Gender dimensions in agricultural and livestock interventions: A review of economic modelling approaches

This study identifies innovations and gaps in quantifying gender dynamics in agricultural and livestock sectors using Computable General Equilibrium (CGE), Partial Equilibrium (PE), or micro-simulation (MS) models. These modelling approaches are widely applied to assess policy and market interventions in low- and -middle-income countries (LMICs). A semi-systematic review protocol was developed to retrieve, select, and analyse relevant literature from ScienceDirect, JSTOR, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria required that studies: (1) were published within a defined 40-year period, (2) applied at least one of the specified economic modelling methods, and (3) included at least one indicator related to sustainable development. From an initial pool of 17,000 articles identified through title screening; 49 were selected for abstract review, and 22 for full-text analysis. Of these, 16 CGE-based studies captured gender-specific impacts, such as women’s employment and income outcomes. Two MS-based studies tracked specific measures of women’s empowerment, while the only PE-based study linked agricultural system characteristics—such as seasonality and distribution networks - to gender-related indicators of food security and nutrition. Additionally, three studies using hybrid modelling approaches demonstrated the value of methodological integration. Such models offer enhanced capabilities to reflect the diversity of gender roles and impacts in policy analysis. The findings highlight the potential of integrated modelling approaches, not only for methodological innovation in gender-disaggregated impact analysis, but for informing evidence-based policies that prioritize gender equity. They offer actionable insights to better inform and prioritize interventions that promote women’s empowerment and equity in agricultural and livestock development in LMICs.