In a world, where a significant portion of the population suffers from food insecurity, gender inequality continues to be a pivotal issue that affects food security. A report released recently, “Food Security and Gender Equality: A synergistic understudied symphony”, dives deep into the global link between gender inequality and food insecurity. The report was brought forth by CARE, an international humanitarian organization that fights global poverty and world hunger, primarily working alongside women and girls.
The Findings: Gender Gap in Food Security
Based on the report, a worrisome picture emerges out of the relationship between gender and food security. It notes that the gap between men and women’s food security is widening, impacting as many as 828 million people by hunger in 2021. Disturbingly, among this staggering number, 150 million more women were food insecure than men. Across 109 countries, an inverse relationship exists between gender inequality and food security. This means that as gender inequality rises, food security diminishes. Between 2018 and 2021, the number of hungry women compared to hungry men grew 8.4 times, resulting in 150 million more women than men being hungry in 2021.
Gender Inequality and Malnourishment
Another alarming revelation is the strong connection between gender equality and food and nutrition security at all levels – local, national, and global. As gender inequality increases in a country, the number of hungry and malnourished people also rises. For instance, countries with high gender inequality such as Yemen, Sierra Leone, and Chad, have the lowest levels of food security and nutrition.
The Burden on Women
Even in circumstances where both genders are technically food insecure, women often bear larger burdens. For instance, during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in Lebanon, 85% of people reduced the number of meals they consumed. At this time, 85% of women were eating smaller portions, compared to just 57% of men.
Reduced Food Insecurity with Women’s Employment
Results indicated that women who are employed and earn money or directly involved in farming experience less food insecurity. This finding further emphasizes the importance of empowering women in the workforce, especially within agriculture.
The Poverty Gap: Women more Likely to Live in Poverty
Women are more likely than men to live in extreme poverty. This is majorly because their work is undervalued, underpaid, or not paid at all. Even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, women were shouldering three times as much unpaid work as men.
Recommendations to Address the Issue
The report recommends giving women their rightful space in data collection methods and analysis to make visible the gaps they encounter and work on solutions with them. It also suggests updating the global understanding of food security and gender inequality, providing adequate funding and support for local actors, including women’s organizations in crisis-affected communities, and protecting the rights of women and girls in both private and public spheres. The realization of all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hinges on achieving Goal 5 – to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.
Initiatives Specializing in Food Security and Gender Equality
Several global and Indian initiatives have been introduced to address these issues, for instance, International Women’s Day celebrated every year on 8th March, UN Women, UN Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025), the World Food Programme (WFP), and Sustainable Development Goal (2) of ‘Zero Hunger’. In India, specific initiatives like POSHAN Abhiyaan, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Mid-day Meal (MDM) scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, and others have been launched.
Understanding the National Food Security Mission
The objective of the National Food Security Mission is to increase the production of rice, wheat, and pulses through area expansion and productivity enhancement in a sustainable manner in the identified districts of the country. A resolution related to this was adopted by the National Development Council (NDC) in 2007.