The authors acknowledge the financial grant to undertake this review from the International Centre for Research on Women through the CGIAR Gender Programme, now incorporated into the System-wide Programme on Participatory Research and Gender Analysis (SPPRGA), co-ordinated by the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). The comments of Professor Robert Emerson, University of Florida, Dr Nancy McCarthy (ILRI/IFPRI) and Dr Maria Fernandez, Co-ordinator, SPPRGA, on earlier drafts are appreciated. We also thank Ms Anne Marie Nyamu for editing the manuscript. The authors alone are responsible for the content.