Understanding social equity and sustainability interactions in the Sustainable Development Goals: Gender differences in food security

This discussion brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the interactions between Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality). Based on a literature review of 27 peer-reviewed articles, the brief identifies how gender inequality contributes to food insecurity and argues that gender equality is a primary determinant of food security. It highlights the need for integrated policy-making and gender-differentiated data to ensure that efforts to end hunger do not leave women and girls behind.

• Women and girls are more susceptible to hunger and poor nutrition than men and boys due to systemic economic and social disparities. Women heads of households often possess fewer assets and economic opportunities, and women farmers typically have less access to extension services, farm gear, and fertilizers. Additionally, cultural norms frequently prioritize men and boys during food scarcity, leading mothers to be the first to forgo food.
• A literature review of 27 articles indicates that interactions between gender equality (SDG 5) and food security (SDG 2.1) are more frequently positive than negative, with positive interactions occurring roughly twice as often. In over 75% of the analyzed cases, the gender dimension or policy area acted as the source of influence on food security aspects.
• Gender equality is identified as the single most important determinant of food security, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. The brief notes that if ingrained social and cultural norms are not addressed simultaneously with food security interventions, the benefits for women and girls may be significantly limited.
• Globalization presents mixed outcomes for women's food security. While it can provide low-income women producers with improved information and technology, it has also been linked to livelihood losses and declining food self-sufficiency. In Ghana, for example, a transition toward cash crop cultivation—where men typically control the income—resulted in negative consequences for women and girls.
• Women's empowerment is directly linked to improved household food security. Evidence from the Philippines shows that community-based peri-urban initiatives advancing empowerment helped improve food security, while research in South Africa indicates that households are more likely to be food-secure when headed by women with high financial management skills, psychological empowerment, and economic agency.
• There is a significant research gap regarding how food security dimensions (availability, access, and use) impact women's roles in society, as most existing research focuses on the reverse: how gender equality affects food security. Furthermore, evidence on gender-related household food security in rural Asia and sub-Saharan Africa remains fragmented, particularly concerning climate resilience.

APA

Taylor, R., Besa, M. C., Matin, N., & Davis, M. (2017). Understanding social equity and sustainability interactions in the Sustainable Development Goals: Gender differences in food security. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-DB-2017-Gender-food-security-interactions-SDGs.pdf

Chicago

Taylor, Richard, Mònica Coll Besa, Nilufar Matin, and Marion Davis. Understanding social equity and sustainability interactions in the Sustainable Development Goals: Gender differences in food security. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2017. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-DB-2017-Gender-food-security-interactions-SDGs.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Taylor |first1=Richard |last2=Besa |first2=Mònica Coll |last3=Matin |first3=Nilufar |last4=Davis |first4=Marion |title=Understanding social equity and sustainability interactions in the Sustainable Development Goals: Gender differences in food security |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2017 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-DB-2017-Gender-food-security-interactions-SDGs.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{taylor2017understanding, author = {Taylor, Richard and Besa, Mònica Coll and Matin, Nilufar and Davis, Marion}, title = {{Understanding social equity and sustainability interactions in the Sustainable Development Goals: Gender differences in food security}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2017}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-DB-2017-Gender-food-security-interactions-SDGs.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }