Gender dynamics in agricultural employment for food security in sub-Saharan Africa

Gender roles are socially constructed expectations defining the behavior, responsibilities, and opportunities of men and women, especially evident in agriculture, where specific tasks are traditionally assigned to each gender. Realizing these roles is vital for crafting efficient approaches to enhance food security. This study investigates the moderating role of gender employment in agriculture on the agricultural sector and food security nexus in 28 sub- Saharan African (SSA) nations. The study uses descriptive analysis, system generalized method of moments (SGMM), and panel-corrected standard error (PCSE) methodologies to analyze the secondary data on 28 SSA countries. The descriptive results reveal that, on average, women contribute over half (51%) of the agricultural labor force, highlighting women’s important role in the agricultural sector. Empirical results also show that total agricultural employment has a positive short- and long-term impact on food security. In contrast, female employment exhibits a long-run impact, and male employment influences food security only in the short run. Also, the moderating effect of overall and male employment on agricultural output affects food security solely in the short run, while the impact of female employment occurs in both the short and long run. Considering the vital contribution of women in ensuring food security in SSA, it is recommended that efforts should be geared toward prioritizing genderinclusive agricultural policies and addressing disparities in resource access and training. Addressing resource access and training disparities, and investments in agricultural infrastructure are also crucial to reducing post-harvest losses thereby improving food security in the region.