Empowering Women in West African Markets Case Study of Street Food Vendors in Maiduguri, Nigeria
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Fighting Hunger Worldwide Empowering Women in West African Markets Case Study of Street Food Vendors in Maiduguri, Nigeria VAM Gender and Markets Study #9 2017 1 The Zero Hunger Challenge emphasizes the importance of strengthening economic empowerment in support of the Sustainable Development Goal 2 to double small-scale producer incomes and productivity. The increasing focus on resilient markets can bring important contributions to sustainable food systems and build resilience. Participation in market systems is not only a means for people to secure their livelihood, but it also enables them to exercise agency, maintain dignity, build social capital and increase self-worth. Food security analysis must take into account questions of gender-based violence and discrimination in order to deliver well-tailored assistance to those most in need. WFP’s Nutrition Policy (2017-2021) reconfirms that gender equality and women’s empowerment are essential to achieve good nutrition and sustainable and resilient livelihoods, which are based on human rights and justice. This is why gender-sensitive analysis in nutrition programmes is a crucial contribution to achieving the SDGs. The VAM Gender & Markets Initiative of the WFP Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa seeks to strengthen WFP and partners’ commitment, accountability and capacities for gender-sensitive food security and nutrition analysis in order to design market-based interventions that empower women and vulnerable populations. The series of regional VAM Gender and Markets Studies is an effort to build the evidence base and establish a link to SDG 5 which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. ________ All rights reserved in all countries English edition, 2017 Copyright © World Food Programme Bureau Regional Dakar Author(s): Greg Sclama, PhD Sabrina Aguiari, PhD For more information contact: World Food Programme Simon Renk (Regional Markets Advisor): [email protected] Desiree Lwambo (VAM Gender Specialist): [email protected] Contents Acknowledgements ......................... 5 2 Content Table of Figures ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................. 7 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Background on the Gender and Markets Initiative ......................................................................................... 9 Nigeria Country Context .................................................................................................................................. 9 The Importance of Street Food in Urban Settings ......................................................................................... 11 Research Methodology .................................................................................................................................. 12 Limitations to The Research .......................................................................................................................... 21 1. Characteristics of Street Food Markets in Maiduguri ........................................................................... 23 Startup Procedures and Capital Requirements ............................................................................................. 23 Size of Operations and Employees ................................................................................................................ 23 Sale Locations, Fees, and Market Control ..................................................................................................... 24 Supply Chain Structure .................................................................................................................................. 25 Access to Financial Services ........................................................................................................................... 26 Competition, Product Differentiation, and Meeting Customer Demand ...................................................... 27 Client Characteristics, Food Preferences, and Spending Patterns ................................................................ 27 2. The Roles of Women and Men in Street Food Markets ........................................................................ 33 Gendered Division of Labor and Products Sold ............................................................................................. 33 Motivations for Street Food Market Entry .................................................................................................... 36 Length of Time Operating Business ............................................................................................................... 37 Involvement in other Income-Generating Activities ..................................................................................... 38 Savings Groups (Adashe) and Trade Associations ......................................................................................... 39 Central Role of Youth in Street Food Businesses .......................................................................................... 40 3. Challenges to Women’s Economic Inclusion in Street Food Markets .................................................... 42 Challenges with Accessing Market Locations ................................................................................................ 42 Challenges Surrounding Buying Ingredients on Credit .................................................................................. 42 Education and Training .................................................................................................................................. 43 Access to Clean Water ................................................................................................................................... 44 Health and Hygiene ....................................................................................................................................... 44 Cooking Fuel Sources ..................................................................................................................................... 46 Seasonal and Temporal Market Characteristics ............................................................................................ 47 Resilience to Shocks and Changes in Market Conditions .............................................................................. 47 4. Aspects of Women’s Empowerment from Participation in Street Food Businesses ............................... 51 Empowerment in The Marketplace ............................................................................................................... 51 Empowerment and Gender Relations in The Household .............................................................................. 57 5. Review of Gender in WFP Operations and Recommendations for Programmatic Solutions ................... 63 Community Perceptions of Humanitarian Assistance ................................................................................... 63 Gender Considerations in WFP Nigeria Responses and Assessments ........................................................... 65 Potential Programmatic Solutions to Address the Identified Challenges Faced by Women and Men in Street Food Markets ...................................................................................................................................... 67 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 70 Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ 71 Appendix 1: Country Case Study Protocol ..................................................................................................... 71 Appendix 2: Interview Protocols and Data Collection Tools ......................................................................... 72 Appendix 3: List of Partners and Persons Consulted ..................................................................................... 84 Appendix 4: Calendar of In-Country Research Activities Completed ............................................................ 85 References ............................................................................................................................................. 86 3 4 Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge the many people who supported each stage of this project. First and foremost, we would like to thank the women and men street food vendors and customers who participated in this study. Nearly three-hundred individuals welcomed us into their communities, gave freely of their time, and shared their personal experiences, successes, and struggles with our team. A note of thanks goes to community leaders, as well as officials from the State and National Emergency Management Agencies, who granted us access to their communities and ensured that our visits were safe and fruitful. WFP personnel, at both the Regional Bureau in Dakar and the Nigeria Country Office, were vital to the success of this project. We would like to thank the staff at RBD for providing