Using Quantitative Tools to Measure Gender Differences within Value Chains

Introduction A value chain is a linked set of activities that take a product from conception through production, delivery, and finally disposal (see Figure 14.1a). While some value chains are simple and straightforward, others can be complex. Many different economic agents can be directly involved in each step of the chain; in addition, inputs used during one stage of production might reenter the chain at another stage if their residual value is recyclable. Figure 14.1b provides an example of a more complex value chain with more than one final product stemming from the initial inputs, each following a parallel process. Multiple barriers affect people’s ability to participate in and benefit from value chains; these include a lack of access to capital and markets. Detailed study of value chains can address these barriers by identifying critical issues and bottlenecks that limit opportunities for specific populations. One such population is women. Female workers make up a considerable proportion of the agricultural workforce worldwide, but significant gender inequalities remain when it comes to access to assets, land, labor, credit, and infrastructure (see Deere and Leon 2003 for Latin American countries; Doss 2006, and Quisumbing, Estudillo, and Otsuka 2004 for Africa south of the Sahara). Research has shown evidence of gender discrimination in wages and employment conditions in rural markets, suggesting that women could benefit from labor-market interventions (Maertens and Swinnen 2012). Further identifying such gender imbalances is the first step in improving the design of policies and interventions that will lead to greater gender equality and productivity (both labor and agricultural) in developing countries, as well as to reduced poverty and hunger. Using quantitative tools to study gender-related questions is essential for increasing gender inclusion and promoting economic growth in developing countries. In this chapter, we look at how to use such tools to examine gender in value chains. The proposed tools (available via CRP-PIM 2015) are based on widely known methods and have a straightforward empirical Chapter 14