This study analysed gender dimensions of decision-making at the household level in cassava enterprise in Ghana, Nigeria, and Vietnam in the context of risks and benefits to food security to ensure value addition to reduce post-harvest losses from cassava. Rapid participatory rural appraisal was used to select a total of 501 households in the countries chosen for this study. Focus and group discussions (F and GD) and semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data. Data were analysed descriptively. Twenty cassava-based activities linked to gender activities in cassava processing households in the selected countries were identified. In all three countries, final decisions to allocate and use resources were taken by men – although women are commonly responsible for post-harvest management. Ownership of production and processing assets is positively skewed to men across the sample with women having rights of use only. Household decision-making objectives for generating peels and attitudes towards cassava peels vary by country and by lineage/descent, largely influenced by culture, level of education, religion, formal employment opportunities, and income levels. Household cassava peels utilization has low value and is therefore not a focus of male interest in Ghana and Nigeria but if value is added, this dynamic may change. This was different in Vietnam where peels are processed generationally for additional household income. This study proposes the design of empowerment/development strategies such as group dynamics and skill acquisition to increase women’s bargaining and decision-making capacities and reduce male/elite capture of interventions.

Aasen, B. (2006) ‘Lessons from evaluations of women and gender equality in development cooperation’ [online], Synthesis Report 2006/1, Oslo, Norway: Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) <www.popline.org/node/182329#sthash.vC5ppgaV.dpuf> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Abdulsalam-Saghir, P.B. (2011) ‘Cassava: adding value for Africa – gender and diversity as a driving force’, in CTA and FARA (eds), Agricultural Innovations for Sustainable Development: Contributions from the Finalists of the 2009–2010 Africa-wide Women and Young Professionals in Science Competitions, vol. 3, issue 2, pp. 38–44, Accra, Ghana: Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa.

Abdulsalam-Saghir, P., Bennett, B., Quaye, W., Tu, Viet Phu, Sanni, L. and Martin, A.M. (2014) ‘Gratitude D1.3 Report’ [online], London: Gains from Losses of Root and Tuber Crops (Gratitude) <www.fp7-gratitude.eu> [accessed 16 May 2015].

Bennett, B., Sanni, L., Siwoku, B. and Adebowale, R. (2013) ‘Nigeria Gratitude work package D 1.2 Report’ [online], London: Gains from Losses of Root and Tuber Crops (Gratitude) <www.fp7-gratitude.eu> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Ezedinma, C., Ojiako, I.A., Okechukwu, R.U., Lemchi, J.R., Umar, A.M. and Sanni, L.O. (2007) The Cassava Food Commodity Market and Trade Network in Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria: IITA.

Forsythe, L., Abdulsalam-Saghir, P. and Martin, A. (2009) ‘Cassava: Adding Value for Africa Nigeria and Ghana gender reports’ [online], London: Natural Resources Institute <http://cava.nri.org/about-the-project/reports-and-publications> [accessed 30 May 2015].

March, C., Smyth, I. and Mukhopadhyay, I. (2005) A Guide to Gender Analysis Frameworks, Oxford: Oxfam Publications.

Morrison, C. and Jutting, J. (2005) ‘Women’s discrimination in developing countries: a new data set for better policies’, World Development 33(7): 1065–81 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2005.04.002>.

Nasiri, D., Sanni, L. Siwoku, B. and Adebowale, R. (2013) ‘Nigeria Gratitude work package D 1.1 Report’ [online], London: Gains from Losses of Root and Tuber Crops (Gratitude) <www.fp7-gratitude.eu> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Quisumbing, A. and Pandolfelli, L. (2008) Promising Approaches to Address the Needs of Poor Female Farmers [pdf], IFPRI Discussion Paper 00882, Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute <www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/IFPRIDP00882.pdf> [accessed 1 June 2015].

Saghir, P., Njuki, J., Waithanji, E., Kariuki, J. and Sikira, A. (2012) ‘Integrating improved goat breeds with new varieties of sweet potatoes and cassava in the agro-pastoral systems of Tanzania: a gendered analysis’, ILRI Discussion Paper 21 [online], Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute <http://mahider.ilri.org/handle/10568/16959> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Aasen, B. (2006) ‘Lessons from evaluations of women and gender equality in development cooperation’ [online], Synthesis Report 2006/1, Oslo, Norway: Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) <www.popline.org/node/182329#sthash.vC5ppgaV.dpuf> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Abdulsalam-Saghir, P.B. (2011) ‘Cassava: adding value for Africa – gender and diversity as a driving force’, in CTA and FARA (eds), Agricultural Innovations for Sustainable Development: Contributions from the Finalists of the 2009–2010 Africa-wide Women and Young Professionals in Science Competitions, vol. 3, issue 2, pp. 38–44, Accra, Ghana: Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa.

Abdulsalam-Saghir, P., Bennett, B., Quaye, W., Tu, Viet Phu, Sanni, L. and Martin, A.M. (2014) ‘Gratitude D1.3 Report’ [online], London: Gains from Losses of Root and Tuber Crops (Gratitude) <www.fp7-gratitude.eu> [accessed 16 May 2015].

Bennett, B., Sanni, L., Siwoku, B. and Adebowale, R. (2013) ‘Nigeria Gratitude work package D 1.2 Report’ [online], London: Gains from Losses of Root and Tuber Crops (Gratitude) <www.fp7-gratitude.eu> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Ezedinma, C., Ojiako, I.A., Okechukwu, R.U., Lemchi, J.R., Umar, A.M. and Sanni, L.O. (2007) The Cassava Food Commodity Market and Trade Network in Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria: IITA.

Forsythe, L., Abdulsalam-Saghir, P. and Martin, A. (2009) ‘Cassava: Adding Value for Africa Nigeria and Ghana gender reports’ [online], London: Natural Resources Institute <http://cava.nri.org/about-the-project/reports-and-publications> [accessed 30 May 2015].

March, C., Smyth, I. and Mukhopadhyay, I. (2005) A Guide to Gender Analysis Frameworks, Oxford: Oxfam Publications.

Morrison, C. and Jutting, J. (2005) ‘Women’s discrimination in developing countries: a new data set for better policies’, World Development 33(7): 1065–81 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2005.04.002>.

Nasiri, D., Sanni, L. Siwoku, B. and Adebowale, R. (2013) ‘Nigeria Gratitude work package D 1.1 Report’ [online], London: Gains from Losses of Root and Tuber Crops (Gratitude) <www.fp7-gratitude.eu> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Quisumbing, A. and Pandolfelli, L. (2008) Promising Approaches to Address the Needs of Poor Female Farmers [pdf], IFPRI Discussion Paper 00882, Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute <www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/IFPRIDP00882.pdf> [accessed 1 June 2015].

Saghir, P., Njuki, J., Waithanji, E., Kariuki, J. and Sikira, A. (2012) ‘Integrating improved goat breeds with new varieties of sweet potatoes and cassava in the agro-pastoral systems of Tanzania: a gendered analysis’, ILRI Discussion Paper 21 [online], Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute <http://mahider.ilri.org/handle/10568/16959> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Aasen, B. (2006) ‘Lessons from evaluations of women and gender equality in development cooperation’ [online], Synthesis Report 2006/1, Oslo, Norway: Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) <www.popline.org/node/182329#sthash.vC5ppgaV.dpuf> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Abdulsalam-Saghir, P.B. (2011) ‘Cassava: adding value for Africa – gender and diversity as a driving force’, in CTA and FARA (eds), Agricultural Innovations for Sustainable Development: Contributions from the Finalists of the 2009–2010 Africa-wide Women and Young Professionals in Science Competitions, vol. 3, issue 2, pp. 38–44, Accra, Ghana: Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa.

Abdulsalam-Saghir, P., Bennett, B., Quaye, W., Tu, Viet Phu, Sanni, L. and Martin, A.M. (2014) ‘Gratitude D1.3 Report’ [online], London: Gains from Losses of Root and Tuber Crops (Gratitude) <www.fp7-gratitude.eu> [accessed 16 May 2015].

Bennett, B., Sanni, L., Siwoku, B. and Adebowale, R. (2013) ‘Nigeria Gratitude work package D 1.2 Report’ [online], London: Gains from Losses of Root and Tuber Crops (Gratitude) <www.fp7-gratitude.eu> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Ezedinma, C., Ojiako, I.A., Okechukwu, R.U., Lemchi, J.R., Umar, A.M. and Sanni, L.O. (2007) The Cassava Food Commodity Market and Trade Network in Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria: IITA.

Forsythe, L., Abdulsalam-Saghir, P. and Martin, A. (2009) ‘Cassava: Adding Value for Africa Nigeria and Ghana gender reports’ [online], London: Natural Resources Institute <http://cava.nri.org/about-the-project/reports-and-publications> [accessed 30 May 2015].

March, C., Smyth, I. and Mukhopadhyay, I. (2005) A Guide to Gender Analysis Frameworks, Oxford: Oxfam Publications.

Morrison, C. and Jutting, J. (2005) ‘Women’s discrimination in developing countries: a new data set for better policies’, World Development 33(7): 1065–81 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2005.04.002>.

Nasiri, D., Sanni, L. Siwoku, B. and Adebowale, R. (2013) ‘Nigeria Gratitude work package D 1.1 Report’ [online], London: Gains from Losses of Root and Tuber Crops (Gratitude) <www.fp7-gratitude.eu> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Quisumbing, A. and Pandolfelli, L. (2008) Promising Approaches to Address the Needs of Poor Female Farmers [pdf], IFPRI Discussion Paper 00882, Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute <www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/IFPRIDP00882.pdf> [accessed 1 June 2015].

Saghir, P., Njuki, J., Waithanji, E., Kariuki, J. and Sikira, A. (2012) ‘Integrating improved goat breeds with new varieties of sweet potatoes and cassava in the agro-pastoral systems of Tanzania: a gendered analysis’, ILRI Discussion Paper 21 [online], Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute <http://mahider.ilri.org/handle/10568/16959> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Aasen, B. (2006) ‘Lessons from evaluations of women and gender equality in development cooperation’ [online], Synthesis Report 2006/1, Oslo, Norway: Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) <www.popline.org/node/182329#sthash.vC5ppgaV.dpuf> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Abdulsalam-Saghir, P.B. (2011) ‘Cassava: adding value for Africa – gender and diversity as a driving force’, in CTA and FARA (eds), Agricultural Innovations for Sustainable Development: Contributions from the Finalists of the 2009–2010 Africa-wide Women and Young Professionals in Science Competitions, vol. 3, issue 2, pp. 38–44, Accra, Ghana: Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa.

Abdulsalam-Saghir, P., Bennett, B., Quaye, W., Tu, Viet Phu, Sanni, L. and Martin, A.M. (2014) ‘Gratitude D1.3 Report’ [online], London: Gains from Losses of Root and Tuber Crops (Gratitude) <www.fp7-gratitude.eu> [accessed 16 May 2015].

Bennett, B., Sanni, L., Siwoku, B. and Adebowale, R. (2013) ‘Nigeria Gratitude work package D 1.2 Report’ [online], London: Gains from Losses of Root and Tuber Crops (Gratitude) <www.fp7-gratitude.eu> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Ezedinma, C., Ojiako, I.A., Okechukwu, R.U., Lemchi, J.R., Umar, A.M. and Sanni, L.O. (2007) The Cassava Food Commodity Market and Trade Network in Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria: IITA.

Forsythe, L., Abdulsalam-Saghir, P. and Martin, A. (2009) ‘Cassava: Adding Value for Africa Nigeria and Ghana gender reports’ [online], London: Natural Resources Institute <http://cava.nri.org/about-the-project/reports-and-publications> [accessed 30 May 2015].

March, C., Smyth, I. and Mukhopadhyay, I. (2005) A Guide to Gender Analysis Frameworks, Oxford: Oxfam Publications.

Morrison, C. and Jutting, J. (2005) ‘Women’s discrimination in developing countries: a new data set for better policies’, World Development 33(7): 1065–81 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2005.04.002>.

Nasiri, D., Sanni, L. Siwoku, B. and Adebowale, R. (2013) ‘Nigeria Gratitude work package D 1.1 Report’ [online], London: Gains from Losses of Root and Tuber Crops (Gratitude) <www.fp7-gratitude.eu> [accessed 30 May 2015].

Quisumbing, A. and Pandolfelli, L. (2008) Promising Approaches to Address the Needs of Poor Female Farmers [pdf], IFPRI Discussion Paper 00882, Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute <www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/IFPRIDP00882.pdf> [accessed 1 June 2015].

Saghir, P., Njuki, J., Waithanji, E., Kariuki, J. and Sikira, A. (2012) ‘Integrating improved goat breeds with new varieties of sweet potatoes and cassava in the agro-pastoral systems of Tanzania: a gendered analysis’, ILRI Discussion Paper 21 [online], Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute <http://mahider.ilri.org/handle/10568/16959> [accessed 30 May 2015].