Gender and Access to Food: A Case Study on Gender Differences in Access to Food through Rural to Urban Food Transfers, and its Impact on Food Security in Moses //Garoëb, Windhoek, Namibia

Abstract: Previous studies have shown that female-centred households in Windhoek, Namibia, receive half as much of the most essential staple crop through rural to urban food transfers as male-centred households, and that female-centred households are the most food insecure. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate if and how gender norms influence access to food made available through rural to urban food transfers, and what implications this might have on the food security of Owambo households in Moses //Garoëb Constituency in Windhoek. To answer these questions data was gathered through a series of semi-structured interviews with urban household members and their relatives in the rural north. In addition, a focus group discussion with urban heads of female-centred households was arranged. The main results of the study were that gender norms concerning migration, land acquisition, and job opportunities combined can explain the structural gender difference in the amount of food received through transfers. The study also found that it is important to take marital status into account, as the results show that married heads of urban male- centred households can receive food from two rural sources while heads of female- centred households and single heads of male-centred households only have one source.