| Sumario: | Zambia’s agenda for climate resilience and agricultural transformation continues to place a strong emphasis on
gender equality. In agricultural production, processing, and marketing as men and women have different but
related tasks. Over half of the country’s food supply is produced by women, who make up between 60% and 70%
of the agricultural workforce (GRZ, 2023; White et al, 2015). Despite this, institutional impediments to land, credit,
technology, and decision-making spaces continue to undervalue their contributions (GRZ, 2014; PMRC, 2017).
To close these disparities, the Building Equitable Climate Resilient African Bean and Insect Sectors (BRAINS)
project incorporates gender-transformative strategies across the bean, fruit-tree, and insect-for-food-and-feed
value chains. These three value chains offer strategic opportunities to support nutrition, income diversification,
and climate resilience for vulnerable and marginalised groups, particularly women, youth, and persons living with
disabilities (PLWD).
Findings from the BRAINS Qualitative Baseline Survey indicate that women are more engaged in bean
planting, weeding, and small-scale marketing. At the same time, men dominate access to inputs, bulk sales, and
mechanisation. In the fruit value chain, women are active in sorting and small-scale trading, whereas men manage
orchards and control larger markets. In insect and beekeeping enterprises, men typically lead hive management
and production, while women focus on harvesting, processing, and packaging. These diverse positions show
how cultural norms, unequal economic power, and institutional disparities still limit women’s ability to participate
and benefit.
Zambia’s smallholder agriculture is also becoming more vulnerable to climate shocks such as droughts,
unpredictable rainfall, and insect infestations, which may hurt yields and food security for families. Women
smallholders are more affected by climate change since they depend more on rain-fed systems and can’t adjust
as easily (CIAT & World Bank, 2017; GRZ, 2010). In this context, the Zambia BRAINS Gender Strategy offers a
framework for incorporating gender equality and social inclusion into all project activities. This guarantees that
women and men, including youth and PLWD, have equal opportunities to participate in, benefit from, and shape
the innovation processes that are transforming and strengthening agriculture
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