Male and female scientists differ in their suitability assessments of food-securing upgrading strategies

Enhancing food security is a main goal of subsistence farmers in sub-Saharan Africa because these farmers are highly vulnerable to food insecurity. Participatory research can help stabilise and enhance food security through the development and implementation of upgrading strategies (UPS). Prior to dissemination, implementation, and upscaling to other areas, such practices require ex-ante assessment of their suitability in target regions. These assessments need to be done by both the local stakeholders and scientists in a gender-specific way. This article reports the differences between 32 Tanzanian and German female and male scientists in their perception and assessment of the suitability of 13 UPS. The authors found many gender specific differences depending on type of upgrading strategy, suitability criteria, and regional agro-climate. It is emphasised that differentiating between female and male perceptions and assessments in selecting and developing food-securing UPS is an important precondition for sustainable UPS implementation.gender differences; upgrading strategies; impact assessment; food security; Tanzania; participatory research; ScalA-FS; male scientists; female scientists; women scientists; subsistence farmers; Sub-Saharan Africa; SSA; Germany; sustainability; suitability criteria; regional agro-climate