Women are powerful but often
neglected agents of change, and
their leadership is critical: they play a
significant role in decision-making within
households, including decision-making
about animal care, the use of livestockfarming
by-products and household
food security. As key actors in the
agricultural sector, women play a vital
role in addressing and leading efforts
to improve local economic growth by
farming with livestock and improving
livestock health, thereby contributing
to household food security. Gender
perspectives on livestock farming and
disease prevention (i.e. mitigation,
adaptation, policy development,
decision-making) are urgently needed
to improve the broad human and
social dimensions of farming systems.
Drawing on insights from a recent
baseline study and multiple studies in
Africa and elsewhere, this policy brief
addresses the importance of gender
considerations for small-scale livestockfarming
communities in relation to
food security in the South African
context. The brief examines some of
the key elements of gender in relation
to small-scale livestock farming, asks
how some of these important elements
align with current policies and practices,
and makes a number of focused policy
recommendations.