Breaking institutional barriers to enhance women's participation in and benefit from the Peste des Petits Ruminants and Newcastle Disease vaccine value chains for Sembabule district of Uganda

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 13;17(10):e0270518. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270518. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

This paper describes the institutional context that shapes the visibility and positioning of women along the Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Newcastle Disease (ND) vaccine value chains for Sembabule district of Uganda. It examines the institutional barriers and opportunities that affect women's empowerment derived from inclusion of women in the decision-making processes along the livestock vaccine value chain (LVVC) and that can support viable women-centered and owned enterprises, at the vaccine development, delivery, distribution and use level. Qualitative data analysis tools such as focus group discussions, focus meals, jar voices and key informant interviews were used. Using outcome mapping, a stakeholder analysis of the critical partners in the PPR and ND value chain was done involving the regulators, vaccine manufacturers, importers, distributors, agrovets, public and private veterinary service deliverers, local leaders, women groups, and farmers. The study concluded that training related to gender equality and livestock vaccines, infrastructural and technical support to the poultry and goat women and men farmers and other chain actors are inadequate in themselves to increase vaccine adoption and improve livestock productivity in Sembabule district. Strategies that promote gender-transformative collaborative efforts among the LVVC actors and build viable gender-transformed women groups and networks are critical to increase women's participation in and benefit from the livestock vaccine value chain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Goat Diseases* / prevention & control
  • Goats
  • Livestock
  • Newcastle Disease* / prevention & control
  • Peste-des-Petits-Ruminants* / prevention & control
  • Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus*
  • Uganda
  • Viral Vaccines*

Substances

  • Viral Vaccines

Grants and funding

The research was funded by a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre, Livestock Vaccine Innovation Fund (Grant No. 109061-001 and 109061-002) to Tufts University and Africa One Health University Network (AFROHUN), under a project titled “Hearing their voices- Action research to support women’s agency and empowerment in livestock vaccine distribution, delivery and use in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya”. The Livestock Vaccine Innovation Fund is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and Canada’s International Development Research Center (IDRC). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of IDRC or its Board of Governors. LVIF website project link: https://www.idrc.ca/en/research-in-action/advancing-womensparticipation-livestock-vaccine-value-chains. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.