Food system transformation, social equity and one health in Southern Africa: a gendered political economy analysis

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Background Food system transformation in Southern Africa occurs alongside persistent gender inequalities, climate vulnerability, and interconnected human-animal-environment health challenges. Structural barriers limit women’s participation in agricultural production and informal markets, harming nutrition, livelihoods and public health. Objectives : This study uses a gendered political economy analysis (PEA) integrated with One Health principles to examine how power dynamics, institutional setups, and actor incentives shape food system outcomes across Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, and South Africa. It focuses on agricultural production systems and informal food markets. Methods A systematic analysis of empirical evidence across the four target countries evaluated actors, institutions, incentives, and power relations. Operating through a gender framework, the review maps how foundational socioeconomic inequalities influence One Health linkages based on a synthesis of 28 eligible studies ( n = 28). Key findings Synthesis of 28 studies reveals that gendered political economy structures dictate resource allocation and market power. Institutional exclusions regarding land, credit, and extension models bottleneck technology adoption. In informal markets, infrastructure deficits and exclusionary policing compound precarity. Ultimately, these intersecting structural traps drive a critical human-animal-environmental syndemic, directly undermining regional One Health outcomes. Policy implications To achieve sustainable food system transformation, policymakers must dismantle structural gender barriers by prioritizing women’s leadership in governance and supporting women-led enterprises through targeted extension and finance services. Progress depends on a One Health model recognizing gender equity as a structural pillar linking health, agriculture, and environment.

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