Rural household and resources: A guide for extension workers

Abstract

This guide is divided into three parts: Part 1 explores themes on farmers, households, resources and extension. Each point raises questions on gender roles and gender relations, stressing the importance of gender-disaggregated data. Part 2 focuses on constraints and resources in rural households. Major issues such as HIV, macro-level policies, and income generating opportunities affect communities differently, so extension workers can help identify impacts and needs accordingly. Gender inequalities in household resource allocation "of water, land, credit and time" are also part of the constraints that extension workers must use a gender lens to understand. Part 3 focuses on the future and ways forward. This part presents participatory tools and emphasis on the need to develop gender-responsive projects. The guide concludes with a set of tables and a checklist for extension workers.