1. Reta Hailu (Consultant) and Wole Kinati (ICARDA)
Fact sheet
Gender-based drivers of participation in sheep breeding cooperatives in Ethiopia
Reta Hailu (Consultant) and Wole Kinati (ICARDA)
Introduction
Collective actions and formation of cooperatives are crucial for small ruminant community-based breeding programs.
Women’s participation in agricultural cooperatives is generally low in Ethiopia and the lack of participation adversely affect their ability to accrue benefits as members of cooperatives.
Although women perform most of small ruminant husbandry activities, they have less control over of the animals and associated benefits.
Objectives
The specific objectives of the study were to assess the level of participation, and to identify gender-based drivers of participation in selected small ruminant breeding cooperatives in Ethiopia.
Photo Credit: Wole Kinati (ICARDA)
Methods
Gender disaggregated household data were collected in Horro, Bonga, and Menz districts in three regions of Ethiopia.
302 households were randomly selected from members of the breeding cooperatives in the three districts.
In addition to women headed HHs (WHHs), women in male headed households (WMHHs) were also interviewed as they carry out various activities in the breeding cooperatives.
Results
Men dominate the breeding cooperatives. While more than 50% of men represent women in WHHs, only 11% of women represent MHHs in the cooperatives.
Lack of awareness and exposure to information about the breeding cooperative, lack of transparency/accountability, and work burden related to other activities are important factors that affect participation in breeding coops.
Moreover, women’s participation is affected by socio-economic variables such as educational level, headship status, ownership of sheep membership status, and access to basic social services such as animal health and market.
Men and women respondents significantly differ in perceptions regarding participation in daily coop affairs, leadership, representation and resources (sheep) entitlement. This clearly indicates the huge importance of this gender differential for planning and targeting implementation and evaluation of interventions.

2. Registration in the cooperative is the entry point for a legitimate participation to obtain any benefit from the cooperatives. Only a few adult women (12%) were registered as members of cooperatives which also results in low representation in cooperative leadership.
The very frequent naming of the flock after men systematically excludes women from the registration processes and consequently from their active participation in the cooperation.
Men believe that naming the flock after them is embedded in the culture (32%) or that this is linked to the fact that only men can be the head of a household (61%).
Perceived levels/drivers of participation in the breeding cooperatives by gender
Levels/drivers of participation
Respondents
Chi-Square value
Sig.
Men (%)
Women (%)
Setting agenda in meetings with the cooperative
Cooperative leaders
81.2
74.4
8.244
0.01
Members/ participant
16.0
14.9
Development agents
2.8
10.7
Setting the cooperative bylaws
23.8
43.8
15.446
67.4
47.9
8.8
8.2
Who makes key decisions regarding sheep owned?
Men
7.2
9.9
51.284
0.00
Women
2.2
26.4
Jointly
90.6
63.6
Naming of the flock after someone from the HH
After Men
93.4
64.5
40.684
After Women
6.6
35.5
The reason why the flock is named “after Men”
Culture
32.0
28.1
34.873
Men are head of the household
60.8
42.1
Women misbehave if own/control  0
0.8
Men fear loss of their headship role
2.3
Not applicable (named after women)
5.0
Who is registered as member from the HH?
Adult Men
87.8
50.4
51.986
Adult Women
12.2
Young children
1.7
Who represents the household in the cooperatives?
Wife
11.0
44.7
46.051
Husband
86.2
51.2
Children
4.1
Conclusion
Generally, gender inequalities at household level significantly affect women’s participation in breeding cooperatives. Thus, any program or project that does not consider gender inequality at HH level will end up with male-dominated cooperative member- and leadership.
Contacts:
Reta Hailu and Wole Kinati, /
P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Tele:
Acknowledgement:
This study was funded by the CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Livestock.
December 2018