The Impacts of Women’s Political Representation on Food Security: A Comparative Case Study of Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa
Open Access DepositedThis thesis investigates the impacts of women in political leadership roles on food security within the contexts of Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa. As Africa progresses socially, women's roles in governance emerge as crucial factors in shaping policy responses to food insecurity. The gendered norms in the study’s target countries have created a societal expectation that women are more attuned to food security gaps and needs within their communities. Thus, this thesis explores this phenomenon at the national level to better understand the impact that women in these roles have on food security through national policies and agendas. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach, this study examines the prioritization of women’s empowerment in studied countries and the resulting shifts in food security. An initial literature review helped to provide background, followed by coding the United Nations General Debate (UNGA) 77 & 78 debate speeches for each country. From there qualitative indices were created to determine the current state of both women’s empowerment and food security in the target countries. Finally, interviews with key informants from each of the studied countries were conducted to help fill data gaps and provide context from on-the-ground narratives. The exploration between the themes of women’s empowerment and food security highlights the complexities of women's empowerment and its implications for food security policies and programming. For instance, existing factors such as cultural gender norms and agricultural risks (climate change, conflict, economy, etc.) can impact the connection between women’s empowerment and food security. While the study acknowledges the complexities of factors that can impact food security and women’s empowerment in studied countries, a positive relationship between women in political leadership roles and food security was observed. By analyzing the dynamics between women's political leadership and food security, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of gender-responsive governance in promoting sustainable development in Africa. The findings underscore the importance of prioritizing women's empowerment initiatives to enhance the effectiveness of food security policies and advance broader development objectives.
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