group
discussions, oral testimonies and key informants
questionnaires. Additional data was generated from
debriefing sessions which were done with selected
respondents of the study at the conclusion of the field
work in each county. The findings revealed that by
virtue of their gendered roles and responsibilities in the
family and community, women have a wealth of
experience and knowledge on food and nutrition. The
knowledge can usefully inform policies on issues
related to food and nutrition status, especially in terms
of its availability, access, utilization and sustainability.
The study thus recommends the need for policy
makers, scholars and researchers to focus on gender
responsive studies so as to capture not only women’s
needs but also their experiences and knowledge. The
policy makers have an obligation to ensure the same
in policy formulation and programming.

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Publication Information

: ., 2014

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Language

English

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Subject(s)

Women
Food Security
Security
Stakeholders
knowledge
Household level

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Article

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