Tropentag, September 16 - 18, 2026, Göttingen "Towards multi-functional agro-ecosystems promoting climate-resilient futures"

Women’s time allocation and dietary outcomes: Evidence from smallholder livestock production systems in rural Kenya

¹Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Dept. of Nutritional Sciences, International Food and Nutrition Security, Germany
²International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), People, Policies and Institutions, Kenya

Abstract

Food and nutrition insecurity (FNiS) remains a persistent challenge in Bungoma County, Kenya, where 19% of the population was classified as acute food insecure in beginning of 2026. This challenge has a distinct gender dimension, with women often experiencing higher levels of vulnerability.
Existing evidence points to strong linkages between women’s empowerment and food and nutrition security (FNS). Yet, the persistent disproportionate burden of care and domestic work is often an invisible constraint on women’s ability to improve individual and household nutritional outcomes.
This research, conducted within the “Scaling Innovations for reduced and redistributed (I4RR) women’s unpaid care work in smallholder livestock feed provision“ project in rural Bungoma County, investigates how the reduction and redistribution of women’s unpaid care work, e. g. through childcare facilities, can contribute to improved FNS, while identifying social and structural constrains on women’s empowerment. Quantitative data was collected from 133 female project participants, combining the Women’s Empowerment in Livestock Index (WELI)’s Time-Allocation module with Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), Household Food Insecurity Access Scale Score (HFIASS), a negative score for food insecurity, and individual Dietary Diversity Score (IDDS). Eight FGDs with 77 participants provided qualitative insights into perceived changes in work distribution, decision-making and intra-household dynamics.
On household level, quantitative results show significant associations between women´s time allocation and HFIASS, but not HDDS. Regarding intra-household food allocation, quantitative findings show improved individual dietary outcomes when women´s time is reallocated, positive effects on a more equal distribution of food.
Qualitative findings supplement these results, indicating reduced workloads and improved diets of the household members. Increased control over own income and greater decision-making power over household food allocation were reported as key mechanisms for improved dietary outcomes. Simultaneously, the main responsibility for care work and housework continues to lie with women. Persistent gender norms and insufficient childcare facilities remain critical barriers. These results indicate that reducing and redistributing unpaid care work improves FNS by freeing time for non-care activities beyond purely economic gains, while requiring shifts in gender norms and supportive environments that enable women’s empowerment.

Keywords: Care work, dietary diversity, food insecurity, Kenya, livestock production, women’s empowerment

Contact Address: Rehanna Mayat, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Dept. of Nutritional Sciences, International Food and Nutrition Security, Senckenbergstr. 3, Giessen, Germany, e-mail: rehanna.mayatnu.uni-giessen.de