The contribution of livestock intervention on gender equality, social integration, and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh

The contribution of livestock intervention on gender equality, social integration, and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Short Report The contribution of livestock intervention on gender equality, social integration, and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh Paresh Kumar Sarma, Samiha Sarowar This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4836567/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Livestock interventions in low and middle-income countries can empower women and enhance household social inclusion and gender equality. However, the optimal conditions for these outcomes are not well understood. This study investigates the effects of livestock interventions on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in northwest Bangladesh. Convenience sampling techniques were applied to obtain a total of 300 respondents through a pre-determined survey questionnaire in 2023–2024 from northwest districts of Bangladesh. Descriptive and inferential statistics, along with PLS-SEM, revealed significant positive associations between livestock interventions and gender equality, social inclusion, and women's empowerment. Effective interventions should focus on capacity building, resource access, financial services, and market access. The study emphasizes the importance of context-specific approaches, taking into consideration laws, cultural norms, gender roles, resource access, and decision-making patterns. Recommendations include tailored capacity building and access to resources and markets to foster gender equality and empowerment in livestock farming households. Livestock interventions Gender inclusion PLS-SEM Women’s empowerment 1. Introduction Women play an important role in livestock management and production, especially in low- and middle-income nations. Livestock interventions can be a crucial entrance point for empowering rural women by promoting gender equality, shifting gender norms, and benefiting women through gender-inclusive approaches (Agrilinks 2023 ; ILRI 2024 ; Baltenweck et al., 2022 ). Livestock initiatives that target women's access to resources including training, loans, and productive assets improve women's economic empowerment. This is represented in a variety of metrics, including income generation, savings accumulation, and asset ownership. The treatments encourage gender-equitable decision-making processes in homes and communities, resulting in more balanced gender dynamics. This favorable impact is evidenced by an increase in women's engagement in cattle management and household financial decision-making. It also addresses social norms and cultural barriers, which have the potential to improve social participation by allowing excluded groups, such as women, youth, and ethnic minorities, to participate in and benefit from livestock activities. These strategies increase women's participation in value chains and market systems, which leads to better economic empowerment outcomes. The consequences were better market access, higher negotiating power, and greater control over income gained through livestock-related activities. Women are the largest small-scale livestock keepers in Bangladesh, and livestock play key roles in supporting livelihoods, nutrition, social status, and resilience (Randolph et al., 2007; Quisumbing et al., 2023 ). Gender equality is one of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and achieving a more equal society is increasingly seen as supporting the achievement of the other SDGs (Baltenweck et al., 2022 ). Gender-discriminatory societal norms impede women's economic empowerment and access to gender equality, which is critical for attaining the SDGs and creating a more equitable society. However, women's economic empowerment and gender equality measures are required to track progress toward SDG5 (Quisumbing et al., 2023 ). Livestock has strong potential for women's empowerment (Galiè et al., 2022 ). It can provide women with income and the opportunity to expand their livelihood portfolios and decision-making power (Njuki et al., 2013 ). Women are often responsible for managing livestock in many rural communities and help to provide them with greater control over resources and decision-making power. It can help to promote social support and communities of practice among farmers. Promoting social integration, livestock interventions can help to build stronger, more resilient communities and contribute to sustainable development. Gender equality means that women and men should be treated equally. This involves ensuring that they have the same rights, opportunities, and responsibilities, including equal access to public goods and services, as well as equal outcomes (OECD, 2017 ). Gender sensitivity is the practice of recognizing and considering the societal and cultural factors that lead to gender-based exclusion and discrimination. Its main goal is to acknowledge and address the structural disadvantages that women face in different positions and roles (OECD, 2017 ). The aim of the gender analysis is to better understand the barriers and opportunities for gender equality, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in the livestock system in Bangladesh. This analysis will specifically focus on the current practices and capacity of the public and private sectors in relation to gender equality and women's empowerment, women's access to productive resources in target communities, and interventions for women in livestock and dairy development. The gender and social inclusion analysis will explore how gender and other social factors may limit progress and create inequalities that hinder the achievement of our objectives. Additionally, the analysis will identify opportunities to address these gaps and promote greater equality and inclusion. Ultimately, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of gender equality, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in the livestock system in Bangladesh. This report will look at the current public and private sector practices and ability for gender equality and women's empowerment in the livestock industry. It will also analyze women's access to productive resources in target communities and the efficacy of livestock and dairy development programs for women. ‌The main objectives: To analyze the effects of livestock interventions on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's empowerment. To create a strategy for program design and planning to bring gender mainstreaming and empowerment. The following research hypothesis is proposed for the study H 0 = There is no relationship between livestock interventions and gender dynamics, social inclusion, & women's economic empowerment. H a = There is a significant relation between livestock interventions and gender dynamics, social inclusion & women's economic empowerment. H 0 = There is no significant difference in the effectiveness of program design and planning strategies for gender mainstreaming and empowerment compared to traditional program design and planning approaches. H a = There is a significant difference in the effectiveness of program design and planning strategies for gender mainstreaming and empowerment compared to traditional program design and planning approaches." The study's originality comes in its thorough assessment of the influence of livestock interventions on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in Bangladesh. It focuses on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in livestock farming households, while also identifying issues that influence gender equality and women's empowerment. The study underlines the need for context-specific information and personalized interventions to enhance gender equality, social integration, and women's empowerment in livestock farming families. It significantly contributes to the current research on livestock interventions and women's empowerment by focusing on important dimensions and calling for gender-responsive techniques. 2. Methodology 2.1 Area of the study The study was done in five northwestern districts of Bangladesh, chosen for their major contributions to women's empowerment and social participation through LDDP activities. These districts—Sirajganj, Pabna, Munshiganj, Satkhira, and Chittagong—were chosen based on animal density, milk production levels, and the availability of active LDDP initiatives. Within these districts, certain Upazilas (sub-districts) were purposefully selected to provide a representative sample of smallholder livestock farmers and other key stakeholders. The selected Upazilas were Shahjadpur and Belkhuchi in Sirajganj, Bera in Pabna, Sreenagar and Sirajdikhan in Munshiganj, Tala and Kaligonj in Satkhira, and Satkania and Potiya in Chittagong. Table 1 shows the selected districts and upazilas. Table 1 Study area and survey respondents Districts Upazilas Respondents Sirajganj Shahjadpur 30 Belkhuchi 30 Pabna Bera 30 Santhia 30 Munshiganj Sreenagar 30 Sirajdikhan 30 Satkhira Tala 30 Kaligonj 30 Chittagong Satkania 30 Potiya 30 Total 300 The poll included 300 respondents, with 30 from each Upazila. This strategy allowed for a comprehensive and diverse sample, capturing a wide range of perspectives and demographics. The precise selection criteria and organized approach provided valuable insights for informed decision-making and policy development, particularly regarding the role of livestock in promoting women's empowerment and inclusion. 2.2 Techniques of data collection Our research employed qualitative and participatory research methodologies in a cross-sectional study. We utilized gender analysis tools for action research within the Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP). The gender analysis framework we employed was the USAID five domains of gender analysis, which encompassed the following areas: (i) laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices; (ii) access to and control over assets and resources; (iii) gender roles, responsibilities, and time use; (iv) cultural norms and beliefs; and (v) patterns of power and decision-making. We conducted thirty-nine key informant interviews (KIIs), which included 24 men and 15 women. These interviews involved regulators at county and national levels, livestock extension workers, veterinarians, vaccinators, agrovet owners and attendants, vaccine manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, feed store owners and workers, local women farmers, community leaders, women group leaders, civic and public leaders, ecclesiastical elders, non-governmental organization leaders, and farmers along the LDDP. The KIIs followed semi-structured guides that addressed farmer knowledge about the five domains, as well as access to, control over, and benefits from resources; government policies and activities for social inclusion; and women's roles and opportunities to increase benefits from LDDP interventions. 2.3 Data analysis The econometric model used for data analysis in this study is Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). PLS-SEM is a statistical approach used to investigate the structural links between latent variables in a model. It is effective when dealing with multivariate data and complicated variable connections. In this study, PLS-SEM was used to examine the effects of livestock interventions on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in Bangladesh. The study collected data from 300 respondents in Bangladesh's northwest districts and analyzed it using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and PLS-SEM. Overall, the econometric analysis proved useful in understanding the links between livestock interventions, gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in Bangladesh. 3. Results 3.1 Key construct based on five domains for women’s empowerment and social inclusion. Livestock interventions have the potential to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. However, it is important to approach these interventions holistically and consider cultural subtleties. Integrating gender equality into agricultural policy, promoting inclusive communication, and utilizing GIS services for resource monitoring are critical factors. Table 2 illustrates how legal reforms, cultural sensitization, targeted interventions, and capacity-building can challenge norms and enable women to actively participate in and benefit from livestock farming activities. This can ultimately lead to gender equality, social integration, and women's empowerment. The USAID employs five domains for women's empowerment, which include laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices; cultural norms and beliefs; gender roles, responsibilities, and time use; access to and control over assets and resources; and patterns of power and decision-making. These domains provide a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to addressing the complex and interrelated barriers that women face. Table 2 Five domains and their description List of domains Description of the domains 1 Laws, Policies, Regulations, and Institutional Practices Legal frameworks and institutional practices play a crucial role in shaping the environment for women. It is imperative to prioritize equity to protect and uphold women's rights, as well as to provide them with opportunities for growth and progress. The laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices that are in place significantly influence women's empowerment. By implementing fair and just frameworks and practices, we can guarantee that women have equal rights and access to opportunities. On the other hand, discriminatory policies hinder progress and limit their advancement. To promote gender equality and empower women, it is essential to enact effective legal reforms and establish supportive institutions. 2 Cultural Norms and Beliefs Cultural perceptions and societal beliefs greatly influence gender roles and the treatment of women in various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and politics. To empower women and overcome the barriers they face, it is crucial to challenge discriminatory norms and promote beliefs that advocate for gender equality. Cultural norms and beliefs shape societal expectations, making it harder for women to access education, employment, and resources. These norms also impact women's self-esteem and their ability to participate in decision-making processes and may even result in biased laws that impede women's rights. Challenging these norms is essential to create an environment that fosters women's empowerment and equal opportunities. 3 Gender Roles, Responsibilities, and Time Use Women face traditional gender roles that confine them to unpaid domestic work and caregiving. This limits their time and opportunities for education, employment, and public participation. By challenging these roles and promoting shared responsibilities, we can increase women's involvement and benefits from development initiatives. In doing so, we can overcome the constraints imposed by gender roles, responsibilities, and time use, enabling women to fully engage in society and pursue personal and professional growth. 4 Access to and Control over Assets and Resources The ability of women to access and control economic resources is crucial for their economic independence and empowerment. It is important to ensure fair and equal access to resources such as land, finances, and education, as it allows women to make independent choices and improve their socio-economic status. When women have control over assets and resources like land, finances, and education, they can enhance their socio-economic status, make autonomous decisions, and contribute meaningfully to their families and communities, ultimately advancing gender equality. 5 Patterns of Power and Decision-Making Empowerment involves increasing women's influence in decision-making at all levels: in the home, community, and at the national level. By promoting women's participation in leadership and decision-making roles, we can ensure that their needs and perspectives are considered in policies and practices. The distribution of power and decision-making is crucial for empowering women, as it determines their level of influence in household, community, and governance decisions. To empower women, we need to enhance their participation in decision-making processes, provide them with a platform for their voices, and take their perspectives into account. This will strengthen their agency, promote gender equality, and contribute to social progress. Overall, these five domains collectively contribute to creating an environment that supports gender equality, social integration, and women's empowerment in livestock farming households by addressing legal, cultural, social, and economic aspects that impact women's participation and agency in the sector. Table 3 Key indicators of five latent /domain variables Sl. No. Five latent variables /domains Factor loading ( \(\:\lambda\:\) ) Cronbach's alpha (α Composite reliability (CR) Average variance extracted (AVE) Domain-1. Laws, Policies, Regulations, and Institutional Practices 0.722 0.757 0.635 LPR 1 To what extent do Bangladesh Livestock Research Institure (BLRI) and Department of Livestock Services (DLS) staff demonstrate knowledge and positive attitudes towards gender equality in their work within the livestock sector? 0.709 LPR 2 How effectively do BLRI and DLS implement gender equality approaches, and to what extent are they engaged with women actors in the livestock system? 0.861 LPR 3 What are the attitudes, approaches, and practices of the private sector in engaging women and youth actors in the livestock system to implement cost-effective Climate-Smart Livestock (CSL) practices aimed at enhancing milk efficiency and reducing methane emissions? 0.813 Domain-2. Cultural Norms and Beliefs 0.811 0.813 00.569 CNB 1 To what extent do prevailing perceptions and gender norms hinder or support women's mobility, their ability to participate in trainings, and their engagement with actors outside of the family/home? 0.742 CNB 2 How do women perceive their own aspirations in various roles within the livestock system, and how are these aspirations perceived by others, including family members and community members? 0.719 CNB 3 To what extent do women perceive themselves and are perceived by others as capable participants in various roles within the livestock system, such as livestock rearing, buyer-sellers, and animal health/veterinary services? 0.782 CNB 4 How aware are individuals of the perceptions, attitudes, and potential risks related to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) within the context of livestock production and related activities? 0.781 CNB 5 To what extent are the treatment, needs, and aspirations of different sub-groups of women, such as ethnic minority women, young women, and women living with disabilities, addressed and supported within the target communities? 0.746 Domain-3. Gender Roles, Responsibilities, and Time Use 0.772 0.774 0.688 GRT 1 To what extent do women and men have equal opportunities for participation and benefit within both public and private sector roles in the livestock production and market system? GRT 2 How equally are women and men represented in veterinary systems and animal health management roles, and to what extent are their opportunities and aspirations supported within these systems? GRT 3 How do women and men perceive and allocate their time differently in relation to livestock-related activities and other responsibilities? Domain-4.Access to and Control over Assets and Resources 0.758 0.768 0.579 ACAR 1 To what extent do women and men have equal ownership and control over livestock and related resources within their households? 0.795 ACAR 2 How accessible is information regarding cost-effective Climate-Smart Livestock (CSL) practices that enhance milk efficiency while mitigating methane emissions to both women and men? 0.686 ACAR 3 How equally do women and men participate in decision-making regarding the allocation of time, distribution of tasks, mobility, and social interactions related to livestock management? 0.760 ACAR 4 To what extent do women and men have equitable access to veterinary and animal health services, considering their specific needs and preferences? 0.796 Domain-5. Patterns of Power and Decision-Making 0.693 0.696 0.620 PPDM 1 To what extent do women and men collaborate in making decisions about livestock production and adopting improved practices? 0.742 PPDM 2 How involved are women and men in decisions regarding the utilization of veterinary and animal health services for their livestock? 0.795 PPDM 3 To what degree are time, tasks, mobility, and social interactions related to livestock management evenly distributed between women and men? 0.822 Table 3 shows that domain 1's Cronbach's alpha (0.758), rho_a (0.768), rho_c (0.846), and AVE (0.579) all indicate acceptable reliability and validity. In domain 2, Cronbach's alpha (0.811), rho_a (0.813), rho_c (0.868), and AVE (0.569) indicate good reliability but a slightly lower AVE. Domain 3's Cronbach's alpha (0.772), rho_a (0.774), rho_c (0.868), and AVE (0.688) suggest good reliability and validity. In domain 4, Cronbach's alpha (0.722), rho_a (0.757), rho_c (0.838), and AVE (0.635) indicate acceptable reliability and validity, while domain 5's Cronbach's alpha (0.693), rho_a (0.696), rho_c (0.830), and AVE (0.620) suggest acceptable reliability and validity. Overall, the results indicate that the constructs have acceptable to good reliability and validity, with some variability in the AVE values. Further validation studies could explore ways to improve the AVE for some constructs to strengthen their validity. Table 4 Construct reliability and validity Cronbach’s alpha Composite reliability (rho_a) Composite reliability (rho_c) Average variance extracted (AVE) Domain-1 0.722 0.757 0.838 0.635 Domain-2 0.811 0.813 0.868 0.569 Domain-3 0.772 0.774 0.868 0.688 Domain-4 0.758 0.768 0.846 0.579 Domain-5 0.693 0.696 0.830 0.620 Table 4 shows that the measure assesses the internal consistency of the items within each domain. A value above 0.7 indicates acceptable reliability, suggesting that the items within each domain are measuring the same underlying construct reliably. The CR estimates the extent to which the observed variables represent the latent construct. Both rho_a and rho_c values are provided. They should ideally exceed 0.7, indicating good reliability. The AVE measures the amount of variance captured by the construct to the amount of variance due to measurement error. AVE values should ideally be above 0.5, suggesting that the construct explains more variance than measurement error. 3.2 Heterotrait-monotrait ratio (HTMT) The Heterotrait-Monotrait Ratio (HTMT) is another method used to assess discriminant validity in structural equation modeling (SEM). It compares the correlations between constructs (heterotrait correlations) with the correlations between items measuring the same construct (monotrait correlations). The HTMT ratio provides a straightforward way to assess whether constructs are measuring distinct concepts. If the HTMT ratio for a pair of constructs exceeds the threshold, it indicates potential issues with discriminant validity, and adjustments to the measurement model may be necessary. Table 5 Discriminant validity-Heterotrait-monotrait ratio (HTMT) Domain-1 Domain-2 Domain-3 Domain-4 Domain-5 Domain-1 Domain-2 0.427 Domain-3 0.410 0.833 Domain-4 0.570 0.769 0.688 Domain-5 0.434 0.714 0.641 0.751 Table 5 , the heterotrait-monotrait ratio (HTMT) values are presented for assessing discriminant validity between pairs of domains. HTMT is a measure used to determine if constructs are distinct from each other. Ideally, values should be less than 0.85 to indicate discriminant validity, suggesting that the constructs are measuring different underlying concepts. All HTMT values in the table are below the threshold of 0.85, indicating discriminant validity between the domains. This suggests that each domain measures a distinct concept from the others, supporting the validity of the measurement model. 3.4 Fornell-Larcker Criterion test The Fornell-Larcker Criterion is a test used to assess the discriminant validity of constructs in a measurement model in Table 6 . It compares the square root of the average variance extracted (AVE) for each construct with the correlations between that construct and all other constructs in the model. Table 6 Discriminant validity-Fornell-Larcker Criterion Domain-1 Domain2 Domain-3 Domain-4 Domain-5 Domain-1 0.797 Domain2 0.344 0.754 Domain-3 0.324 0.657 0.829 Domain-4 0.446 0.604 0.540 0.761 Domain-5 0.324 0.540 0.471 0.555 0.787 The Fornell-Larcker Criterion is used to assess discriminant validity by comparing the square root of the average variance extracted (AVE) with the correlations between constructs. The diagonal elements represent the square roots of the AVE for each construct, and the off-diagonal elements represent the correlations between constructs. According to the Fornell-Larcker Criterion, discriminant validity is supported if the square root of AVE for each construct is greater than the correlation between that construct and any other construct. In this case, all square roots of AVE are greater than the corresponding correlations, indicating that discriminant validity is satisfied for all constructs. 3.5 Goodness of the estimated model To evaluate the fit of a structural equation model, various fit indices are commonly assessed in Table 7 . Here's how to interpret the fit indices provided for the saturated model (a model with perfect fit) and the estimated model: SRMR (Standardized Root Mean Square Residual) This index measures the average standardized residual covariance between observed and predicted values in the model. Lower values indicate better fit. Both the saturated and estimated models have an SRMR of 0.079, suggesting good fit. d_ULS (Unweighted Least Squares discrepancy) This index is a measure of the discrepancy between the observed and model-implied covariance matrices. It's computed as the square root of the sum of squared differences between the observed and predicted covariances. Ideally, it should be close to 1. The values for both models are 1.080, indicating similar discrepancies between the observed and model-implied covariance matrices. Table 7 Model fit Saturated model Estimated model SRMR 0.079 0.079 d_ULS 1.080 1.080 d_G 0.359 0.359 Chi-square 637.812 637.812 NFI 0.706 0.706 d_G (Geodesic discrepancy) d_G is another measure of discrepancy between observed and model-implied covariance matrices. Like d_ULS, it should also be close to 1. The values for both models are 0.359, indicating similar discrepancies between the observed and model-implied covariance matrices. Chi-square This is a traditional measure of fit that test whether the observed covariance matrix differs significantly from the model-implied covariance matrix. A non-significant chi-square indicates good fit. In both models, the chi-square value is 637.812, which suggests that the model does not fit significantly worse than the saturated model. NFI (Normed Fit Index) : This index compares the discrepancy of the estimated model with the discrepancy of the independence model (where all variables are assumed to be uncorrelated). NFI values range from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating better fit. Both models have an NFI of 0.706, indicating similar fits to the data. Overall, based on these fit indices, the estimated model fits the data well and is comparable to the saturated model, suggesting that it adequately represents the relationships among the observed variables. The study on livestock interventions' impacts in Bangladesh underscores their positive influence on gender equality, social inclusion, and women’s empowerment. It emphasizes capacity building, resource access, financial services, and market access in gender-responsive interventions. Within livestock farming households, five crucial domains are identified for promoting gender equality and empowerment: laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices; cultural norms and beliefs; gender roles, responsibilities, and time use; access to and control over assets and resources; and patterns of power and decision-making. The findings indicate that gender-responsive livestock interventions play a significant role in empowering women, enhancing social inclusion, and advancing gender equality within livestock farming households. 3.6 Strategy women empowerment and social inclusion Table 8 outlines a strategy for program design and planning to promote gender mainstreaming and increased social inclusion in livestock producer associations, farm-based organizations, and cooperatives. The table provides key considerations for stakeholders in five domains: laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices; cultural norms and beliefs; gender roles, responsibilities, and time use; access to and control over assets and resources; and patterns of power and decision-making. Table 8 Strategy for program design and planning to bring gender mainstreaming and increased social inclusion. Stakeholder Laws, Policies, Regulations, Institutional Practices Cultural Norms and Beliefs Gender Roles, Responsibilities, and Time Use Access to and Control Over Assets and Resources Patterns of Power and Decision Making Livestock producers ♣ Inheritance laws lack explicit provisions that facilitate the transfer of land, property, and livestock ownership to widows following the death of their spouse. ♣ Ensure that program design aligns with existing gender equality laws and policies. ♣ Incorporate gender-sensitive indicators and targets in program planning to monitor progress towards gender equality. ♣ Provide training and capacity-building sessions for policymakers, legislators, and institutional leaders on gender mainstreaming principles and practices. ♣ Women primarily oversee care for small livestock due to limited involvement in external employment, impacting their income. ♣ Men and community leaders predominantly manage family and communal lands, with women rarely owning land. ♣ Women typically manage household farming plots and "gardens," where they tend to a small number of chickens, goats, or cows. ♣ Conduct comprehensive gender analyses to understand cultural norms that impact women's access to resources and decision-making. ♣ Tailor programs to address cultural barriers that limit women's participation in livestock activities. ♣ men and teenage boys engage in migration, taking the majority of the cattle with them to sell in larger markets. Meanwhile, women stay behind to manage household responsibilities, including tending to farm plots, looking after children, and caring for any remaining cattle. ♣ Design programs that recognize and address the unequal distribution of labour between men and women in livestock management. ♣ Provide training and support to challenge traditional gender roles and promote shared responsibilities. ♣ Women typically retain control over earnings from sales of chickens, goats, and milk products. ♣ Men usually oversee income from the sale of cattle. ♣ During periods of increased production and income from small livestock, men tend to take over management and control of these assets traditionally handled by women. ♣ There's a shift in responsibility towards men when there's a rise in production and income from smaller livestock, deviating from traditional gender roles. ♣ Control over livestock and associated earnings can shift based on changes in production and income dynamics. ♣ Ensure equitable access to productive resources like land, livestock, and inputs for both men and women. ♣ Implement strategies to empower women economically by enhancing their control over assets and resources. ♣ Women frequently experience exclusion from public decision-making processes. ♣ Men typically hold decision-making authority within households, especially regarding the care and sale of cattle. ♣ Women often have decision-making control over matters concerning the care and sale of chickens and goats within the household. ♣ Gendered division of decision-making authority persists, with men primarily making decisions related to larger livestock, and women having more control over smaller livestock. ♣ Promote women's participation in decision-making processes within livestock producer associations and community leadership structures. ♣ Develop gender-sensitive guidelines for training, extension services, and veterinary support to ensure women have equal access to these resources. Livestock producer associations, farm-based organizations, and cooperative ♣ Due to the prevalent requirement of cattle ownership in many livestock producer associations, women, who are less likely to possess livestock, face reduced opportunities to sell small ruminants through these associations. ♣ Women predominantly opt to sell their livestock in local markets or directly at the farm gate, where their bargaining power is diminished, leading to lower product prices. ♣ Women traditionally do not speak in producer associations meetings where men are the majority ♣ Men predominantly govern livestock producer associations, and most of their members are male, with women representing only 20% of the membership. ♣ Integrate gender-sensitive education into school curriculums to promote understanding and respect for diverse gender roles. ♣ Advocate for policies and programs that support work-life balance and equitable distribution of caregiving responsibilities. ♣ Encourage the promotion and acceptance of non-traditional gender roles through media campaigns and community initiatives. ♣ Women's lower literacy levels and limited opportunities to hone leadership skills pose challenges for active participation in association meetings, expressing their perspectives, and vying for leadership positions within these organizations. ♣ Women aspiring to advance in the livestock value chain encounter challenges in accessing market information and receiving support from livestock marketing associations, hindering their transition to higher levels. ♣ Women-only cooperatives, being smaller in scale, provide limited opportunities for learning about new productive and commercial prospects, contrasting with the broader knowledge-sharing potential of more significant associations. ♣ Implement programs aimed at providing women with access to financial resources, credit, and entrepreneurial opportunities. ♣ Offer vocational training and skills development programs targeted at women to enhance their economic independence and control over resources. ♣ Women's participation in livestock production associations is limited due to household and childcare responsibilities. ♣ Constraints such as childcare duties often prevent women from attending association meetings. ♣ Some women may lack permission from their partners to leave the house for association meetings. ♣ Advocate for gender balance in leadership positions in political, economic, and social spheres. ♣ Promote the implementation of quota systems or affirmative action policies to ensure women's representation in decision-making bodies. ♣ Provide leadership training and mentorship programs specifically tailored for women to enhance their capacity to participate in decision-making processes Animal health input and service delivery providers ♣ Due to their heavy workload, veterinarians are less prone to conducting home visits for vaccinations. Instead, livestock owners must transport their animals to a designated central location at a specific time for participation in a community-wide vaccination campaign. ♣ Most training, veterinary medicines, and benefits are directed primarily towards men. With most livestock extension workers being male, the training th ♣ Women, often in their daily caregiving roles, are usually the first to identify disease symptoms in livestock due to their close observation. ♣ Utilizing traditional medicines as an initial remedy, if the treatment proves ineffective, women commonly report the case to their male partners or family members, who then bear the expenses for veterinary services. ♣ Men usually procure medications from drug shops and seek assistance from paraprofessionals when drug treatments fall short. ♣ Women face obstacles accessing funds for livestock medication and lack networks with community animal health workers, limiting their involvement to identifying health issues. During migrations, animals under men's care may lack access to health services ♣ Men typically make decisions regarding selling small ruminants to cover veterinary expenses or sell ailing animals directly. ♣ Women may resort to selling chickens in local markets or use income from milk to purchase drugs for cattle or small ruminants when their male partners opt not to cover the costs. ♣ Gendered decision-making dynamics often see men taking the lead in financial decisions related to livestock. ♣ Women adapt by using alternative income sources, such as selling chickens, to cover veterinary expenses or purchase medications for livestock. Household level food preparers and consumers of animal source foods ♣ Women have less access to extension and training outside of the household, and thus, are less likely to benefit from nutritional training. ♣ Men's earnings typically contribute to acquiring staple grains, and they commonly bear the responsibility of covering school fees and health services. Meanwhile, women rely on their income from selling surplus milk to procure additional food items. ♣ Women and girls are primarily responsible for food preparation tasks within the household. ♣ Men hold precedence as consumers of meat and eggs, and certain food taboos restrict women from consuming specific types of meat. ♣ Women possess access to the milk and meat produced within the household. The majority utilize wood-burning stoves for food preparation, and women are responsible for gathering the necessary wood and water. ♣ Women hold decision-making authority regarding the utilization of milk produced within the household. Conversely, men take charge of decisions regarding the consumption of meat, often reserved for guests and special occasions. In the domain of laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices, the strategy emphasizes the need to align program design with existing gender equality laws and policies, incorporate gender-sensitive indicators, and provide training for policymakers. Additionally, addressing cultural norms and beliefs, such as women predominantly overseeing care for small livestock, calls for tailoring programs to challenge traditional gender roles and promote shared responsibilities. The strategy suggests designing programs that recognize and address the unequal distribution of labor between men and women in livestock management. It also emphasizes the importance of equitable access to productive resources like land and livestock for both men and women. Overall, the strategy proposes a multifaceted approach to gender mainstreaming and social inclusion in livestock interventions, emphasizing the importance of addressing specific domains such as laws and policies, cultural norms, gender roles, access to resources, and decision-making processes. By implementing these measures, programs can effectively promote gender equality, social integration, and women's empowerment in livestock farming households. 4. Discussion The study on livestock interventions in Bangladesh found positive and significant associations between livestock interventions and gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women’s economic empowerment. The study used various statistical analyses like descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as PLS-SEM, to reach its objectives. The reliability and validity of the constructs were assessed, showing acceptable to good values in most cases. The study also utilized qualitative and participatory research methodologies, including key informant interviews, to gather data. Livestock interventions in Bangladesh have a positive and significant impact on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women’s empowerment. Gender-responsive livestock interventions should focus on capacity building, training, access to resources and services, financial services, and market access. There are five key domains that need to be addressed in relation to livestock farming households for promoting gender equality, social integration, and women’s empowerment: laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices; cultural norms and beliefs; gender roles, responsibilities, and time use; access to and control over assets and resources; and patterns of power and decision-making. These findings emphasize the significance of gender-sensitive and socially inclusive approaches in livestock interventions to enhance the empowerment and well-being of women in farming households in Bangladesh. In comparison to other studies, the research focused on mapping five specific domains related to gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women’s economic empowerment, such as laws, policies, cultural norms, access to resources, and power dynamics. Livestock interventions can serve as an important entry point for supporting the empowerment of rural women and promoting gender equality (Agrilinks 2023 ). Livestock development programs need to be designed with a gender lens to provide empowering opportunities for women livestock keepers and avoid exacerbating existing gender inequalities (Agrilinks 2023 ; Musara et al., 2021 ). Strategies include improving women's access to livestock assets, services, and decision-making power. Livestock interventions should also target youth, as they make up a large proportion of the population in many developing countries. Integrating youth as primary producers, service providers, and employees can help deter rural-urban migration and promote social inclusion (Agrilinks 2023 ). Livestock development programs that are "gender-blind" can inadvertently lead to men taking control over livestock as they become more profitable, exacerbating existing gender inequalities. To avoid this, programs need to be designed with a gender lens to provide empowering opportunities for women livestock keepers. Strategies to empower women in livestock include (FAO 2023; Galiè et al.,2018 ). Improving women's access to livestock assets, services, training, and credit. Increasing women's participation and decision-making power in livestock producer groups and cooperatives. Promoting equitable sharing of livestock-related workloads between women and men. Collecting sex-disaggregated data to understand gender dynamics in the livestock sector. Overall, the findings suggest that gender-responsive livestock interventions should prioritize capacity building, access to resources, financial services, and market access to empower women in livestock farming households. The study highlights the importance of addressing different aspects within the five domains to promote gender equality and social inclusion. Additionally, context-specific knowledge is crucial for effective livestock interventions. 5. Conclusion and recommendation The study concludes that livestock interventions in Bangladesh have a positive impact on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment. The findings suggest that gender-responsive livestock interventions should focus on capacity building, training, access to resources, financial services, and market access. It is also emphasized that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to livestock interventions and that context-specific knowledge is essential. Based on the study's conclusions, policy recommendations include designing programs that recognize and address the unequal distribution of labor between men and women in livestock management, promoting women's participation in decision-making processes within livestock producer associations, advocating for gender balance in leadership positions, providing leadership training tailored for women, integrating gender-sensitive education into school curriculums, and implementing programs to provide women with access to financial resources and entrepreneurial opportunities. It is recommended that policymakers and stakeholders in Bangladesh focus on implementing gender-responsive livestock interventions to promote gender equality, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in livestock farming households. A holistic approach that considers gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment is crucial for the success of gender-responsive livestock interventions in promoting gender equality, social integration, and women's empowerment in Bangladesh. Declarations Imitation and scope of future study The study's limitation is the use of convenience sampling in the northwest districts of Bangladesh, which may lead to sampling bias. Further research is needed to examine intra-household decision-making processes and empowerment contexts, to understand the unequal bargaining power of women influenced by gendered divisions of labor and societal norms. The focus should be on advocating for gender-responsive and nutrition-sensitive policies and programs that prioritize women's empowerment and incorporate gender relations perspectives. This will contribute to gender mainstreaming and empowerment efforts. Author declaration Data Availability: The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. Funding: This manuscript is part of the LDDP’s sub-research and innovation project. The World Bank is funding the initiative through DLS and a sub-research and innovation project under the Grant Agreement of LDDP. Ethical Approval: The Ethical Standard Research Committee, Bangladesh Agricultural Research System (BAURES), BAU approved this research (BAURES/ESRC/14/2023). Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study, or from a parent and/or legal guardian in the case of participants under 18 years of age. Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no actual or perceived conflicts of interest. References Agrilinks (2023). Women-Inclusive Livestock Development Helps Improve Women’s Empowerment. (2023, January 26). Agrilinks. https://agrilinks.org/post/women-inclusive-livestock-development-helps-improve-womens-empowerment Baltenweck, I., Emily Awuor Ouma, & Nagujja, J. (2022). Gender-inclusive business models in livestock value chains in low- and middle-income countries: What can we learn from the literature? Frontiers in Sustainability, 3 . https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2022.958251 Fatema Sarker, Thomas Daum and Regina Birner (2021). Women's empowerment in livestock production and household food and nutrition security- Insights from Bangladesh Galiè, A., Najjar, D., Petesch, P., & Cathy Rozel Farnworth. (2022, March 23). Livestock Innovations, Social Norms, and Women’s Empowerment in the Global South . MDPI. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359691608_Livestock_Innovations_Social_Norms_and_Women%27s_Empowerment_in_the_Global_South Galiè, A., Najjar, D., Petesch, P., & Cathy Rozel Farnworth. (2022, March 23). Livestock Innovations, Social Norms, and Women’s Empowerment in the Global South.MDPI. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359691608_Livestock_Innovations_Social_Norms_and_Women%27s_Empowerment_in_the_Global_South Galiè, A., Najjar, D., Petesch, P., Lone Badstue, & Cathy Rozel Farnworth. (2022). Livestock Innovations, Social Norms, and Women’s Empowerment in the Global South. Sustainability (Basel), 14 (7), 3741–3741. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073741 ‌Galiè, A.; Najjar, D.; Petesch, P.; Badstue, L.; Farnworth, C.R. Livestock Innovations, Social Norms, and Women’s Empowerment in the Global South. Sustainability 2022, 14, 3741. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073741 ILRI (2024). Towards gender equality: A novel index to measure the empowerment of women in livestock keeping households. (2024). International Livestock Research Institute. https://www.ilri.org/news/towards-gender-equality-novel-index-measure-empowerment-women-livestock-keeping-households Musara, J. P., Tibugari, H., Moyo, B., & Mutizira, C. (2021). Crop-livestock integration practices, knowledge, and attitudes among smallholder farmers: Hedging against climate change-induced shocks in semi-arid Zimbabwe. Open life sciences, 16(1), 1330–1340. https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2021-0135 Njuki, J.; Sanginga, P.C. Women, Livestock Ownership, and Markets: Bridging the Gender Gap in Eastern and Southern Africa; Earthscan; International Development Research Center & ILRI: Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia, 2013. OECD. (2017). Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Fragile and Conflict- Affected Situations: A Review of Donor Support OECD Development Policy PAPERS . https://www.oecd.org/dac/conflict-fragility-resilience/docs/Gender_equality_in_fragile_situations_2017.pdf Quisumbing, A., Cole, S., Elias, M., Faas, S., Galiè, A., Malapit, H., Meinzen-Dick, R., Myers, E., Seymour, G., & Twyman, J. (2023). Measuring Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture: Innovations and evidence. Global Food Security, 38 , 100707–100707. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2023.100707 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4836567","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Short Report","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":351867230,"identity":"db5dbdae-48b8-4092-92dd-0545b4a871f9","order_by":0,"name":"Paresh Kumar Sarma","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA8klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLACxgaGBAir4gCYkmBgOAAUJErLGZK1MLYRocWc/ezDhz93MOTxz8gFMubdkTc4wHzwNg/DHVlcWix70o2Nec8wFEvcADG2PTPccIAt2ZqH4ZkxLi0GB9LYpBnbGBIbboAY2w4zbjjAYybNw3A4EaeW88/Yf/4Eapl/Iw3ImHPYfsMB/m/4tQANZ+AFatkAZjQcTgTawoZXi+WMZ8zSvG0SxYZngAyeY8+SZx5mM7acY4DbL+b8aYwff7bZ5MkdBzJ+1Nyx7Tve/PDGmwrcIWYAoSSQhJiRxPFoGQWjYBSMglGABwAA1s5fRYQLvHoAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System (BAURES), Bangladesh Agricultural University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Paresh","middleName":"Kumar","lastName":"Sarma","suffix":""},{"id":351867232,"identity":"a0cbd191-7574-491b-bc07-478601471e37","order_by":1,"name":"Samiha Sarowar","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Bangladesh Agricultural University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Samiha","middleName":"","lastName":"Sarowar","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-07-31 15:01:19","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4836567/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4836567/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":68717356,"identity":"f8d3255d-f444-4796-a913-643d67deb267","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-11-11 10:08:56","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":952595,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4836567/v1/7a927a77-4ed1-427b-b360-89e8f282f826.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"The contribution of livestock intervention on gender equality, social integration, and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eWomen play an important role in livestock management and production, especially in low- and middle-income nations. Livestock interventions can be a crucial entrance point for empowering rural women by promoting gender equality, shifting gender norms, and benefiting women through gender-inclusive approaches (Agrilinks \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e; ILRI \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e; Baltenweck et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Livestock initiatives that target women's access to resources including training, loans, and productive assets improve women's economic empowerment. This is represented in a variety of metrics, including income generation, savings accumulation, and asset ownership. The treatments encourage gender-equitable decision-making processes in homes and communities, resulting in more balanced gender dynamics.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis favorable impact is evidenced by an increase in women's engagement in cattle management and household financial decision-making. It also addresses social norms and cultural barriers, which have the potential to improve social participation by allowing excluded groups, such as women, youth, and ethnic minorities, to participate in and benefit from livestock activities. These strategies increase women's participation in value chains and market systems, which leads to better economic empowerment outcomes. The consequences were better market access, higher negotiating power, and greater control over income gained through livestock-related activities. Women are the largest small-scale livestock keepers in Bangladesh, and livestock play key roles in supporting livelihoods, nutrition, social status, and resilience (Randolph et al., 2007; Quisumbing et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Gender equality is one of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and achieving a more equal society is increasingly seen as supporting the achievement of the other SDGs (Baltenweck et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Gender-discriminatory societal norms impede women's economic empowerment and access to gender equality, which is critical for attaining the SDGs and creating a more equitable society. However, women's economic empowerment and gender equality measures are required to track progress toward SDG5 (Quisumbing et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Livestock has strong potential for women's empowerment (Gali\u0026egrave; et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). It can provide women with income and the opportunity to expand their livelihood portfolios and decision-making power (Njuki et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). Women are often responsible for managing livestock in many rural communities and help to provide them with greater control over resources and decision-making power. It can help to promote social support and communities of practice among farmers. Promoting social integration, livestock interventions can help to build stronger, more resilient communities and contribute to sustainable development. Gender equality means that women and men should be treated equally. This involves ensuring that they have the same rights, opportunities, and responsibilities, including equal access to public goods and services, as well as equal outcomes (OECD, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). Gender sensitivity is the practice of recognizing and considering the societal and cultural factors that lead to gender-based exclusion and discrimination. Its main goal is to acknowledge and address the structural disadvantages that women face in different positions and roles (OECD, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe aim of the gender analysis is to better understand the barriers and opportunities for gender equality, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in the livestock system in Bangladesh. This analysis will specifically focus on the current practices and capacity of the public and private sectors in relation to gender equality and women's empowerment, women's access to productive resources in target communities, and interventions for women in livestock and dairy development. The gender and social inclusion analysis will explore how gender and other social factors may limit progress and create inequalities that hinder the achievement of our objectives. Additionally, the analysis will identify opportunities to address these gaps and promote greater equality and inclusion. Ultimately, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of gender equality, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in the livestock system in Bangladesh.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis report will look at the current public and private sector practices and ability for gender equality and women's empowerment in the livestock industry. It will also analyze women's access to productive resources in target communities and the efficacy of livestock and dairy development programs for women.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026zwnj;The main objectives:\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo analyze the effects of livestock interventions on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's empowerment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo create a strategy for program design and planning to bring gender mainstreaming and empowerment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eThe following research hypothesis is proposed for the study\u003c/b\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eH\u003c/em\u003e \u003csub\u003e \u003cem\u003e0\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;There is no relationship between livestock interventions and gender dynamics, social inclusion, \u0026amp; women's economic empowerment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eH\u003c/em\u003e \u003csub\u003e \u003cem\u003ea\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/sub\u003e = There is a significant relation between livestock interventions and gender dynamics, social inclusion \u0026amp; women's economic empowerment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eH\u003c/em\u003e \u003csub\u003e \u003cem\u003e0\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;There is no significant difference in the effectiveness of program design and planning strategies for gender mainstreaming and empowerment compared to traditional program design and planning approaches.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eH\u003c/em\u003e \u003csub\u003e \u003cem\u003ea\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/sub\u003e= There is a significant difference in the effectiveness of program design and planning strategies for gender mainstreaming and empowerment compared to traditional program design and planning approaches.\"\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study's originality comes in its thorough assessment of the influence of livestock interventions on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in Bangladesh. It focuses on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in livestock farming households, while also identifying issues that influence gender equality and women's empowerment. The study underlines the need for context-specific information and personalized interventions to enhance gender equality, social integration, and women's empowerment in livestock farming families. It significantly contributes to the current research on livestock interventions and women's empowerment by focusing on important dimensions and calling for gender-responsive techniques.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Methodology","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1 Area of the study\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study was done in five northwestern districts of Bangladesh, chosen for their major contributions to women's empowerment and social participation through LDDP activities. These districts\u0026mdash;Sirajganj, Pabna, Munshiganj, Satkhira, and Chittagong\u0026mdash;were chosen based on animal density, milk production levels, and the availability of active LDDP initiatives. Within these districts, certain Upazilas (sub-districts) were purposefully selected to provide a representative sample of smallholder livestock farmers and other key stakeholders. The selected Upazilas were Shahjadpur and Belkhuchi in Sirajganj, Bera in Pabna, Sreenagar and Sirajdikhan in Munshiganj, Tala and Kaligonj in Satkhira, and Satkania and Potiya in Chittagong. Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e shows the selected districts and upazilas.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudy area and survey respondents\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDistricts\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUpazilas\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRespondents\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSirajganj\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eShahjadpur\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBelkhuchi\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePabna\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBera\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSanthia\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMunshiganj\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSreenagar\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSirajdikhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSatkhira\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTala\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKaligonj\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChittagong\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSatkania\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePotiya\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e300\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe poll included 300 respondents, with 30 from each Upazila. This strategy allowed for a comprehensive and diverse sample, capturing a wide range of perspectives and demographics. The precise selection criteria and organized approach provided valuable insights for informed decision-making and policy development, particularly regarding the role of livestock in promoting women's empowerment and inclusion.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2 Techniques of data collection\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur research employed qualitative and participatory research methodologies in a cross-sectional study. We utilized gender analysis tools for action research within the Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP). The gender analysis framework we employed was the USAID five domains of gender analysis, which encompassed the following areas: (i) laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices; (ii) access to and control over assets and resources; (iii) gender roles, responsibilities, and time use; (iv) cultural norms and beliefs; and (v) patterns of power and decision-making. We conducted thirty-nine key informant interviews (KIIs), which included 24 men and 15 women. These interviews involved regulators at county and national levels, livestock extension workers, veterinarians, vaccinators, agrovet owners and attendants, vaccine manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, feed store owners and workers, local women farmers, community leaders, women group leaders, civic and public leaders, ecclesiastical elders, non-governmental organization leaders, and farmers along the LDDP. The KIIs followed semi-structured guides that addressed farmer knowledge about the five domains, as well as access to, control over, and benefits from resources; government policies and activities for social inclusion; and women's roles and opportunities to increase benefits from LDDP interventions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3 Data analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe econometric model used for data analysis in this study is Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). PLS-SEM is a statistical approach used to investigate the structural links between latent variables in a model. It is effective when dealing with multivariate data and complicated variable connections. In this study, PLS-SEM was used to examine the effects of livestock interventions on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in Bangladesh. The study collected data from 300 respondents in Bangladesh's northwest districts and analyzed it using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and PLS-SEM. Overall, the econometric analysis proved useful in understanding the links between livestock interventions, gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in Bangladesh.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1 Key construct based on five domains for women\u0026rsquo;s empowerment and social inclusion.\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eLivestock interventions have the potential to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. However, it is important to approach these interventions holistically and consider cultural subtleties. Integrating gender equality into agricultural policy, promoting inclusive communication, and utilizing GIS services for resource monitoring are critical factors. Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e illustrates how legal reforms, cultural sensitization, targeted interventions, and capacity-building can challenge norms and enable women to actively participate in and benefit from livestock farming activities. This can ultimately lead to gender equality, social integration, and women's empowerment. The USAID employs five domains for women's empowerment, which include laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices; cultural norms and beliefs; gender roles, responsibilities, and time use; access to and control over assets and resources; and patterns of power and decision-making. These domains provide a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to addressing the complex and interrelated barriers that women face.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFive domains and their description\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eList of domains\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescription of the domains\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLaws, Policies, Regulations, and Institutional Practices\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLegal frameworks and institutional practices play a crucial role in shaping the environment for women. It is imperative to prioritize equity to protect and uphold women's rights, as well as to provide them with opportunities for growth and progress. The laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices that are in place significantly influence women's empowerment. By implementing fair and just frameworks and practices, we can guarantee that women have equal rights and access to opportunities. On the other hand, discriminatory policies hinder progress and limit their advancement. To promote gender equality and empower women, it is essential to enact effective legal reforms and establish supportive institutions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCultural Norms and Beliefs\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCultural perceptions and societal beliefs greatly influence gender roles and the treatment of women in various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and politics. To empower women and overcome the barriers they face, it is crucial to challenge discriminatory norms and promote beliefs that advocate for gender equality. Cultural norms and beliefs shape societal expectations, making it harder for women to access education, employment, and resources. These norms also impact women's self-esteem and their ability to participate in decision-making processes and may even result in biased laws that impede women's rights. Challenging these norms is essential to create an environment that fosters women's empowerment and equal opportunities.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender Roles, Responsibilities, and Time Use\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWomen face traditional gender roles that confine them to unpaid domestic work and caregiving. This limits their time and opportunities for education, employment, and public participation. By challenging these roles and promoting shared responsibilities, we can increase women's involvement and benefits from development initiatives. In doing so, we can overcome the constraints imposed by gender roles, responsibilities, and time use, enabling women to fully engage in society and pursue personal and professional growth.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAccess to and Control over Assets and Resources\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe ability of women to access and control economic resources is crucial for their economic independence and empowerment. It is important to ensure fair and equal access to resources such as land, finances, and education, as it allows women to make independent choices and improve their socio-economic status. When women have control over assets and resources like land, finances, and education, they can enhance their socio-economic status, make autonomous decisions, and contribute meaningfully to their families and communities, ultimately advancing gender equality.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePatterns of Power and Decision-Making\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEmpowerment involves increasing women's influence in decision-making at all levels: in the home, community, and at the national level. By promoting women's participation in leadership and decision-making roles, we can ensure that their needs and perspectives are considered in policies and practices. The distribution of power and decision-making is crucial for empowering women, as it determines their level of influence in household, community, and governance decisions. To empower women, we need to enhance their participation in decision-making processes, provide them with a platform for their voices, and take their perspectives into account. This will strengthen their agency, promote gender equality, and contribute to social progress.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOverall, these five domains collectively contribute to creating an environment that supports gender equality, social integration, and women's empowerment in livestock farming households by addressing legal, cultural, social, and economic aspects that impact women's participation and agency in the sector.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKey indicators of five latent /domain variables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSl. No.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFive latent variables /domains\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFactor loading (\u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\(\\:\\lambda\\:\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCronbach's alpha (α\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eComposite reliability (CR)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage variance extracted (AVE)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-1. Laws, Policies, Regulations, and Institutional Practices\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.722\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.757\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.635\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLPR\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo what extent do Bangladesh Livestock Research Institure (BLRI) and Department of Livestock Services (DLS) staff demonstrate knowledge and positive attitudes towards gender equality in their work within the livestock sector?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.709\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLPR\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow effectively do BLRI and DLS implement gender equality approaches, and to what extent are they engaged with women actors in the livestock system?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.861\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLPR\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhat are the attitudes, approaches, and practices of the private sector in engaging women and youth actors in the livestock system to implement cost-effective Climate-Smart Livestock (CSL) practices aimed at enhancing milk efficiency and reducing methane emissions?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.813\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-2. Cultural Norms and Beliefs\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.811\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.813\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e00.569\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCNB\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo what extent do prevailing perceptions and gender norms hinder or support women's mobility, their ability to participate in trainings, and their engagement with actors outside of the family/home?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.742\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCNB\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow do women perceive their own aspirations in various roles within the livestock system, and how are these aspirations perceived by others, including family members and community members?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.719\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCNB\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo what extent do women perceive themselves and are perceived by others as capable participants in various roles within the livestock system, such as livestock rearing, buyer-sellers, and animal health/veterinary services?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.782\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCNB\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow aware are individuals of the perceptions, attitudes, and potential risks related to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) within the context of livestock production and related activities?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.781\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCNB\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo what extent are the treatment, needs, and aspirations of different sub-groups of women, such as ethnic minority women, young women, and women living with disabilities, addressed and supported within the target communities?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.746\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-3. Gender Roles, Responsibilities, and Time Use\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.772\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.774\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.688\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGRT\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo what extent do women and men have equal opportunities for participation and benefit within both public and private sector roles in the livestock production and market system?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGRT\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow equally are women and men represented in veterinary systems and animal health management roles, and to what extent are their opportunities and aspirations supported within these systems?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGRT\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow do women and men perceive and allocate their time differently in relation to livestock-related activities and other responsibilities?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-4.Access to and Control over Assets and Resources\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.758\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.768\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.579\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eACAR\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo what extent do women and men have equal ownership and control over livestock and related resources within their households?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.795\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eACAR\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow accessible is information regarding cost-effective Climate-Smart Livestock (CSL) practices that enhance milk efficiency while mitigating methane emissions to both women and men?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.686\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eACAR\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow equally do women and men participate in decision-making regarding the allocation of time, distribution of tasks, mobility, and social interactions related to livestock management?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.760\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eACAR\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo what extent do women and men have equitable access to veterinary and animal health services, considering their specific needs and preferences?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.796\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDomain-5. Patterns of Power and Decision-Making\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.693\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.696\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.620\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePPDM\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo what extent do women and men collaborate in making decisions about livestock production and adopting improved practices?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.742\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePPDM\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow involved are women and men in decisions regarding the utilization of veterinary and animal health services for their livestock?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.795\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePPDM\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo what degree are time, tasks, mobility, and social interactions related to livestock management evenly distributed between women and men?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.822\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e shows that domain 1's Cronbach's alpha (0.758), rho_a (0.768), rho_c (0.846), and AVE (0.579) all indicate acceptable reliability and validity. In domain 2, Cronbach's alpha (0.811), rho_a (0.813), rho_c (0.868), and AVE (0.569) indicate good reliability but a slightly lower AVE. Domain 3's Cronbach's alpha (0.772), rho_a (0.774), rho_c (0.868), and AVE (0.688) suggest good reliability and validity. In domain 4, Cronbach's alpha (0.722), rho_a (0.757), rho_c (0.838), and AVE (0.635) indicate acceptable reliability and validity, while domain 5's Cronbach's alpha (0.693), rho_a (0.696), rho_c (0.830), and AVE (0.620) suggest acceptable reliability and validity. Overall, the results indicate that the constructs have acceptable to good reliability and validity, with some variability in the AVE values. Further validation studies could explore ways to improve the AVE for some constructs to strengthen their validity.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConstruct reliability and validity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eComposite reliability (rho_a)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eComposite reliability (rho_c)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage variance extracted (AVE)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.722\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.757\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.838\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.635\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.811\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.813\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.868\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.569\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.772\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.774\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.868\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.688\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.758\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.768\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.846\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.579\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.693\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.696\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.830\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.620\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e shows that the measure assesses the internal consistency of the items within each domain. A value above 0.7 indicates acceptable reliability, suggesting that the items within each domain are measuring the same underlying construct reliably. The CR estimates the extent to which the observed variables represent the latent construct. Both rho_a and rho_c values are provided. They should ideally exceed 0.7, indicating good reliability. The AVE measures the amount of variance captured by the construct to the amount of variance due to measurement error. AVE values should ideally be above 0.5, suggesting that the construct explains more variance than measurement error.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2 Heterotrait-monotrait ratio (HTMT)\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Heterotrait-Monotrait Ratio (HTMT) is another method used to assess discriminant validity in structural equation modeling (SEM). It compares the correlations between constructs (heterotrait correlations) with the correlations between items measuring the same construct (monotrait correlations). The HTMT ratio provides a straightforward way to assess whether constructs are measuring distinct concepts. If the HTMT ratio for a pair of constructs exceeds the threshold, it indicates potential issues with discriminant validity, and adjustments to the measurement model may be necessary.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiscriminant validity-Heterotrait-monotrait ratio (HTMT)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.427\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.410\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.833\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.570\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.769\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.688\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.434\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.714\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.641\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.751\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, the heterotrait-monotrait ratio (HTMT) values are presented for assessing discriminant validity between pairs of domains. HTMT is a measure used to determine if constructs are distinct from each other. Ideally, values should be less than 0.85 to indicate discriminant validity, suggesting that the constructs are measuring different underlying concepts. All HTMT values in the table are below the threshold of 0.85, indicating discriminant validity between the domains. This suggests that each domain measures a distinct concept from the others, supporting the validity of the measurement model.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.4 Fornell-Larcker Criterion test\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Fornell-Larcker Criterion is a test used to assess the discriminant validity of constructs in a measurement model in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e. It compares the square root of the average variance extracted (AVE) for each construct with the correlations between that construct and all other constructs in the model.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab6\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 6\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiscriminant validity-Fornell-Larcker Criterion\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDomain-5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDomain-1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.797\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDomain2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.344\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.754\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDomain-3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.324\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.657\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.829\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDomain-4\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.446\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.604\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.540\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.761\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDomain-5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.324\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.540\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.471\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.555\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.787\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Fornell-Larcker Criterion is used to assess discriminant validity by comparing the square root of the average variance extracted (AVE) with the correlations between constructs. The diagonal elements represent the square roots of the AVE for each construct, and the off-diagonal elements represent the correlations between constructs. According to the Fornell-Larcker Criterion, discriminant validity is supported if the square root of AVE for each construct is greater than the correlation between that construct and any other construct. In this case, all square roots of AVE are greater than the corresponding correlations, indicating that discriminant validity is satisfied for all constructs.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.5 Goodness of the estimated model\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo evaluate the fit of a structural equation model, various fit indices are commonly assessed in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e. Here's how to interpret the fit indices provided for the saturated model (a model with perfect fit) and the estimated model:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSRMR (Standardized Root Mean Square Residual)\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis index measures the average standardized residual covariance between observed and predicted values in the model. Lower values indicate better fit. Both the saturated and estimated models have an SRMR of 0.079, suggesting good fit.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ed_ULS (Unweighted Least Squares discrepancy)\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis index is a measure of the discrepancy between the observed and model-implied covariance matrices. It's computed as the square root of the sum of squared differences between the observed and predicted covariances. Ideally, it should be close to 1. The values for both models are 1.080, indicating similar discrepancies between the observed and model-implied covariance matrices.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab7\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 7\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eModel fit\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSaturated model\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEstimated model\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSRMR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.079\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.079\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ed_ULS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.080\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.080\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ed_G\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.359\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.359\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChi-square\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e637.812\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e637.812\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNFI\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.706\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.706\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ed_G (Geodesic discrepancy)\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003ed_G is another measure of discrepancy between observed and model-implied covariance matrices. Like d_ULS, it should also be close to 1. The values for both models are 0.359, indicating similar discrepancies between the observed and model-implied covariance matrices.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eChi-square\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis is a traditional measure of fit that test whether the observed covariance matrix differs significantly from the model-implied covariance matrix. A non-significant chi-square indicates good fit. In both models, the chi-square value is 637.812, which suggests that the model does not fit significantly worse than the saturated model.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eNFI (Normed Fit Index)\u003c/b\u003e: This index compares the discrepancy of the estimated model with the discrepancy of the independence model (where all variables are assumed to be uncorrelated). NFI values range from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating better fit. Both models have an NFI of 0.706, indicating similar fits to the data. Overall, based on these fit indices, the estimated model fits the data well and is comparable to the saturated model, suggesting that it adequately represents the relationships among the observed variables. The study on livestock interventions' impacts in Bangladesh underscores their positive influence on gender equality, social inclusion, and women\u0026rsquo;s empowerment. It emphasizes capacity building, resource access, financial services, and market access in gender-responsive interventions. Within livestock farming households, five crucial domains are identified for promoting gender equality and empowerment: laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices; cultural norms and beliefs; gender roles, responsibilities, and time use; access to and control over assets and resources; and patterns of power and decision-making. The findings indicate that gender-responsive livestock interventions play a significant role in empowering women, enhancing social inclusion, and advancing gender equality within livestock farming households.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.6 Strategy women empowerment and social inclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab8\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e outlines a strategy for program design and planning to promote gender mainstreaming and increased social inclusion in livestock producer associations, farm-based organizations, and cooperatives. The table provides key considerations for stakeholders in five domains: laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices; cultural norms and beliefs; gender roles, responsibilities, and time use; access to and control over assets and resources; and patterns of power and decision-making.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab8\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 8\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrategy for program design and planning to bring gender mainstreaming and increased social inclusion.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStakeholder\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLaws, Policies, Regulations, Institutional Practices\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCultural Norms and Beliefs\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender Roles, Responsibilities, and Time Use\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAccess to and Control Over Assets and Resources\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePatterns of Power and Decision Making\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLivestock producers\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Inheritance laws lack explicit provisions that facilitate the transfer of land, property, and livestock ownership to widows following the death of their spouse.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Ensure that program design aligns with existing gender equality laws and policies.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Incorporate gender-sensitive indicators and targets in program planning to monitor progress towards gender equality.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Provide training and capacity-building sessions for policymakers, legislators, and institutional leaders on gender mainstreaming principles and practices.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women primarily oversee care for small livestock due to limited involvement in external employment, impacting their income.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Men and community leaders predominantly manage family and communal lands, with women rarely owning land.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women typically manage household farming plots and \"gardens,\" where they tend to a small number of chickens, goats, or cows.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Conduct comprehensive gender analyses to understand cultural norms that impact women's access to resources and decision-making.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Tailor programs to address cultural barriers that limit women's participation in livestock activities.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; men and teenage boys engage in migration, taking the majority of the cattle with them to sell in larger markets. Meanwhile, women stay behind to manage household responsibilities, including tending to farm plots, looking after children, and caring for any remaining cattle.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Design programs that recognize and address the unequal distribution of labour between men and women in livestock management.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Provide training and support to challenge traditional gender roles and promote shared responsibilities.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women typically retain control over earnings from sales of chickens, goats, and milk products.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Men usually oversee income from the sale of cattle.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; During periods of increased production and income from small livestock, men tend to take over management and control of these assets traditionally handled by women.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; There's a shift in responsibility towards men when there's a rise in production and income from smaller livestock, deviating from traditional gender roles.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Control over livestock and associated earnings can shift based on changes in production and income dynamics.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Ensure equitable access to productive resources like land, livestock, and inputs for both men and women.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Implement strategies to empower women economically by enhancing their control over assets and resources.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women frequently experience exclusion from public decision-making processes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Men typically hold decision-making authority within households, especially regarding the care and sale of cattle.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women often have decision-making control over matters concerning the care and sale of chickens and goats within the household.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Gendered division of decision-making authority persists, with men primarily making decisions related to larger livestock, and women having more control over smaller livestock.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Promote women's participation in decision-making processes within livestock producer associations and community leadership structures.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Develop gender-sensitive guidelines for training, extension services, and veterinary support to ensure women have equal access to these resources.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLivestock producer associations, farm-based organizations, and cooperative\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Due to the prevalent requirement of cattle ownership in many livestock producer associations, women, who are less likely to possess livestock, face reduced opportunities to sell small ruminants through these associations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women predominantly opt to sell their livestock in local markets or directly at the farm gate, where their bargaining power is diminished, leading to lower product prices.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women traditionally do not speak in producer associations meetings where men are the majority\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Men predominantly govern livestock producer associations, and most of their members are male, with women representing only 20% of the membership.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Integrate gender-sensitive education into school curriculums to promote understanding and respect for diverse gender roles.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Advocate for policies and programs that support work-life balance and equitable distribution of caregiving responsibilities.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Encourage the promotion and acceptance of non-traditional gender roles through media campaigns and community initiatives.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women's lower literacy levels and limited opportunities to hone leadership skills pose challenges for active participation in association meetings, expressing their perspectives, and vying for leadership positions within these organizations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women aspiring to advance in the livestock value chain encounter challenges in accessing market information and receiving support from livestock marketing associations, hindering their transition to higher levels.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women-only cooperatives, being smaller in scale, provide limited opportunities for learning about new productive and commercial prospects, contrasting with the broader knowledge-sharing potential of more significant associations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Implement programs aimed at providing women with access to financial resources, credit, and entrepreneurial opportunities.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Offer vocational training and skills development programs targeted at women to enhance their economic independence and control over resources.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women's participation in livestock production associations is limited due to household and childcare responsibilities.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Constraints such as childcare duties often prevent women from attending association meetings.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Some women may lack permission from their partners to leave the house for association meetings.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Advocate for gender balance in leadership positions in political, economic, and social spheres.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Promote the implementation of quota systems or affirmative action policies to ensure women's representation in decision-making bodies.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Provide leadership training and mentorship programs specifically tailored for women to enhance their capacity to participate in decision-making processes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnimal health input and service delivery providers\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Due to their heavy workload, veterinarians are less prone to conducting home visits for vaccinations. Instead, livestock owners must transport their animals to a designated central location at a specific time for participation in a community-wide vaccination campaign.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Most training, veterinary medicines, and benefits are directed primarily towards men. With most livestock extension workers being male, the training th\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women, often in their daily caregiving roles, are usually the first to identify disease symptoms in livestock due to their close observation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Utilizing traditional medicines as an initial remedy, if the treatment proves ineffective, women commonly report the case to their male partners or family members, who then bear the expenses for veterinary services.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Men usually procure medications from drug shops and seek assistance from paraprofessionals when drug treatments fall short.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women face obstacles accessing funds for livestock medication and lack networks with community animal health workers, limiting their involvement to identifying health issues. During migrations, animals under men's care may lack access to health services\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Men typically make decisions regarding selling small ruminants to cover veterinary expenses or sell ailing animals directly.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women may resort to selling chickens in local markets or use income from milk to purchase drugs for cattle or small ruminants when their male partners opt not to cover the costs.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Gendered decision-making dynamics often see men taking the lead in financial decisions related to livestock.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women adapt by using alternative income sources, such as selling chickens, to cover veterinary expenses or purchase medications for livestock.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHousehold level food preparers and consumers of animal source foods\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women have less access to extension and training outside of the household, and thus, are less likely to benefit from nutritional training.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Men's earnings typically contribute to acquiring staple grains, and they commonly bear the responsibility of covering school fees and health services. Meanwhile, women rely on their income from selling surplus milk to procure additional food items.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women and girls are primarily responsible for food preparation tasks within the household.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Men hold precedence as consumers of meat and eggs, and certain food taboos restrict women from consuming specific types of meat.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women possess access to the milk and meat produced within the household. The majority utilize wood-burning stoves for food preparation, and women are responsible for gathering the necessary wood and water.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026clubs; Women hold decision-making authority regarding the utilization of milk produced within the household. Conversely, men take charge of decisions regarding the consumption of meat, often reserved for guests and special occasions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the domain of laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices, the strategy emphasizes the need to align program design with existing gender equality laws and policies, incorporate gender-sensitive indicators, and provide training for policymakers. Additionally, addressing cultural norms and beliefs, such as women predominantly overseeing care for small livestock, calls for tailoring programs to challenge traditional gender roles and promote shared responsibilities. The strategy suggests designing programs that recognize and address the unequal distribution of labor between men and women in livestock management. It also emphasizes the importance of equitable access to productive resources like land and livestock for both men and women. Overall, the strategy proposes a multifaceted approach to gender mainstreaming and social inclusion in livestock interventions, emphasizing the importance of addressing specific domains such as laws and policies, cultural norms, gender roles, access to resources, and decision-making processes. By implementing these measures, programs can effectively promote gender equality, social integration, and women's empowerment in livestock farming households.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"4. Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study on livestock interventions in Bangladesh found positive and significant associations between livestock interventions and gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women\u0026rsquo;s economic empowerment. The study used various statistical analyses like descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as PLS-SEM, to reach its objectives. The reliability and validity of the constructs were assessed, showing acceptable to good values in most cases. The study also utilized qualitative and participatory research methodologies, including key informant interviews, to gather data. Livestock interventions in Bangladesh have a positive and significant impact on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women\u0026rsquo;s empowerment. Gender-responsive livestock interventions should focus on capacity building, training, access to resources and services, financial services, and market access. There are five key domains that need to be addressed in relation to livestock farming households for promoting gender equality, social integration, and women\u0026rsquo;s empowerment: laws, policies, regulations, and institutional practices; cultural norms and beliefs; gender roles, responsibilities, and time use; access to and control over assets and resources; and patterns of power and decision-making. These findings emphasize the significance of gender-sensitive and socially inclusive approaches in livestock interventions to enhance the empowerment and well-being of women in farming households in Bangladesh. In comparison to other studies, the research focused on mapping five specific domains related to gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women\u0026rsquo;s economic empowerment, such as laws, policies, cultural norms, access to resources, and power dynamics. Livestock interventions can serve as an important entry point for supporting the empowerment of rural women and promoting gender equality (Agrilinks \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Livestock development programs need to be designed with a gender lens to provide empowering opportunities for women livestock keepers and avoid exacerbating existing gender inequalities (Agrilinks \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e; Musara et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). Strategies include improving women's access to livestock assets, services, and decision-making power. Livestock interventions should also target youth, as they make up a large proportion of the population in many developing countries. Integrating youth as primary producers, service providers, and employees can help deter rural-urban migration and promote social inclusion (Agrilinks \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Livestock development programs that are \"gender-blind\" can inadvertently lead to men taking control over livestock as they become more profitable, exacerbating existing gender inequalities. To avoid this, programs need to be designed with a gender lens to provide empowering opportunities for women livestock keepers. Strategies to empower women in livestock include (FAO 2023; Gali\u0026egrave; et al.,2018 ). Improving women's access to livestock assets, services, training, and credit. Increasing women's participation and decision-making power in livestock producer groups and cooperatives. Promoting equitable sharing of livestock-related workloads between women and men. Collecting sex-disaggregated data to understand gender dynamics in the livestock sector. Overall, the findings suggest that gender-responsive livestock interventions should prioritize capacity building, access to resources, financial services, and market access to empower women in livestock farming households. The study highlights the importance of addressing different aspects within the five domains to promote gender equality and social inclusion. Additionally, context-specific knowledge is crucial for effective livestock interventions.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5. Conclusion and recommendation","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study concludes that livestock interventions in Bangladesh have a positive impact on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment. The findings suggest that gender-responsive livestock interventions should focus on capacity building, training, access to resources, financial services, and market access. It is also emphasized that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to livestock interventions and that context-specific knowledge is essential. Based on the study's conclusions, policy recommendations include designing programs that recognize and address the unequal distribution of labor between men and women in livestock management, promoting women's participation in decision-making processes within livestock producer associations, advocating for gender balance in leadership positions, providing leadership training tailored for women, integrating gender-sensitive education into school curriculums, and implementing programs to provide women with access to financial resources and entrepreneurial opportunities. It is recommended that policymakers and stakeholders in Bangladesh focus on implementing gender-responsive livestock interventions to promote gender equality, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in livestock farming households. A holistic approach that considers gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment is crucial for the success of gender-responsive livestock interventions in promoting gender equality, social integration, and women's empowerment in Bangladesh.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImitation and scope of future study\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study\u0026apos;s limitation is the use of convenience sampling in the northwest districts of Bangladesh, which may lead to sampling bias. Further research is needed to examine intra-household decision-making processes and empowerment contexts, to understand the unequal bargaining power of women influenced by gendered divisions of labor and societal norms. The focus should be on advocating for gender-responsive and nutrition-sensitive policies and programs that prioritize women\u0026apos;s empowerment and incorporate gender relations perspectives. This will contribute to gender mainstreaming and empowerment efforts.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor declaration\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eThe data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding:\u003c/strong\u003e This manuscript is part of the LDDP\u0026rsquo;s sub-research and innovation project. The World Bank is funding the initiative through DLS and a sub-research and innovation project under the Grant Agreement of LDDP.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical Approval:\u003c/strong\u003e The Ethical Standard Research Committee, Bangladesh Agricultural Research System (BAURES), BAU approved this research (BAURES/ESRC/14/2023). Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study, or from a parent and/or legal guardian in the case of participants under 18 years of age.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDisclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eThe authors declare no actual or perceived conflicts of interest.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAgrilinks (2023). Women-Inclusive Livestock Development Helps Improve Women\u0026rsquo;s Empowerment. (2023, January 26). 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Global Food Security, \u003cem\u003e38\u003c/em\u003e, 100707\u0026ndash;100707. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2023.100707\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1016/j.gfs.2023.100707\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Livestock interventions, Gender inclusion, PLS-SEM, Women’s empowerment","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4836567/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4836567/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eLivestock interventions in low and middle-income countries can empower women and enhance household social inclusion and gender equality. However, the optimal conditions for these outcomes are not well understood. This study investigates the effects of livestock interventions on gender dynamics, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment in northwest Bangladesh. Convenience sampling techniques were applied to obtain a total of 300 respondents through a pre-determined survey questionnaire in 2023\u0026ndash;2024 from northwest districts of Bangladesh. Descriptive and inferential statistics, along with PLS-SEM, revealed significant positive associations between livestock interventions and gender equality, social inclusion, and women's empowerment. Effective interventions should focus on capacity building, resource access, financial services, and market access. The study emphasizes the importance of context-specific approaches, taking into consideration laws, cultural norms, gender roles, resource access, and decision-making patterns. Recommendations include tailored capacity building and access to resources and markets to foster gender equality and empowerment in livestock farming households.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"The contribution of livestock intervention on gender equality, social integration, and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-09-16 23:22:26","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4836567/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"cc9bbb17-265d-4e02-9bd7-aea6743aaa07","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 16th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-11-11T10:08:22+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-09-16 23:22:26","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4836567","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4836567","identity":"rs-4836567","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}