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A woman using solar pumped water to wash her face (Photo: IWMI/Tanmoy Bhaduri)
Gender equality and social equity are integral to achieving sustainable development in agriculture-food systems, however, achieving said goals has been challenging because of the unique complexities associated with it. Gendered power dynamics are frequently visible in middle- and low-income countries which results in women having differential risks, exposures, vulnerabilities, and outcomes. Hence, it is crucial to recognise the gender data gap and emphasize the strong need for data that is accurate and representative of all groups.
The Gender Data Gap in Agriculture
Data collection in research at a local level often do not take into consideration the indicators which are specific to women in agriculture. This data imbalance can lead to the exclusion of female farmers in policy design. This may subsequently cause a growing inequity in the economic progress of the said left-out population, further exacerbating the already existing gender-related inequalities.
Critical Gender Indicators Missing in Data Collection
Many gender indicators, such as women’s unpaid labour, access to resources, and decision-making roles in households and communities, are often missing in data collection. Additionally, women’s access to resources such as land, credit, agricultural training, and extension services is frequently overlooked. Moreover, data often neglects the barriers women face, like discriminatory land inheritance laws or cultural norms that restrict their mobility.
Collecting Gender-Sensitive Data
In contexts where societal norms and gender dynamics impact information gathering, male enumerators face challenges in gaining access to female respondents. In many communities, women experience cultural norms that restrict open communication with male surveyors. Female enumerators, however, are uniquely positioned tobetter collect gender-sensitive data due to their ability to build trust and foster cultural comfort with female respondents. This not only increases the likelihood of capturing accurate and comprehensive data but also ensures that the voices and experiences of women are properly represented, leading to more informed and equitable policy decisions.
Integrating Gender into Questionnaire Design
IWMI-India’s SoLAR project introduced targeted enumerator training and gender-centric modules in surveys conducted in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to address these gaps, enhancing data on female farmers’ decision-making and needs. Before piloting the survey, gender sensitisation training was conducted. One of the key takeaways from this training was the female enumerators’ contribution on how to frame sensitive questions and what additional topics to include in the questionnaire. Additionally, through secondary research, literature has often reported female enumerators to improve participation rates among female respondents, resulting in more accurately represented data. They are often reported to achieve higher survey completion rates and make fewer errors as well.
Narratives from the Field: Female and Male Enumerators’ Perspectives
The narratives shared by both female and male enumerators during sex-disaggregated focus group discussions that IWMI conducted shed light on why the presence of female enumerators is not just beneficial but essential in closing the existing gender data gap in agriculture.
This was emphasised by male enumerators like Bholaram and Lalit whilst highlighting the challenges they face in engaging with female respondents due to strong socio-cultural barriers. Lalit also pointed out that male guardians often oversee female respondents during interviews, hindering candid discussions and potentially contaminating data.
“Women respondents are not as comfortable with male enumerators, but with female enumerators, they feel at ease. This allows them to share personal stories and experiences related to the survey that might never come up if a male enumerator was conducting the interview.” –Lalit
Female enumerators, from similar cultural backgrounds to the respondents, enrich data with empathy and cultural sensitivity.
“It is important to understand whether women can make decisions on their own or not. There is often a lack of awareness amongst women. Men are generally aware, but awareness among women is very low, so it’s crucial that we engage with them for inclusive survey outcomes.”– Vaishali
Beyond capturing accurate data, the role of female enumerators extends to challenging traditional gender roles and fostering empowerment within communities. Shalini Kumari and Rani Sharma exemplify this by defying societal expectations and contributing meaningfully to data collection despite facing familial and cultural challenges. Their presence advocates for gender equality in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Good Practices for Hiring and Supporting Female Enumerators
To ensure equitable research practices, there is a need to highlight some good practices in fostering the hiring of female enumerators. One of the easily achievable at an organisational level is the continued emphasis on having a balanced enumerators’ team. Additionally, pairing female enumerators with male counterparts during household interviews can mitigate biases and data manipulation concerns from male heads of households, allowing for more comprehensive data collection. Ensuring the safety and well-being of female enumerators is essential, especially in remote areas. This includes provisions for meals, transportation, accommodation, and safe sanitation facilities alleviating logistical concerns and allowing them to focus on their work. Moreover, based on feedback from focused group discussions, female enumerators express a preference for female supervisors and trainers, as this fosters a supportive and secure environment for their work.
To conclude, the gender of data enumerators is not just a matter of representation but a key element in ensuring the integrity and inclusivity of research outcomes. Policymakers, researchers, and development practitioners must recognize the unique challenges faced by both women and men to design effective, targeted interventions. It is vital to include monitoring indicators that address these specific challenges in questionnaire design. Moreover, the involvement of female enumerators is crucial for capturing the experiences of female farmers across different social contexts, ensuring their perspectives are included in decision-making processes that affect their lives. By integrating indicators related to structural barriers and gender norms in survey design, empowering both female and male enumerators, and providing them with adequate gender sensitization training, we can bridge the gender data gap and pave the way for more informed policies and programs that truly leave no one behind.
The authors acknowledge Kriti Sharma, Consultant at IWMI, India for her help in preparation for the focus group discussions conducted for this write-up.
The SoLAR project funded by SDC aims to sustainably manage the water-energy and climate interlinkages through the promotion of solar irrigation pumps (SIPs). The project’s overarching goal is to contribute to climate-resilient, gender-equitable, and socially inclusive agrarian livelihoods by supporting government efforts to promote solar irrigation.
Darshini Ravindranath is the Research Group Leader – Climate Policies, Finance, and Processes (CPFP) leading the SoLAR Project.
Angel Konthoujam is currently supporting the SoLAR project as a Gender, Equity, and Social Inclusion consultant at IWMI, India.
