GENDER INCLUSIVE VACCINE ECOSYSTEM: ENHANCING DISTRIBUTION AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR NEW CASTLE DISEASE (NCD) AND CONTAGIOUS CAPRINE PLEUROPNEUMONIA (CCPP)AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS [The GIVE Project]

Context and rationale: Rural women in sub-Saharan Africa derive substantial livelihoods from livestock. However, few studies have focused on barriers they face to improve their incomes, household nutrition and overall economic wellbeing. Smallholder livestock farmers are hindered in vaccine acquisition and use due to low levels of awareness, high acquisition costs, accessibility, and unequal gender relations at household level. This study seeks to: (i) increase women’s participation in livestock vaccine distribution chain, and (ii) transform gender, social and cultural norms and practices to reduce barriers to women’s participation. We focus on the poultry and small ruminant platforms, which are important for women’s economic empowerment through incremental accumulation of resources which, in turn, would allow them to purchase and own small ruminants. This research project seeks to enhance the distribution and delivery systems for Newcastle (ND) and Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) among smallholder women farmers, through (i) increasing women’s participation in livestock vaccine distribution chain, and (ii) transforming gender, social and cultural norms and practices to reduce barriers to women’s participation. The study objectives are:

1. To establish the vaccine knowledge among women and how it affects their ability to use and benefit from vaccines
2. To explore the socio-cultural, economic and technical barriers in access to ND and PPR vaccines.
3. To examine norms that hinder women from owning and using livestock, participating in and benefiting from the livestock vaccines value chain, and utilizing vaccines to improve the productivity of their livestock.
4. To map actors who influence norms and practices that affect women’s engagement.