Mainstreaming Gender for Enhanced COVID-19 Rural Livelihood Recovery in Zambia
Date
2022-06
Authors
Manda, Simon
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Economic Research Consortium
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the role and importance of women in driving
livelihood and resilience, particularly in agricultural settings. Pandemic-related
restrictions have affected agricultural livelihoods whilst exposing inequalities
across gender. Frequently cited statistics show, across sub-Saharan Africa, women
contribute 60–80% of labour, producing food for household consumption and for
sale. In Zambia, the agricultural sector is dominated by women, yet land and other
economic opportunities often marginalize women (Manda 2022). Women constitute
64% of the rural population and approximately 80% of food producers (GRZ 2010;
FAO, 2018). Living conditions reveal diverse gender based vulnerabilities (ZAMSTATS
2015). Without fittingly relevant policy interventions, COVID-19 is more likely to
worsen gender divides and inequalities in several key productive sectors such as
agriculture. Whereas sector-specific policies can help mitigate impacts of COVID-19,
little is known about the impacts of the pandemic across gender and how policies
play out.