
Client
Action Aid Nepal

Project Period
July 2020 – August 2020

Project Area
Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Terhathum, Doti
Action Aid was carrying out Covid-19 Food Crises Monitoring Initiative in 17 countries with the objective to better understand the impacts that Covid-19 was having on food security of smallholder farmers with a particular focus on women smallholders in the Global South. Such information was key for ActionAid and partners to define programmes, policy initiatives and responses to support smallholder and poor people’s initiatives on food security and access to food in the context of a protracted pandemic.
SWN was assigned by Action Aid Nepal to better understand the impact of Covid-19 on smallholder women food producers and on the Food Security of the vulnerable people in Nepal.

Objectives of the project
The main objective of the research were:
- Better understand the impact of Covid-19 on small holder women food producers and on the food security of the most vulnerable people.
- Support ActionAid on programming and supporting women smallholder’s producers and youth groups in advocacy effort in local and national.
- Release a stories and status report internationally on Rural Women’s day/ World Food Day in October 2020.
Key services provided by the firm
SWN carried out convergent mixed method, combining qualitative and quantitative research in with 15 beneficiaries, organisation and government officials divided into four different modules, . The research focused in five different thematic areas of Action Aid (1. food security, 2. access to Markets, 3. impact on gender equality (GBV, unpaid care and domestic work), 4. plans for the next sowing season and 5.opportunities and coping solutions).
SWN carried out the following activities:
- Participated in ActionAid International’s research team meetings
- Conducted telephonic survey with 15 beneficiaries, organisations and government
- Conducted secondary research through different literature review
- Collected case stories from small holder’s farmers groups
- Compiled all information and translate into English and fed into global database system
Outcome
SWN prepared a comprehensive country specific report on the impact of Covid-19 on small holder women food producers and on the food security of the vulnerable people and uploaded complete data set into global databased system for international research report to be launched ahead of the Rural Women’s Day and World Food Day (15 and 16 October respectively).
Keywords:
Women empowerment, GESI, Impact Assessment, COVID-19, agriculture and market

