Women's participation in and benefit from Rift Valley fever livestock vaccine value chain; current situation and barriers in Nyagatare District, Rwanda

Abstract

Livestock vaccine value chains present opportunities for women's empowerment and income generation. To effectively position women to embrace these opportunities, understanding their current position and the factors that determine their involvement is crucial. This study mapped the actors, governance framework, and women's and men's positions along the value chain. It also analyzed gendered barriers to their participation and benefiting from services, processes, and products from the livestock Rift Valley fever vaccine value chain for livestock in Nyagatare District, Rwanda. Data was collected through 10 focus group discussions, 33 key informant interviews, and 1 stakeholder engagement meeting, while analysis was conducted thematically. Our results show that women's participation as importers, distributors, deliverers, or end-users was low to non-existent. Local gender norms curtailed women's participation and benefit at all nodes through restricted mobility, limited decision-making power, and restricted access to and control over resources. Additional barriers for stakeholders at the end-user node included a lack of knowledge about RVF vaccination in goats and how to demand or access the vaccine. This study recommends challenging persistent and limiting cultural norms through behavioral change communication by engaging men and boys as key actors for gender equality, engendering national and local planning and evaluation frameworks, and accelerating gender transformation in the private sector.