Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/318481 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
ZEF Discussion Papers on Development Policy No. 363
Publisher: 
University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF), Bonn
Abstract: 
Most households in rural Africa are involved in smallholder farming, but off-farm employment is an important additional income source for many. Previous research has analyzed links between off-farm employment and wellbeing, but mostly at the household level, not considering that household members may be affected differently. In particular, gender gaps in employment, nutrition, and other wellbeing dimensions are widely observed. Here, we use survey data collected in Tanzania and Zambia to examine how women's off-farm employment influences their individual-level dietary quality. Regression estimates with instrumental variables show that women's off-farm employment improves their dietary diversity, including more frequent consumption of nutritious foods such as meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. We also explore potential mechanisms, including changes in household income, women's agency, and time allocation. The main results hold across various robustness checks, suggesting that improving women's access to off-farm employment can help increase household income and reduce widespread gender gaps in rural Africa.
Subjects: 
Off-farm employment
Dietary quality
Gender
Time allocation
Nutrition
Africa
JEL: 
J21
I31
Q18
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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