Journal Article

Mainstreaming a gender perspective into food system policies for healthy diets in low- and middle-income countries: a policy landscape analysis

Borazon, Elaine Q., Alokpaï, Nestor, Thow, Anne Marie, Perera, Samali, Venance, Mario Sibamenya, Reeve, Erica, Harris, Jody

2025

Overview

Globally, gender inequalities and inequities persist in the food system, with women lacking access to productive resources and decision-making roles. Policy can help address these issues, but the extent of gender consideration in policy in low- and middle-income countries remains unclear. The study aimed to document how governments are addressing gender issues in food systems for healthy diets and suggest ways to enhance gender responsiveness of policy with specific reference to fruit and vegetables. We used the Food Systems Framework and a gender and food systems analytical framework to analyze food systems policy documents relating to fruits and vegetables in Benin, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Data were synthesized in a matrix to identify strengths and gaps in current policies to support vegetable production, distribution and consumption as part of healthy diets. Although there was some diversity in approaches to gender in the policies in study countries, there were common findings across countries including the underrepresentation of women in policy-making processes, and limited integration of gender issues in food system policy that limits their influence on healthy diets. Very few policy documents explicitly draw on sex-disaggregated data despite its role in evidence-based policymaking. Gender issues are noted in the food system policies of the study countries but not effectively acted upon: Women still face systemic discrimination in food systems. This gap highlights a key area for enhancing policy design and execution. Sex-disaggregated data are critical for evidence-based food system policymaking; however, very few of the policy documents examined in the study countries.

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd,Taylor & Francis,Taylor & Francis Group
• Subject: Academic achievement / Agriculture / Benin / Climate change / Consumption / Conventions / Crop production / Decision Making, Organizational / Developing Countries / Diet / Diet, Healthy / Discrimination / Education / Empowerment / Female / Food / Food consumption / Food security / Food systems / Fruit / Fruits / fruits and vegetables / gender / Gender differences / Gender Equity / Gender inequality / Global health / Government / Health care / Health disparities / Health education / Health services / healthy diets / Healthy food / Humans / Hunger / Inequality / LDCs / low and middle-income countries / Low income groups / Mainstreaming / Male / Nutrition / Nutrition Policy / Philippines / Policy Making / Poverty / Poverty reduction / Sri Lanka / Tanzania / Vegetables / Women