The document discusses the important role of gender in promoting food security and nutrition. It notes that women are primarily responsible for childcare and food provision for the family, but have less access to agricultural inputs and advice, making them less productive farmers. As a result, women's gaps in agricultural production decrease household productivity overall. The document also explains that women's own health and nutritional status impacts the nutritional status of their children, but women may not have autonomy over timing and spacing of births. It highlights data showing that increasing women's education and empowerment can significantly reduce child malnutrition.

1. The importance of gender for
promoting food security and
nutrition
Dr. Mary Shawa
Keynote Speech

2. Gender, food security and nutrition
• Women are the primary caretakers in the home, tasked with
providing food and care for the family
• Women are highly involved in agriculture production, but have
less access to inputs and advice so are less productive
• Women’s gap in agricultural production decreases
productivity for the whole household
• Women’s own nutritional and health status impacts the
nutritional status of her children
• Timing and spacing of child births have impacts on the nutritional
status of her children, but women may not be empowered to
choose

3. Page 3
Women’s standing has a significant role to
play in child malnutrition globally
Women's
education
43%
National food
availability
26%
Health
environment
19%
Women's
status
12%
Contributions to reductions in child malnutrition, 1970-95
Source: Smith and Haddad 2000

4. Women at the Center of Ag-Nutrition
Linkages
Agricultural
productivity
Agricultural
labor
Child care
Women’s
health and
nutrition
Child’s
health and
nutrition
The critical role of women’s empowerment, time, health, & nutrition
Source: Sundberg, Birx and Ruel;
BMGF Learning Session; January 2014

5. Key Figures Highlighting Gender Challenges
for Improving Food Security and Nutrition
• Total fertility has decreased from 5.7 (2010) to 4.4 (2015/16),
however adolescent childbirth still prevalent
• 29% of adolescents age 15-19 in Malawi have begun childbearing (2015/16)
• Only 8 percent of children age 6-23 months have met the criteria for a
minimum acceptable diet, which is highly linked to women’s time
(2015/16)
• Women of reproductive age face micronutrient deficiencies,
impacting their future children’s nutritional status:
• One in three women (33%) is anaemic, 63% are deficient in zinc
Source: DHS 2015/16, MMS, NSO