Towards gender equality in forestry, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture

The forestry, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture sectors are critical for sustaining rural livelihoods and achieving food and nutrition security around the world. Yet, these sectors are marred by significant gender and social inequalities. This review examines gender gaps in these sectors and what has worked to reduce inequalities. We show that gender norms underpin the invisibility, undervaluation, and weight of women's labor; rural women's typically limited and precarious control over resources; gender-unequal influence over decision-making and agency; and gender-blind and discriminatory policies, data systems, and governance in these sectors. We evidence the diverse and multipronged strategies that have been used to lift these barriers, from the individual-to the system-level and spanning informal to formal institutions, to promote gender equality. •Forestry, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture are marred by gender inequalities.•Women's labor is concentrated in informal and less remunerative value chain nodes.•Women typically lack decision-making power and control over resources in these sectors.•Advancing equality requires addressing norms, women's agency, resources and policies.