The LINKAGES project, with the support of Global Affairs Canada, worked in Bolivia, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Mali to improve women’s empowerment, food security, and connections to markets for 37,000 direct participants.
According to the LINKAGES evaluation, "The initial apathy to restrict gender issues to the women’s affairs sector has been changed … women issues [are] the shared task of every sector office."
What did we accomplish?
- More, better food: In Ethiopia, dietary diversity doubled. In Mali, the number of families with an acceptable diet went up by 40%. In Ghana, women and girls got 17 more servings of protein a week with soy and cowpeas, and there was a 34% increase in fruit consumption.
- Shorter hungry season: In Ethiopia, the hungry season went from 8 months a year to 3.7—even in the worst drought in more than 35 years. In Mali, communities built local grain banks to store and distribute 207 tons of food in the lean season to families who faced hunger.
- Healthier kids: In Mali, the chronic malnutrition rate fell 40%--or 7 percentage points per year.
- More empowered women: In Ghana, the number of women with equal household decision-making doubled.
- More secure families: In Ethiopia, families were able to increase income by 80% a year. For a family in Ethiopia, that’s $91 per year, but for an American family, that would mean $53,657. 66% of families in the program were able to graduate off food assistance.
- Supportive governments: In Bolivia, local governments passed 4 new laws supporting local innovation and regulations to support women in business. All 4 countries saw governments adopt gender-sensitive policies and trainings.
How did we get there?
- Support women’s participation: In Mali, the project went from zero women involved in local planning processes to 65% of women participating in community decision-making.
- Train business associations: In Bolivia, the project supported 20 rural producers’ groups to develop new business plans.
- Focus on integrated programs: All four countries used the FFBS model, which links conservation agriculture techniques, access to inputs, nutrition education, marketing, and gender equality training.
- Support access to inputs: In Mali, women said getting help to access agricultural equipment was most valuable. In Ethiopia, the project delivered 2,113 kg of seeds to women so they could use improved varieties. In Ethiopia, for every $1 of in-kind support farmers got, they saw a $3.27 return.
- Work with governments: In all four countries, partnerships with government structures improved the scope and sustainability of the project.
Want to learn more?
Check out the final evaluation.