Gender Differences in Access to Agricultural Productive Resources, Food Security and Adaptation to COVID-19 Shock: Experiences from East Africa

Agriculture remains the backbone of households and economies of most sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, different shocks including climate related and now the COVID-19 pandemic can have advance and long-term impact to agriculture and food security. In advent of agriculture shocks, women are disproportionately affected because of unequal access to and control over productive agricultural resources. Documenting the current levels and dynamics of gender differentials in the agricultural sector has policy implications because women empowerment and inclusion into productive economic sectors is a development policy agenda of developing economies. This study focusing on Uganda and Tanzania: (i) examine the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on food security among the urban households (ii) establish the effect of climate and weather-related shocks on food security of rural households; and (iii) how having access to and control of agricultural productive resources improves adaptation to weather related and food security shocks; and their variations by gender. Primary data from a sample of urban households in Kampala and Dar-es-Salam city and already existing National household Surveys will be used to addresses the objectives. The findings will guide policymakers on appropriate responses to mitigate these shocks, which are gender-responsive to promote women’s economic empowerment in the region.