CARE Ethiopia, through its CASCADE Project, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Civil Society Coalition for Scaling Up Nutrition (ECSC-SUN) Secretariat, successfully conducted a Gender Transformative Food Systems and Nutrition Programming Training in Adama, from 15-17 July 2025.
The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to design and implement gender-equitable and rights-based food and nutrition programs. It brought together representatives from key government institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, as well as international NGOs that are members of ECSC-SUN.
Key Training Topics
The training covered a wide range of gender-related concepts and practical tools, including:
- Gender Concepts and Equity – Foundational understanding of gender equality, equity, and their implications in programming.
- Gender Norms, Roles, and Social Structures – Analyzing how societal expectations impact food systems and nutrition outcomes.
- Rights-Based and Equity-Focused Nutrition Programming – Designing inclusive programs that uphold human rights and address disparities.
- Gender Transformative Tools for Food and Nutrition – Introducing practical approaches to shift power dynamics and promote equality within communities.
- Gender Audits – Tools and methods to assess gender sensitivity and responsiveness in organizational programs and policies.
- Gender Integration Continuum and Gender Markers – Tools to assess and track gender integration across program cycles.
- Gender Budgeting and Action Planning – Techniques to ensure resource allocation is responsive to gender needs and priorities.
Several community-level approaches were also discussed, including:
- Social Analysis and Action (SAA) – Engaging communities in reflecting on and transforming traditional gender norms.
- Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) – Economic empowerment models that promote women’s agency and decision-making.
- Farmer Field and Business Schools (FFBS) – Strengthening the capacity of women and men farmers through inclusive learning.
- Men and Boys Engagement – Strategies to actively involve men and boys in supporting gender equality.
Collaborative and Impactful
The training was highly interactive and participatory, providing a platform for learning, reflection, and sharing of best practices. Participants appreciated the practical tools and real-world examples, and emphasized the importance of collaborative, gender-transformative approaches to improving food systems and nutrition outcomes.
As part of the broader goal of scaling up nutrition in Ethiopia, the training also covered advocacy, partnership development, and resource mobilization strategies to ensure sustainable and far-reaching impact.
