Presentation by Zahidul Hassan (DATA-Bangladesh) at "A Learning Event for the Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index," held November 21, 2013 in Washington DC.

1. A Learning Event on the
Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI)
Women’s labor time allocations
BY
Zahidul Hassan
Data Analysis and Technical Assistance
Washington DC, USA
November 21, 2013
1

2. SYSTEMATIC
I. PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY AND TIME USE
II. TRAINING, PREREQUISITES
III. ADMINISTERING TIME USE MODULE
IV. QUESTIONNAIRE FORMAT: COMPLETE TIME USE
V. FINAL COMMENTS
2

3. I. PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY AND TIME USE
 The purpose of this survey was to test an index that measures the inclusion of women
in agricultural sector growth. Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index assesses
the empowerment of women across five domains of agriculture, and Time Use is one
the five domains .
 The survey collects information on five domains of empowerment:





Women’s role in household decision-making around agricultural production;
Women’s access to productive capital, such as loans or land (outside household);
How discretionary income is spent;
Women’s access to leadership roles within the community; and
Women’s labor (leisure) time allocations.
 Time allocation : It is important to collect time use data to help us understand how
much time women spend in agriculture, in other livelihood activities, in domestic
tasks, and whether they have enough time to take care of themselves and their
families. The purpose of this module is to get an idea about men’s and women’s time
spent in both work and leisure activities and their satisfaction with their time use.
3

4. II. TRAINING, PREREQUISITES
 How people tell what time it is?
 Referring to certain events of the day
 sun rise and sun set time, call for prayer, school bell, etc OR
 Referring to clock time
 6:30 in the morning, 11:00 around noon, 3:15 in the afternoon, etc
 Bangladesh, 10 years back and now
 10 years back, people used to refer time mostly by events
 Now as most household (one in each two) has mobile phone, they know “what
time it is” when there is: call for prayer, sun rises or sets, school bell
 How people tell about the length of time or activity?
 Time length for an activity people refers mostly: by minutes or by hour, like:
5 minutes, 15 minutes, half an hour or an hour etc. For long hours it may be like:
from 7:00 to call for prayer at noon.
4

5. II. TRAINING, PREREQUISITES, CONTINUES….
 Number of activities mentioned in the module: 24, there are 24 hours in a day also
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Activity↓
Sleeping and resting
Eating and drinking
Personal care
School (also homework)
Work as employed
Own business work
Farming
Construction
Fishing
Shopping/getting service
Weaving, sewing, textile care
Cooking
Domestic work
Care for children/adults/elderly
Commuting
Travelling
Watching TV/listening to radio
Reading
Sitting with family
Exercising
Social activities
Practicing hobbies
Religious activities
Other, specify…
Grouping
ABCD: Start the Day
4 non-economic activities/
investment; immidiate & long term
From "E": it's 5 economic-activity
1 paid services
K: 1 more economic work
LMN:
Household task
management
On the road, or
Pass through.....
12 noneconomic
activities
From "Q" it's
Quality time
starts
X is for "X" work: economic OR
non-economic
5

6. III. ADMINISTERING TIME USE
 Time allocation module is at the end of the individual level questionnaire. Before
administering it, we complete the HH level questionnaire.
 Then, if both male and female respondent are around
 do individual level questionnaire simultaneously (no overhearing and hence influence
of responses
 Since HH level questionnaire is done, we already know from employment who is doing
what. we start with the first question like: Yesterday, when did you wake up in the
morning?
 Answer could be by clock like 6:30 in the morning or 7:00 in the morning,
 Or by event, like right after prayer call (predawn Ajan at 5:30 am). So, put a dot at the
box of 5:45-6:00 in the morning.
Night
If simultaneous:
Primary
1
Secondary 2
A
B
C
D
Activity↓
Sleeping and resting
Eating and drinking
Personal care
School (also homework)
4
Morning
5
6
7
•
6

7. III. ADMINISTERING TIME USE, CONTINUES…
 Second question is: When did you then went to sleep at last night?
 The answer may be, half an hour later the news at ten in evening. (There hourly news in
radio and in TV). Then put another dot in the box of 22:30 – 22:45
Night
If simultaneous:
Primary 1
Secondary 2
A
1
B
1
C
1
D
Activity ↓
22
Sleeping and resting
Eating and drinking
Personal care
School (also homework)
23
24
1
2
3
•
 Then what we do, we draw a line from 22:30 in the evening to 6:00 in morning in the
row sleeping and resting.
Night
If simultaneous:
Primary 1
Secondary 2
A
B
C
D
Activity↓
Sleeping and resting
Eating and drinking
Personal care
School (also homework)
22
23
•
Night
24
1
2
3
4
Morning
5
6
7
•
 It means these whole hours the respondent was sleeping. Sleeping and resting time is
7
determined.

8. III. ADMINISTERING TIME USE, CONTINUES…
 Interview continues with question like: What did you do after you wake up in the
morning? It’s kind of asking the respondent about how s/he spent the day.
 I spent about 45 minutes with using toilet/bathroom, cleaning myself, washing face,
including prayer. Then we ask, what did you do then? The respondent said I took my
breakfast, it took about half an hour and then started for doing some work.
Night
If simultaneous:
Primary
1
Secondary 2
A
1
B
1
C
1
D
W
X
2
Activity↓
Sleeping and resting
Eating and drinking
Personal care
School (also homework)
Religious activities
Other, specify…
4
Morning
5
6
7
 We draw a line through 3 boxes for 45 minuets starting from 6:00 am in personal care
row and for 15 minutes in religious activities and declared the religious activities as a
secondary activity as it overlaps with personal care in some columns and focus was
mainly personal care. Draw another line for half an hour that takes two boxes, for
8
breakfast, as each box represents 15 minutes time .

9. III. ADMINISTERING TIME USE, CONTINUES…
 Continued with questions like: How long it took to reach to your work place, and
how long you worked? He answered, it took about 15 minutes reach my work place as
it really close to my residence and then I started work. I worked a little less than 6
hours in my farm.
Night
If simultaneous:
Primary 1
Secondary 2
A
1
B
1
C
1
D
G
1
O
1
S
1
U
1
W
2
X
Activity↓
Sleeping and resting
Eating and drinking
Personal care
School (also homework)
Farming
Commuting
Sitting with family
Social activities
Religious activities
Other, specify…
4
Morning
5
6
Day
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
 A straight line for farming hours, 23 boxes starting from 7:45 am. continue with: what
did you do then? Came back: commuting time; personal care; offered noon prayer. Ate
with the family for an hour, after eating chat with family for half an hour..
9

10. III. ADMINISTERING TIME USE, CONTINUES…
 Continued with: Whether he got back to work again, if not we asked how s/he
spent rest of the day? He said: did some social activities, that includes went to a
nearby area, had chat with neighbors, discussed many topics, general to work related.
Ask for other prayers/religious work for that day. Ask whether listen to radio or
watched TV, and dinner time.
Day
If simultaneous:
Night
Primary 1
Secondary 2
A
1
B
1
C
1
D
G
1
O
1
S
1
U
1
W
2
X
Activity ↓
Sleeping and resting
Eating and drinking
Personal care
School (also homework)
Farming
Commuting
Sitting with family
Social activities
Religious activities
Other, specify…
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
 It was more of a listening to the respondent about how his/her day was how he spent
time. And at the end we prompt for all the listed activities, if s/he missed anything.
10

11. III. ADMINISTERING TIME USE, CONTINUES…
MODULE F (Dimension 5): Time allocation, CONTINUED
QNo.
Question
F02
F03
F04
Response
Was yesterday a holiday or nonworking day?
Response options/Instructions
Yes.........................................................................1
No .........................................................................2
Less than average ................................................1
Average .................................................................2
More than average ................................................3
2
Regarding the amount of sleep you got last night, was that [READ RESPONSES]::
2
READ: I am going to ask you a series of questions and I want you to tell me how would you rate your satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means you are not satisfied and 10 means you are
very satisfied. If you are neither satisfied or dissatisfied this would be in the middle or 5 on the scale.
How would you rate your satisfaction with:
F04A
The distribution of work duties within your household?
9
F04B
Your available time for leisure activities like visiting neighbors, watching TV, listening
to radio, seeing movies or doing sports?
8
F04C
Your contacts with friends or relatives?
8
F04D
Your possibilities of going to other places outside your village?
5
F04E
Your power to make important decisions that change the course of your life?
6
F04F
Your satisfaction with your life overall?
8
During the last four weeks, how many days of your primary daily activities did you
miss because of poor health?
Were the last four weeks typical or average?
0
Were you unable to complete normal activities in the last 24 hours?
2
Worse than average .............................................1
Average .................................................................2
Better than average ..............................................3
Yes.........................................................................1
No .........................................................................2
Do you suffer from a chronic disability?
2
Yes.........................................................................1
No .........................................................................2 >> F10
F05
F06
F07
F08
Please mark on a scale from 1 – 10
Not satisfied  ....................................1
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied  .....5
Very satisfied  ..................................10
Enter number of days [1-28]
2
If yes, what kind?
F09
[ALLOW UP TO 3 RESPONSES]
F09_a
F09_b
F09_c
Deaf or hearing disability .......................................1
Mobility or missing limbs........................................2
Speech or language disability................................3
Learning or mental impairment..............................4
Blind or visual disability .........................................5
Chronic health or disease......................................6
Psychological or emotional ...................................7
Other, specify.........................................................8
ENUMERATOR: If male, stop and proceed to next Module; If female, continue with F10.
F10
Are you currently pregnant?
Yes.........................................................................1
No .........................................................................2
F11
Are you currently breastfeeding?
Yes.........................................................................1
No .........................................................................2
11

12. IV. COMPLETE PICTURE: TIME USE, PAGE I
Night
If simultaneous:
Primary 1
Secondary 2
A
1
B
1
C
1
D
E
F
G
1
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
1
P
Q
R
S
1
T
U
V
W
X
2
Activity↓
Sleeping and resting
Eating and drinking
Personal care
School (also homework)
Work as employed
Own business work
Farming
Construction
Fishing
Shopping/getting service
Weaving, sewing, textile care
Cooking
Domestic work
Care for children/adults/elderly
Commuting
Travelling
Watching TV/listening to radio
Reading
Sitting with family
Exercising
Social activities
Practicing hobbies
Religious activities
Other, specify…
4
Morning
5
6
Day
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
12

13. IV. COMPLETE PICTURE: TIME USE, PAGE II
Day
If simultaneous:
Night
Primary 1
Secondary 2
A
1
B
1
C
1
D
E
F
G
1
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
1
P
Q
R
S
1
T
U
V
W
X
2
Activity ↓
Sleeping and resting
Eating and drinking
Personal care
School (also homework)
Work as employed
Own business work
Farming
Construction
Fishing
Shopping/getting service
Weaving, sewing, textile care
Cooking
Domestic work
Care for children/adults/elderly
Commuting
Travelling
Watching TV/listening to radio
Reading
Sitting with family
Exercising
Social activities
Practicing hobbies
Religious activities
Other, specify…
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
13

14. IV. COMPLETE PICTURE: TIME USE, PAGE III
MODULE F (Dimension 5): Time allocation, CONTINUED
QNo.
Question
F02
F03
F04
Response
Was yesterday a holiday or nonworking day?
Response options/Instructions
Yes.........................................................................1
No .........................................................................2
Less than average ................................................1
Average .................................................................2
More than average ................................................3
2
Regarding the amount of sleep you got last night, was that [READ RESPONSES]::
2
READ: I am going to ask you a series of questions and I want you to tell me how would you rate your satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means you are not satisfied and 10 means you are
very satisfied. If you are neither satisfied or dissatisfied this would be in the middle or 5 on the scale.
How would you rate your satisfaction with:
F04A
The distribution of work duties within your household?
9
F04B
Your available time for leisure activities like visiting neighbors, watching TV, listening
to radio, seeing movies or doing sports?
8
F04C
Your contacts with friends or relatives?
8
F04D
Your possibilities of going to other places outside your village?
5
F04E
Your power to make important decisions that change the course of your life?
6
F04F
Your satisfaction with your life overall?
8
During the last four weeks, how many days of your primary daily activities did you
miss because of poor health?
Were the last four weeks typical or average?
0
Were you unable to complete normal activities in the last 24 hours?
2
Worse than average .............................................1
Average .................................................................2
Better than average ..............................................3
Yes.........................................................................1
No .........................................................................2
Do you suffer from a chronic disability?
2
Yes.........................................................................1
No .........................................................................2 >> F10
F05
F06
F07
F08
Please mark on a scale from 1 – 10
Not satisfied  ....................................1
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied  .....5
Very satisfied  ..................................10
Enter number of days [1-28]
2
If yes, what kind?
F09
[ALLOW UP TO 3 RESPONSES]
F09_a
F09_b
F09_c
Deaf or hearing disability .......................................1
Mobility or missing limbs........................................2
Speech or language disability................................3
Learning or mental impairment..............................4
Blind or visual disability .........................................5
Chronic health or disease......................................6
Psychological or emotional ...................................7
Other, specify.........................................................8
ENUMERATOR: If male, stop and proceed to next Module; If female, continue with F10.
F10
Are you currently pregnant?
Yes.........................................................................1
No .........................................................................2
F11
Are you currently breastfeeding?
Yes.........................................................................1
No .........................................................................2
14

15. V. FINAL COMMENTS: COMMON QUESTIONS
 What if the respondent does not know what time the activity began or ended?
 This question come if the enumerator try to go by the task listed in the module.
 Enumerator need to fix the time when s/he woke up and time s/he went to bed and
then ask the respondent to narrate how s/he spent the day.
 What if a respondent is doing more than 1 activity in any given time period?
 If any activity overlaps with other activity, need to know which activity was
respondent’s main focus: for an example, cooking/breast feeding; personal
care/listening to radio; watching TV/eating, etc
 What if there are gaps (time periods with no activities) within a 24-hour period?
 And at the end we prompt for all the listed activities, if s/he missed anything.
 If nothing is missed, we check for the shortest and longest activity and reconfirm with
respondent about the gap.
15

16. V. FINAL COMMENTS: COMMON QUESTIONS
 Seasonality/ how to factor in the specific day of week, etc
 First we can go back day before yesterday, if the samples size is big enough, yesterday
is okay.
 What if survey will be done by computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI)? Any
specific recommendations?
 Difficulty would be to program time use module as it requires line drawing and the
line has to be transferred in digital data; can be solved
16

17. V. FINAL COMMENTS: ON IMPLEMENTING TIME USE
 Implementing this time allocation/use module was more of a listening to
the respondent and drawing line accordingly.
 In data entry, we put 1 for each boxes that the line crossed through.
The blank boxes, means that has no line, are set to blank.
 The main trick is, since we already did the household level questionnaire
we know that what are the major economic activities of the
respondent.
 We just need to ensure time for the major economic activity s/he did
yesterday and confirm all other activities during the day.
17

18. 18