ACED Agricultural Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project ASSESSING GENDER DIFFERENCES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GROWING MOLDOVANFINAL HIGH VALUE AGRICULTUREUSAID/MOLDOVA AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURAL COMPETITIVENESS AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIVENESS AND PROJECT (ACED) ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT (ACED) PROJECT GENDER ASSESSMENT SEPTEMBER 2011 This plan is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the sole responsibility of DAI and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID September 14, 2011 or the United States Government This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Development & Training Services, Inc. (dTS). ASSESSING GENDER DIFFERENCES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GROWING MOLDOVAN HIGH VALUE AGRICULTURE Program Title: AGRICULTURAL COMPETITIVENESS AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (ACED) Sponsoring USAID Office: USAID Moldova Contract Number: AID-117-C-11-00001 Contractor: DAI Date of Publication: September 2011 Author: Development & Training Services, Inc. (dTS) in cooperation with National Federation of Agricultural Producers from Moldova (AGROinform) and DAI The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. CONTENTS Acronyms ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... 6 Gender Roles and Relations ....................................................................................................................... 6 Implications of Gender Roles and Relations .......................................................................................... 7 Table 1. Consequences of Gender-Based Constraints……………………………………… 7 Opportunities to Promote Gender Equality ............................................................................................. 8 Table 2. Taking Action to Remove Gender-Based Constraints……………………………….9 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 11 Section One: Methodology .......................................................................................................... 13 Research and Analysis Frameworks ....................................................................................................... 13 Section Two: Key Findings from Publications on Gender Issues in Moldova ....................... 15 The National Strategy on Gender Equality ........................................................................................... 15 2011 Gender Assessment for USAID/Moldova .................................................................................. 15 The Moldova Farm Survey Gender Assessment ................................................................................. 16 AGROinform “The Role of Women in Agriculture in Moldova” ................................................... 16 Table 3. Gender-Based Differences in Agriculture in Moldova……………………………..16 Section Three: Gender Roles and Relations Along the High Value Agriculture Chain ...... 178 Producers .................................................................................................................................................... 178 Table 4. Activity Profile……………………………………………………………………..19 Table 5. Access and Control Profile…………………………………………………………20 Table 6. Decision-Making Profile…………………………………………………………...22 Producer Associations and Cooperatives ............................................................................................ 212 Table 7. Producer Association Members, Leaders, Fees and Requirements………………...23 Processors and Cold Storage .................................................................................................................. 234 Input Suppliers .......................................................................................................................................... 234 Transporters ............................................................................................................................................... 235 Retail and Wholesale ............................................................................................................................... 245 Section Four: Implications of Gender Differences .................................................................. 256 Women’s Time Poverty .......................................................................................................................... 256 Table 8. Consequences of Women’s Time Poverty………………………………………….27 Women’s Lack of Access to Information, Training and Services .............................................. ...267 Table 9. Consequences of Women’s Lack of Access to Information, Training and Services.28 Women’s Lack of Access to Finance ................................................................................................... 278 Table 10. Consequences of Women’s Lack of Access to Finance…………………………..28 Section Five: Recommendations and Conclusions .................................................................... 30 Table 11. Actions to Remove Gender-Based Constraints…………………………………...31 References ................................................................................................................................... 334 Appendices .................................................................................................................................. 345 Appendix A. List of Participants and Site Visit Map ....................................................................... 346 Appendix B. Gender Inequalities and Mitigating Solutions ............................................................. 40 Appendix C. Raw Data Collected ......................................................................................................... 447 Appendix D. Statement of Work………………………………………………………………100 ACRONYMS Term Definition ACED Agricultural Competitiveness and Enterprise Development ACSA Agency of Consulting and Extension in Agriculture AEL Association of Economy and Loans AGROinform National Federation of Agricultural Producers from Moldova BSP Business Service Provider DAI Development Alternatives, Inc. dTS Development & Training Services, Inc. F2F Farmer to Farmer GLOW Girls Leading Our World ICS Irrigata-Crop Service INGIA-VC Integrating Gender Issues into Agricultural Value Chains MAFI Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry MCA Millennium Challenge Account MCC Millennium Challenge Corporation MIS Marketing Information System ODIM Organization of SME Sector Development PNAET National Program for Economic Empowerment of Youth PCV Peace Corps Volunteers PBN Pro Business Nord RISP Rural Investment and Services Project USAID United States Agency for International Development VSCS Value Chain Support Center WUA Water Users Association 2KR Moldovan-Japanese Project in Agricultural Machinery Leasing EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Agricultural Competitiveness and Enterprise Development (ACED) Project is a five- year USAID program, jointly funded by Moldova’s Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC), managed by Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) in Moldova. The main objective of the project is to increase the success of the Moldovan agriculture sector in the production and marketing of high value crops. In particular, ACED will provide technical assistance and training to high value agriculture (HVA) value chain entities, including farmers in the irrigation systems targeted for rehabilitation under the MCC Compact-funded Transition to High Value Agriculture Project (THVA), through a set of integrated and demand-driven activities focusing on 1) developing and expanding market opportunities for the Moldovan HVA sector; 2) upgrading production and the ability of the value chain to meet buyer requirements; 3) providing demand-driven technical assistance to upgrade the HVA value chain; and 4) implementing recommendations for an improved enabling environment. This support shall include training, further market network development, advocacy for policy reforms, and linking farmers to appropriate financing mechanisms. The future competitiveness of Moldovan agriculture and agribusiness depends upon the broad participation of both men and women and a broad spectrum of farmers and laborers in the agricultural sector. It also depends on the ability of men and women agricultural producers to remain competitive by improving their high value agriculture production. The integration and promotion of gender equity therefore becomes critical to the overall success and impact of the ACED project. As part of its effort to promote gender equitable opportunities, DAI contracted Development & Training Services, Inc. (dTS) to conduct a Gender Assessment to identify priority issues to be addressed and strategies for effectively promoting men’s and women’s equal participation in and benefits from the project. The Gender Assessment was conducted in consultation with ACED local partner, the National Federation of Agricultural Producers from Moldova (AGROinform), from July 18 to August 2, 2011. Using the Harvard Analytical Framework, the Moser