Supporting Community Resilience Through Gender-Informed Approaches to Livestock Vaccination

This project explores how gender shapes access to livestock vaccination, a crucial tool for promoting animal and human health, food security, and economic stability. Drawing on a scoping review of 49 studies across Africa and Asia, we identified key barriers faced by women in accessing livestock vaccines — including limited decision-making power, inadequate access to information, financial constraints, and restrictive cultural norms.

Although both men and women recognize the value of vaccines, women often manage smaller livestock like poultry and goats, which are typically underserved by vaccination programs that focus on larger animals. We want to highlight the importance of context-specific, gender-responsive approaches in designing vaccine delivery systems. We advocate for inclusive strategies that empower women through education, improved infrastructure, equitable resource distribution, and greater representation in decision-making roles within the vaccine value chain.

Outcomes

Identification of Gender-Based Barriers to Livestock Vaccine Access

This involves using genomic tools to enhance British Columbia's Chronic Wasting The research systematically uncovered how women face significant and consistent obstacles in livestock vaccination — including lack of information, limited financial autonomy, restricted mobility, and exclusion from decision-making. These barriers stem from deeply rooted gender norms and systemic inequalities, which hinder women's ability to fully engage in and benefit from livestock health initiatives.
Recommendations for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Vaccine Strategies

The project provides a roadmap for designing more equitable livestock vaccination programs. This includes tailoring education and outreach to women’s needs, offering flexible and accessible vaccine delivery options, supporting women's economic empowerment, and involving women in leadership roles within the vaccine value chain. These strategies aim to enhance both community resilience and One Health outcomes by ensuring no group is left behind.