Concerns of Food Security, Role of Gender, and Intrahousehold Dynamics in Pakistan

The available literature in Pakistan is generally lacking in a critical examination of the issues related to intrahousehold resource allocation. This black box is due largely to the lack of individual-level data on dietary intake, anthropometric measures, decision making, time allocation, etc. Such an examination of the intra-household dynamics would shed light on how resources are generated, controlled and distributed in a household and help in the effective design and implementation of suitable policies. This study identifies the data gaps and emphasises the immediate need for a research agenda focusing on the fuller understanding of the intra-household dynamics. Data needs are outlined and a conceptual framework of incorporating gender concerns in the analyses of intrahousehold resource allocation and household food security is presented. Suggestions are made to collect both quantitative as well as qualitative individual level data on various social, economic, demographic, and anthropometric variables. The data set thus generated would give a picture of the household resource base, household endowments, gender relations, and interand intra-household resource allocations that are necessary for the formulation and implementation of suitable and effective policies for benefiting the vulnerable groups.