Effect of socio-technical innovation bundles on male and female smallholder farmers' empowerment in selected counties in Kenya
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
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Abstract: Smallholder farmers in Kenya face significant vulnerability to climate change, weather variability, and systemic barriers that constrain farm productivity and empowerment. This study evaluates the effect of co-designed socio-technical innovation bundles (STIBs)?integrating social, technical, and technological innovations?on male and female smallholder farmers' empowerment in selected Kenyan counties. Data collected from 742 respondents (371 treated, 371 control) using ordered logistic regression analysis revealed that co-designed STIBs significantly enhanced smallholder farmers' empowerment by improving their social and technical capacities, decision-making authority, and resource access. The findings demonstrate that context-specific, co-designed innovations effectively mitigate demographic and socio-economic disparities in empowerment, with particular benefits for female farmers. The research underscores the transformative potential of scaling co-designed STIBs in Kenya's agri-food system as a strategy for achieving gender-sensitive, climate-resilient, and sustainable agricultural production and development.