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- Convenors:
-
Esther Tolorunju
(Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta)
Sarah Edewor (Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Nigeria)
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- Format:
- Paper panel
- Stream:
- Gender, work and wellbeing
- Location:
- 8W 2.8, 8West Building
- Sessions:
- Thursday 26 June, -, -, Friday 27 June, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Short Abstract
This panel explores how political priorities shape health disparities and food insecurity. It examines the politics of care, highlighting the unequal burdens on women and marginalized groups, and identifies transformative pathways to enhance equity and resilience in health and food systems.
Description
The escalating frequency and intensity of crises in the Global South—ranging from climate-induced disasters to economic and political instability—have profoundly disrupted health and food systems. These disruptions are not experienced equally; gendered social structures often place disproportionate burdens on women and marginalized groups, exacerbating existing inequalities. This panel examines the intersection of gender roles, political priorities, health disparities, and food insecurity and explores how crises amplify the vulnerabilities of those tasked with care work, a role predominantly shouldered by women.
Care work, both paid and unpaid, is central to the survival of families and communities during crises, yet it remains undervalued in policy frameworks. Simultaneously, political priorities in many Global South nations often focus on short-term crisis management rather than addressing the systemic inequities that underlie vulnerabilities. This discussion highlights how these dynamics affect health access, nutritional outcomes, and food system resilience, drawing attention to the interconnectedness of care, governance, and development.
The panel invites critical reflections on the politics of care as a pathway for systemic transformation. By centering the lived experiences of women and other marginalized caregivers, it explores strategies to integrate gender-sensitive policies into governance frameworks. Key questions include: How can care work be revalued in political and economic systems? What role can inclusive governance play in mitigating gendered health and food insecurities during crises? The panel welcomes papers that answer these questions and identify actionable pathways toward equitable, sustainable, and resilient health and food systems in the Global South.
Accepted papers
Session 1 Thursday 26 June, 2025, -Paper short abstract
Crises have led to widespread displacement and a significant deterioration in the health and food security of affected populations. Reliance on humanitarian aid was the most common coping strategy, reflecting the resilience of women caregivers despite constrained resources.
Paper long abstract
In Borno State, Nigeria, women predominantly shoulder caregiving responsibilities, a role that becomes increasingly burdensome during crises. The region has been severely affected by prolonged conflicts, notably the Boko Haram insurgency, leading to widespread displacement and instability. This paper examines the gendered dimensions of caregiving roles and their impacts on health and food security during crises in Borno State, Nigeria.
The framework of this study focused on understanding the roles of women as caregivers during crises and provided a basis for actionable interventions. The sampling frame consists of households representing varying levels of crisis impact. The sample size was 450 women caregivers. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, logistic regression model, and Pearson correlation model.
Findings revealed that 84.4% of respondents experienced food insecurity, with many skipping meals or reducing portions to cope; also, approximately 73.3% of women caregivers reported irregular or no access to healthcare services, and factors such as displacement, inadequate infrastructure, and cultural norms further constrained access.
Furthermore, the logistic result showed that women aged 30–49 had a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing food insecurity, and, women dedicating over 10 hours daily to caregiving were twice as likely to experience food insecurity, highlighting the trade-offs between caregiving and income-generating activities. Likewise, a strong negative correlation (-0.58, p < 0.01) was found between food insecurity and healthcare access. The study thereby recommends that awareness about nutrition, hygiene, and health-seeking behaviours, targeting women caregivers in IDP camps and host communities should be intensified.
Paper short abstract
This study examines intrahousehold dynamics in rural households in Southwest Nigeria, focusing on decision-making and gender roles. Findings reveal that men dominate decisions, with evolving farming roles due to outsourced labour, while women’s traditional responsibilities remain largely unchanged.
Paper long abstract
Understanding intrahousehold dynamics is crucial for the success of development interventions aimed at food security and economic empowerment. Many development projects fail due to limited insight into the intricate interactions within beneficiaries' households. Empowerment programmes often focus solely on women, neglecting the household context influencing intervention outcomes. This study examines the decision-making processes, resource allocation, and evolving gender roles within cassava-producing households in rural Southwest Nigeria using an explanatory mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data was collected from 550 households, complemented by in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.
Findings show that the husbands make final decisions on most matters, and the major reason pointed out by men and women when asked separately is that the men are the head of the household. Joint decision-making between husbands and wives closely followed, while the involvement of other household members is less common. The study highlights a notable shift in men’s traditional roles, with tasks like land clearing, preparation, and harvesting increasingly outsourced, providing men with more time for leisure and other economic activities. Meanwhile, women’s roles, such as cassava processing, product sales, and domestic responsibilities, remain unchanged.
These findings underscore the importance of involving men in women’s empowerment initiatives, as cultural and religious norms strongly reinforce the perception of men as household heads. Without this inclusive approach, many women would remain constrained by the need to seek male approval for full participation in development interventions. This study highlights the need for development interventions to account for intrahousehold dynamics to enhance their effectiveness and sustainability.
Paper short abstract
.Climate change threatens food security, and particularly affect women farmers who balance household care duties with agricultural work. This paper examines how sustainable agricultural practices adoption and care responsibilities impact Nigerian smallholder farmers' welfare through a gender lens.
Paper long abstract
The adverse impacts of climate change demonstrate significant heterogeneity across demographic groups, with empirical evidence indicating disproportionate effects on marginalized populations. Female farmers particularly exhibit vulnerability due to a dual constraint paradigm: substantial domestic care obligations coupled with restricted access to agricultural resources, technological innovations and information systems. A gender-responsive approach to sustainable agriculture ensures that the distinct needs and priorities of both men and women are recognized and addressed in CSA design and implementation, aiming for equitable benefits. This study examines how CSA adoption and care responsibilities influence smallholder farmers' welfare outcomes through a gender lens, contributing to existing literature in three ways: by analyzing gender-specific factors affecting CSA adoption in Nigeria, by investigating how care roles influence agricultural participation across genders, and evaluating CSA adoption's impact on household welfare, measured through food consumption scores and dietary diversity. Methodologically, the study employs secondary data analyzed using descriptive statistics, Multivariate Probit Regression (MVP), and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression models. Findings reveal suboptimal CSA adoption rates, with a notable gender disparity favouring male-headed households. While women's extensive care responsibilities constrain their agricultural participation, female-headed households that successfully adopted CSA practices demonstrated superior improvements in welfare outcomes. These results suggest that policy interventions should simultaneously address women's care burden while promoting CSA adoption, potentially yielding enhanced household welfare outcomes.
Paper short abstract
Gender role in a family has no effect on the food security status of the household, variables like level of education, farming experience and household annual income that positively affected food security should be given more attention, and ways of enhancing them should be encouraged.
Paper long abstract
Nigerian economy has hitherto remained agrarian since agriculture is the main source of food and the main employer of labour, employing about 60-70% of the population. It is a significant sector of the economy and also the source of a lot of raw materials used in the processing industries, as well as a source of foreign exchange earnings for the country. The study adopted multi-stage sampling technique. Firstly, three states was purposively selected from the Southwest States, The purposive selection was based on States with highest agricultural production. Secondly, three LGA were randomly selected in each of the State. Thirdly, 50 households farmers in each LGA were randomly selected giving a total of (450) respondents whose responses formed the data for the study. It was observed in this study that variables such as household size, farm size and age were the major factors that affected gender roles in a household. Since age negatively affected gender roles (the proportion of work done by women) in a household, it is recommended that farmers should engage in more productive activities at their younger ages to ensure increased efficiency and effectiveness of labour use . Variables such as farm size and household size positively affected gender roles which suggested that when a household has more farm holdings and farm sizes, it encourages more activities in the farm, hence increase in gender roles. However, responsibilities in households should be appropriately shared so as to accommodate the strengths and weaknesses of each gender in the household.
Paper short abstract
Governance and health investment play pivotal roles in mitigating the adverse effects of food crises on household welfare in Africa, with pronounced gendered dimensions. Thus, we will focus on how governance and public health expenditure intersect to shape household resilience during food crises.
Paper long abstract
Food crises in Sub-Saharan Africa exacerbate pre-existing inequalities, as women and girls bear a disproportionate share of the burden. This study will examine the intersection of governance quality, public health investment, and gendered household welfare outcomes during periods of food insecurity in the region. We will employ panel data from 44 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to uncover how governance effectiveness, quality, and health sector policies affect men and women differently, particularly in contexts of heightened vulnerability to food crises.
Accordingly, the study will highlight the gendered dimensions of food crises and explain women’s roles as primary caregivers and food providers make them particularly susceptible to the cascading effects of weak governance and underfunded health systems. Poor governance often aggravates the equitable distribution of health resources, disproportionately affecting women’s access to maternal health services, nutritional support, and economic opportunities. Conversely, countries with inclusive governance frameworks and gender-responsive health investments may show improved welfare outcomes for women, bolstering overall household resilience. Integrating gender equity into governance reforms and health sector strategies can be crucial to addressing the reoccurring food crises effectively. It calls for participatory policy processes that center women’s voices alongside targeted investments in maternal health, childcare support, and gender-based safety nets. These measures mitigate the immediate impacts of food crises on women and girls and contribute to long-term household and community resilience. By focusing on gender differentials in the effect of the governance-health nexus, this study offers a pathway for enhancing inclusive and sustainable development in SSA amidst recurrent crises.
Paper short abstract
This study explores Pahadi women’s adaptive responses to climate change, highlighting the intersection of gender, social structures, and challenges. It reveals how their traditional knowledge and lived experiences inform inclusive, rights-based approaches to equitable climate adaptation strategies.
Paper long abstract
This paper examines the complex interplay between climate change and gender dynamics in Uttarakhand, focusing on the lived experiences of Pahadi women. By integrating qualitative methodologies and first-hand narratives, the research highlights how socio-cultural norms and entrenched inequalities amplify the challenges these women face amid environmental shifts. Pre-existing patriarchal and caste-based structures further marginalize them, restricting access to resources and decision-making power.
Despite these barriers, the study reveals the resilience and adaptive strategies of Pahadi women, who draw on traditional ecological knowledge to navigate changing environmental conditions. However, their efforts remain undervalued and unsupported, pointing to a critical gap in representation within political and policy frameworks.
The research’s novelty lies in its intersectional lens, bringing attention to the unique vulnerabilities and contributions of women in mountainous regions. By shedding light on their indigenous knowledge, the paper argues for transformative, gender-sensitive governance approaches. It emphasizes the urgency of crafting inclusive policies that recognize women’s roles as primary caregivers and stewards of local ecosystems, ensuring their voices inform and shape climate adaptation strategies.
This study contributes to the broader discourse on the politics of care by underscoring the importance of a rights-based eco-social contract. It calls for policies that integrate women’s knowledge and experiences, fostering equitable and sustainable solutions to climate-induced crises. Ultimately, the research makes a compelling case for revaluing care work and dismantling structural inequalities to build resilient health and food systems in the Global South.
Paper short abstract
Conflict may promote the food insecurity status of households through its negative impact on food price shocks. The burden of economic shocks particularly conflict-induced food price spikes falls heavily on already vulnerable populations who spend over 70% of their income on food.
Paper long abstract
Using general household panel data, monthly retailed commodity prices, and violent conflict data from 2010 to 2019, this study examines the linkages between conflict, food price shocks, and food security outcomes of households in Nigeria. Per capita daily calorie intake, household dietary diversity, and per capita monthly food consumption were the three food security outcomes used for this study. Fixed effects panel regression model was used to analyze the data. Dietary diversity appeared higher in the first wave than in the other three. The dietary diversity measure for the post-harvests was slightly higher than the post-plantings. The high dietary diversity associated with the post-harvest periods is partly related to the relatively higher net value of foods consumed during the same season. This is because the amount of food calories consumed during the post-harvest periods is relatively lower than that consumed during the post-planting periods. Regardless of the conflict level in Nigeria, an increase in conflict-induced price shock of wheat, and rice is associated with a decline in calorie intake, dietary diversity, and the actual food value consumed. The conflict-induced price shocks of other cereals negatively influence the actual food value consumed, and dietary diversity. It is concluded that violent conflict influences some aspects of food insecurity, through adjustment in diets in response to price increases. Therefore, policy issues aimed at improving the food security outcomes of households in the face of conflict-induced price shocks should focus on price schemes that will stabilize prices placing a price floor on food commodities.
Paper short abstract
Crises intensify vulnerabilities, especially for incarcerated women in Nigeria, whose health and food security needs are overlooked. Using the ethics of care, this study examines systemic neglect through qualitative methods, highlighting gaps in healthcare, nutrition, and policies.
Paper long abstract
Crises often expose and intensify the vulnerabilities of marginalized groups, particularly incarcerated women in Nigeria, whose unique challenges remain largely overlooked. This study investigates the gendered health and food security dimensions in Nigerian prisons, applying the ethics of care framework to reveal systemic neglect and inform crisis management policies. While research has extensively explored displaced populations, the lived experiences of incarcerated women during crises, such as pandemics or socio-political unrest, have received minimal attention. This study addresses this gap by examining the systemic inequities impacting their well-being. It uses qualitative methods that include critical literature reviews, interviews with former inmates, prison officials, and NGOs, alongside policy and report analyses. Preliminary findings highlight critical issues, including inadequate access to reproductive and general healthcare, insufficient nutritional provisions, and exacerbated psychological stress. These challenges are compounded by entrenched patriarchal norms and policy inadequacies, further marginalizing incarcerated women. The study advocates for comprehensive reforms to integrate care ethics into prison policies, emphasizing gender-sensitive health and nutrition programs. It underscores the need for collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations to create sustainable interventions. This research emphasizes the valuable experiences of incarcerated women, enriching the discourse on the politics of care by addressing the impacts of gendered crises. It provides constructive insights to foster equity and justice within Nigeria's prison systems. By prioritizing the voices of marginalized individuals, it advocates for more effective policy and humanitarian responses, particularly in the Global South.
Keywords: Care ethics, Crisis, Food security, Gendered health, Nigerian Prisons.