Feed the Future learning agenda literature review: improved gender integration and women's empowerment

To ensure that Feed the Future impact evaluations are well-conceived, build on existing evidence, and fill critical evidence gaps, the Bureau for Food Security of USAID is supporting a comprehensive assessment of existing evidence and gaps in knowledge for each of six themes covered by the Feed the Future Learning Agenda. This paper summarizes available evidence that relates to key questions for the Feed the Future Learning Agenda theme on improved gender integration and women’s empowerment. 

This study first reviews key concepts, definitions, and recent development practice relating to women’s empowerment. It then examines evidence of impact of agricultural production interventions and productivity-nutrition interventions on women’s access to assets, for value chain commercialization interventions on women’s employment opportunities, and for capacity building interventions on women’s participation in leadership roles. Finally, it documents evidence of the impact of women’s empowerment on the reduction of poverty and hunger.