Gender Issues in Agricultural Market Liberalisation

INTRODUCTION

This topic paper presents a gender-aware economic analysis of processes of agricultural market liberalisation, in the context of wider structural adjustment and economic reform programmes. The aim of the paper is to highlight ways in which gender analysis can illuminate constraints to processes of agricultural market liberalisation and to contribute to the design of more equitable and effective policies in future interventions. In the first instance, the paper is intended for use in policy dialogue between women (or gender) in development experts and advisers on economic reform and related issues, within the European Commission. More broadly, it is hoped that the paper will contribute towards the design of more gender-aware adjustment policies.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Until recently, economic analysis of agricultural markets and marketing paid limited attention to gender issues, focusing mainly on price analysis and market integration. Current concern with the institutional infrastructure to support market reform and development is creating greater awareness of and interest in the social and political factors underlying marketing organisation, including gender relations. Gender-aware economic analysis, at macro-, meso- and micro-levels, is a valuable tool to identify ways in which women and men are differentially affected by processes of economic change and also ways in which gender biases in institutions, including agricultural marketing systems, affect the implementation and outcomes of reform policies.

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