Key findings from the OECD West African Papers study on "Integrating gender analysis into food & nutrition security early warning systems in West Africa", presented by Analee Pepper.

1. Integrating Gender Analysis into Food &
Nutrition Security EarlyWarning Systems in
West Africa
OECDWest Africa Policy Paper Series
RPCA Session – Brussels
Authored by Analee Pepper (Bettine Pepper consulting)

2. Context
 Despite a growing body of evidence showing the close
correlation between gender inequality and food insecurity, the
Cadre Harmonisé does not provide guidance on gender
analysis or on the data required to conduct such analysis.
 While stakeholders have made efforts to develop frameworks,
tools and accountability systems to promote gender-responsive
EWS in the region, progress has been slow.
 This paper therefore provides timely policy directions to
enhance stakeholders’ efforts towards strengthening the
gender-responsiveness of EWS in the Sahel andWest Africa.
 This paper provides an overview of gender-responsive FNS EWS
developed by PREGEC stakeholders in West Africa and identifies
the numerous innovative initiatives launched by key.
Rationale
for study

3. • Gender roles are key determinants in how individuals and their
households experience and cope with food and nutrition insecurity
• A gender-responsive FNS EWS supports evidence-based planning
tailored to different needs and capacities within an affected population
and ensures better targeting to reach the most vulnerable.
• Gender-blind monitoring leads to inefficient targeting and
programme design and risks exacerbating pre-existing gender
disparities.
• Growing body of literature on importance of gender in FNS EWS show
the high-value impact of tracking gender-specific challenges, needs,
capacities and vulnerabilities, and providing information on specific
knowledge systems.
Gender
Analysis for
FNS EWS

4. Context
 Desk review
 Key informant interviews with key PREGEC stakeholders and
technical experts working inWest Africa
 Review of key tools, institutional documents and their
application
Approach

5. Key Messages on Identified Challenges
• Limited understanding of the importance of gender dimensions of
FNS and benefits of adopting gender-responsive FNS EWS.
• This may also be influencing a lack of interest where the criticality of
gender analysis to FNS is not well gauged.
• Financial and human resource limitations contributing to lack
of gender expertise in many institutions—including in those
equipped with gender policies and capacity support frameworks and
tools—and implies a lack of commitment and leadership to
invest in this area.
• Where certain PREGEC stakeholders do collect SADD and report on
gender indicators, these data are not considered in the PREGEC
cycle and CH to fill SADD and gender indicator gaps in EWS.

6. Key messages for CH 2.0
 Comprehensive guidance on gender analysis in FNS
EWS in the CH does not exist.
 The CH 2.0 offers a promising opportunity for outlining
gender analytical framework, tools and training for the PREGEC.
 Going forward, gender analysis must be integrated
throughout the CH manual and not after the core substance of
the manual has been developed.
 Gender-balanced community engagement is a key
component of this process

7. Vision Forward
Opportunities for High Impact Change

8. 1.Strengthen capacity
ongenderanalysis
 Limited awareness among stakeholders of the importance of
gender to food and nutrition security vulnerability
 Capacity strengthening and training are required for technical
staff and leadership
 Establish practical understanding of the ways in which gender
impacts the food and nutrition security of an individual and their
household.
 Establish clear agreement on coordinated pathway to integrate a
gender-responsive monitoring framework into the PREGEC.
 Engage gender analysis technical specialists

9. 2. Poolresourcesand
mainstream gender
analysis throughthe
PREGEC
 The PREGEC originated from a spirit of pooling resources and
information to strengthen partner and government monitoring of
food and nutrition security in vulnerable communities.
 Some stakeholders have already developed strong gender
analytical tools in other areas, but these resources are yet to be
adopted in a coordinated way within the RPCA.
 Pooling resources will allow RPCA members to capitalise on one
another’s efforts, and use these to inform the update to the CH.
 CH should guide this process going forward
 CH 2.0 should subsequently include guidance on gender analysis
and SADD to help ensure standard gender-responsive EWS.
 Avoid “dumping”

10. 3.Ensure policy
cohesionand
accountability
 Most PREGEC stakeholders have a gender policy providing them
with a framework for achieving goals associated with the SDG5 -
Achieve gender equality
 Gender policies largely cover gender analysis, but do not go
beyond general frameworks, and do not discuss EWS.
 Policy accountability as well as cohesion with food and nutrition
monitoring frameworks is essential to ensure continuous
improvements to the gender-responsiveness of EWS.

11. 4. Engage with a
gender-balanced
communityforEWS
 When certain groups are marginalised from participating in FNS EWS
planning and implementation, these systems are likely to fail to
protect them.
 When women and girls are not included in community consultations
and outreach, opportunities to incorporate their needs and
experiences are limited.
 Engaging women, men and youth equally in the formulation and
implementation of EWS is critical to designing inclusive and adapted
emergency prevention and response systems.
 Inclusive community engagement supports more informed and
holistic crisis mitigation and response planning.
 Gender balance in participation and consultation should be a
requirement within institutions when engaging with communities on
EWS.
 Failing to do so risks putting those excluded from the process at
greater risk because their preferences and needs are not considered
and they are not equally informed about how to react at the onset of
a crisis.

12. In conclusion…
• Strong commitment from stakeholders is
required, financially and through policy
cohesion
• Inclusion of women in planning and
implementation of FNS EWS will improve
monitoring and prevention
• CH was launched to respond to identified
limitations in various FNS EWS tools.The
second version should do the same.
• Gender analysis and SADD in EWS are critical
to FNS and achievement of gender equality.
• Gaps exist, but improvements are visible and
underway.
• Improvement will impose challenges, but
they will be balanced by value of better
monitoring.

13. Context
 Considering the status of the CH 2.0, how was gender analysis
integrated? How can we improve that process at this stage?
What can be drawn from this survey of current practices to
inform that process?
 How do we ensure that gender considerations and inclusive
community engagement are systematized and that teams and
stakeholders are accountable?
 Which of the opportunities for high impact change are most
feasible? In short-term as well as long-term?
Discussion
questions

14. Thank you.
AnaleePepper
1April2019–RPCA,Brussels