Bridging the gap: community conversations and plant clinics as catalysts for women's empowerment.

Background: Studies have shown that social norms define gender roles in agriculture and determine who benefits from participation in agricultural activities. Gender transformative approaches target to tackle the social norms that disproportionately affect women in agriculture. However, the effectiveness of gender transformative approaches is sparingly applied in agriculture, especially in agricultural extension and advisory services. This study examines social norms shaping women's participation in agricultural extension, unpaid work, and decision-making in Burundi. It evaluates the effectiveness of plant clinics and community conversations in empowering women in agriculture. Methods: Using mixed methods, this study investigates social norms and gender relations influencing women's roles in agriculture in Burundi. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected to assess the effect of plant clinics and community conversations on women's empowerment. Statistical analysis was employed to measure changes in women's decision-making power and participation in various aspects of agriculture. Results: The study findings revealed that rigid social norms hinder both men and women from actively addressing the unequal division of unpaid work, which often disadvantages women. Women faced marginalization in decision-making processes, control over cash crops, access to extension services, and mobility due to entrenched social norms. However, participation in plant clinics and community conversations proved effective in challenging these norms and empowering women. Over the course of just one year, participation in these initiatives increased the percentage of empowered women from 42% to 54%, enhancing their decision-making power in various aspects of livelihoods, land ownership, financial services, and input in livelihood decisions. Conclusions: The study underscores the importance of promoting gender-transformative approaches within agricultural extension services. By challenging entrenched social norms and incentivizing women's involvement in cash crops for economic empowerment, policy and practice can contribute to fostering greater gender equality and women's empowerment in the agricultural sector.