International Food Policy Research Institute, May 2020
Although evidence exists linking women’s empowerment and improved child human capital outcomes, researchers lack evidence about the relationship between women’s empowerment and child nutrition. This paper examines connections between women’s empowerment and the dietary and nutrition outcome of women, children, and their households by analyzing Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index data from six countries in Africa and Asia. The authors conclude that the most cost-effective interventions may be those that work to address the top contributors to women’s disempowerment while also improving a broad range of nutritional outcomes.