Gendered impact of Covid-19 on Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

In the current context of economic and health crisis, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, rural women are exceptionally vulnerable and disproportionally affected with regard to their roles in maintaining household food security, as agricultural producers, farm managers, processors, traders, wage workers, and entrepreneurs. COVID-19 is likely to continue having direct and indirect impacts on food security, nutrition, economic empowerment, rates of gender-based violence, and access to sustainable livelihoods globally. It is important to recognize the extent to which the pandemic affects women and men differently and design and implement appropriate measures. 

To do so, the University of Central Asia's (UCA) Institute of Public Policy and Administration with support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing Gender Analysis to understand the impacts of the pandemic on the lives of rural women and girls, in comparison to men and boys. This rigorous analysis involves quantitative and qualitative data collection in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.  

The research team intends to provide important and up-to-date research findings on different gendered impacts of COVID-19 on the lives of people, and give operational and programmatic recommendations to address the needs of rural women and men.