This extensive technical report and summary brief comprises three core components—a literature review, a global reproductive health policy analysis, and key informant interviews—that explore the extent to which programs and policies consider couple-based approaches as a means to improve reproductive health outcomes, the reasons such approaches do not feature more prominently, and recommendations for program designers/implementers, policy makers, and researchers.Read More
Policy Brief
The Gendered Impacts of COVID-19 on Labor Markets in Latin America and the Caribbean
This policy brief shows that 1) women were 44% more likely than men to lose their jobs at the onset of COVID-19, 2) highly female-intensive sectors explain 56% of all job losses, and 3) the presence of school-age children at home is linked with a rise in job losses among women, but not among men. The brief is also available in Spanish and Portuguese.Read More
Increasing Women’s Participation in Community Natural Resource Governance in Zambia
This brief shares the experience and positive results of a recent pilot to increase women’s representation in local Community Resources Boards in Zambia, which are responsible for local governance of natural resources. The brief details the strategies implement, outcomes, and lessons learned. A full report with further details is also available.Read More
Mixed-Methods Systematic Review of Behavioral Interventions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries to Increase Family Support for Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition During the First 1000 Days
Fathers, grandmothers, and other family members’ influence on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) is widely recognized, yet synthesis of the effectiveness of engaging them to improve nutrition practices during the first 1000 days is lacking. This brief examines the impact of behavioral interventions to engage family members in MIYCN in low- and middle-income countries through a mixed-methods systematic review and found they can...Read More
Gender-Based Violence and Land Documentation and Administration in Zambia: Emerging Lessons From Implementation
This brief draws from USAID’s experience supporting systematic land documentation in Zambia to further advance awareness and knowledge about the relationship between gender-based violence and the access, use, and control of land and property. It aims to inform current and future design and implementation of programs that promote land-based investment and land rights (particularly women’s land rights) by civil society organizations, other donors, and the...Read More
COVID-19 Is No Excuse to Regress on Gender Equality
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of women’s pre-crisis social, economic, and political situations. This brief offers an overview of how COVID-19 affects women’s employment and wages, education, health and nutrition, unpaid care work, and increases GBV rates. It also provides recommendations for gender-responsive policies and sector-specific strategies to help preserve hard-won gains for women.Read More
