Advocating for gender equitable nutrition policies through community gender dialogues

Gender inequalities between men and women in decision making towards food affect nutrition status of families. Most of women have limited access to or control over some things within their households.  However, community gender dialogues should be taken as special learning sessions for communities as a way for promoting gender equitable nutrition policies and programs

Realizing that gender inequalities limit women and children attainment of good health and nutrition; SANI has integrated gender in all of its nutrition programs in order to assist communities to understand the concept.

On May 23 PACHI oriented community volunteers on gender sensitive practices as a way of strengthening governance and accountability of gender equitable nutrition policies and programs for mothers, pregnant women, and children under five. With this orientation, volunteers will be able to facilitate gender dialogues sessions as they interact with household members particularly of Traditional Authority Kalumo and Kasakula in Ntchisi.

We cannot end malnutrition and have nutrition improved if we don’t engage men and all household including community in better understanding of nutrition and hygiene practices.  It is important to involve men to better understand nutrition practices thereby having shared responsibilities which will help men and women partnership in order to impact on nutrition outcome.

During the orientation, participants divided into two groups according to gender (men and women) as seen in the two pictures below where they were piling and sorting issues which women and men have access to and control over within the household such as food production and preparation, care of children, land ownership, employment, hygiene and sanitation, nursing patients, field and gardening work, participation in community groups, finances and education.

group group2
Group discussions in progress

Resources and household asserts ought to be accessed and controlled by both men and women” Said Sikenala Malenda, Lead farmer.

Angela M’bawa, project facilitator stressed the need to introduce gender concept in communities so that people understand and create opportunities for gender equality. Majority of people in our communities especially men took household chores as women business, therefore, Introduction of gender dialogue session within the communities will help to advocate for community gender equity in relation to access and control over on health care and nutrition resources focusing on relieving women workload” She said.

PACHI is implementing the Southern Africa Nutrition Initiative project in Ntchisi and Dowa with support from the Canadian government through Care Malawi.