In November 2000, the Zambian government devised the Food Security Pack as a social protection measure targeting vulnerable farming households with agricultural inputs to promote food security, crop diversification and livelihood activities in all the 72 districts. Using the asset-vulnerability framework and a sample population of thirty-one households, this study analysed the gendered implications of FSP in Chembe ward of Kalulushi district for 2007/2008 farming season. Through household surveys and semi-structured interviews, the study revealed that despite female headed households comprising majority of beneficiaries, these did not experience long term improvements in food production. In addition, male headed households were more likely to grow different crops compared to women headed units. Lastly, involvement in livelihood activities aside agriculture was very low among females in comparison to males who reported natural resource-oriented activities and small businesses as alternative sources of livelihood. Lack of improvements in food production, low levels of crop diversification and livelihood activities could be attributed to insufficient assets, different needs and forms of vulnerabilities among male and female headed units.
The paper concludes by emphasising that the design of such poverty reduction measures requires a transformative perspective to address structural inequalities that perpetuate and sustain social injustices in addition to genderspecific needs and constraints. Additionally, it?s important to consider citizenship-based entitlements aside agricultural assistance in order to be responsive to the needs of incapacitated households.