Ethiopia- summary of qualitative and quantitative findings by research question

1. Ethiopia-summary of qualitative and quantitative findings by research question Researching Women’s Collective Action project team meeting: Arusha, Tanzania, 18-21st July 2012

2. 1. Which categories of women smallholders benefit from participation in collective action in agricultural markets? • Qualitative findings: • Mostly female-headed households. • Vulnerable women: Poor women in general • At the cooperative level - women who have capacity to buy shares • Permissions from husbands is very important • Women tend to be in the 30s and 40s (from women profiles) – 34 Average, range 18-50 • Leadership is rotational but some are ‘good’ leaders and recognised as such – attributes are primarily capacities rather than personal characteristics - education does matter in all groups

3. 1. Which categories of women smallholders benefit from participation in collective action in agricultural markets? • Quantitative findings: • Married women are less likely to be group members • while widow/FHHH are more likely to be group members • Better off women (land ownership/livestock ownership) are less likely to be group members • Group members tend to be younger (average age for members=34 and non-members= 36) and better educated (the two are probably associated) • Non members engage in honey production for longer periods than the members

4. 1. Which categories of women smallholders benefit from participation in collective action in agricultural markets? • Complimentary findings: • Married women are less likely to be group members • Poor (FHH) more likely to join the group • Youngsters – 34 years age • Conflicting findings /gaps in data: • No conflicting data • Clarity on which respondents in the sample are members of SHGs and cooperatives and those that are only cooperative members

7. 2. What livelihoods (income, assets) and empowerment benefits do women smallholders gain from their participation in collective action in agricultural markets? • Qualitative findings: • Greater technical capacity in managing honey production • Engaging in different livelihoods activities - IGAs • Some women becoming better off than others • Price paid by cooperatives is higher than traders • Higher production, quality and higher prices • Honey is more of a niche production, women involved in other activities • Social benefit from ability to prepare and serve honey juice • Bee colonies becoming an asset where both husband and wife decide on

8. 2. What livelihoods (income, assets) and empowerment benefits do women smallholders gain from their participation in collective action in agricultural markets? • Quantitative findings: • Group members get a higher price than non-members and higher marketed value • Women members are producing better quality and getting higher prices – yet grading is mainly done by buyers • No difference in share of marketed output • Very few women non-members are selling to the cooperative • Members get on average $37 more than non-members from honey • In a year members get on average $84 from honey • WCA members are more empowered in terms of access to credit – but minimal • Price difference (better) is considered as the main incentive than the % of honey production marketed • Market information is obtained from individual sources than organized sources

9. 2. What livelihoods (income, assets) and empowerment benefits do women smallholders gain from their participation in collective action in agricultural markets? • Complimentary findings: • Women members are producing better quality and getting higher prices • Cooperative pay better price than traders • WCA members are more empowered in terms of access to credit • Conflicting findings /gaps in data: • QUAL - Cooperatives pay same price to members and non members • QUANT - on average members get a higher price • Volume traded through different channel and price • Gap in information as to the contribution of honey to the overall income of the HH • WCA women are less empowered than non-WCA women especially for freedom of movement and for decision-making on expenditure (surprising) • Gender analysis is giving difficult results

16. 3. How and to what extent does collective action help women smallholders to overcome key barriers to their engagement in markets? • Qualitative findings: • Currently no aggregation of honey by the SHG to sell to the cooperative or somebody else • With a few exceptions, it is still the norm that men are the ones engaged in the marketing of honey even if the women are mainly in charge (except FHHH) • When men sell women’s products through the cooperative it is registered in the name of the woman if she is a member • In Phase II it was mentioned that male dominance was a critical problem for women to enter market. In Phase III groups proportion of male to female in the cooperative is 50-50 (also some women are members of purchasing committee etc)

17. 3. How and to what extent does collective action help women smallholders to overcome key barriers to their engagement in markets? • Quantitative findings: • WCA members sell more frequently to the cooperative than non members • Members receive better access to credit support and invest more input for honey production

18. 3. How and to what extent does collective action help women smallholders to overcome key barriers to their engagement in markets? • Complimentary findings: • Men are the ones engaged in the marketing of honey • WCA members - increased quantity and quality of production of honey • Conflicting findings /gaps in data: • No data on volume of production being sold through the cooperative —share of their production sold through cooperative • Only very few women answered question on share of production • Clarification - Whether the money coming from NGOs etc is credit or a grant

21. 4. Which strategies of development actors are most effective in promoting equitable benefits for women from their engagement in CA in agricultural markets? • Qualitative findings: • Increasing the participation of women in men-dominated honey cooperatives - capacity building by NGOs • Bridging the gap and creation of spaces within the larger group where women can develop confidence, exercise leadership – SHG • Quotas of women at membership and leadership level (Gov of having at least one woman in committee) • Membership criteria – allowing dual membership • Technological change: e.g. the promotion of modern bee-hives

22. 4. Which strategies of development actors are most effective in promoting equitable benefits for women from their engagement in CA in agricultural markets? • Quantitative findings: • No question related to this

23. 4. Which strategies of development actors are most effective in promoting equitable benefits for women from their engagement in CA in agricultural markets? • Complimentary findings: • External support is required to bring women to a better position – bridging the gap • Financial access is very essential • Collaboration b/n Gov. and other development actors is essential • Targeted intervention (poor women) is good • Conflicting findings /gaps in data: • There needs to be more critical analysis of external interventions -what was effective and not • Drawing the women from the cooperative and then organize them into SHG was not feasible

24. We work hard, we should be incentivized !!

25. Asante sana! Thank you! Inicheh! Merci! Amesegenallo!