Page 78 - SAC-Gender-Responsive-Market-Analysis-Final-Report-July-19-2021 (1)

2. Root cause analysis

Understanding root causes and effects in detail

Root Causes Context Effects

Slow process of The approaches adopted have not been gender-sensitive and as a result many programmes are Women lack access
gender not meeting the needs of women entrepreneurs including farmers. “Among the main challenges and support to
mainstreaming in that women encounter are lack of an enabling environment that supports their need to balance resources (i.e.
designing and business-related work and family caregiving responsibilities; limited access to affordable and training)
implementing gender-sensitive financial and non-financial services; markets and technology; and little time to
agricultural policies participate in business networks.”

Traditional gender The country is characterized by harmful gender norms that often encourage violence as an High incidences of
norms in household acceptable way of solving problems. Approximately 1 in 4 women or 25.2% has experienced GBV
physical violence at the hand of a partner. Women in agriculture are more vulnerable and have
experienced gender-based violence at the hand of praedial thieves. Female farmers expressed
that the thieves are more likely to prey on them because they are deemed to be the weaker sex
and usually do not have adequate security or weaponry to defend themselves.
Informal status of Most women are sole traders in microenterprises in the informal sector. Few women are Women lack access
women farmers involved in business networks that would provide much needed mentorship and support to and support to
(30% registered access knowledge, skills and markets. resources (i.e.
women vs. 70% training)
men)
Limited access to According to Jamaica’s Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), only 11% of agricultural Challenges to
land for women land is owned by women. Legal titles to land or other property are required by most banks as access finance
(89% male vs. 11% collateral to approve agricultural credit, because of this, women receive fewer loans compared to without collateral
female-owned) men, despite their stronger track record of loan repayment.

Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean (SAC) Project

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