The burdens of participation: A mixed-methods study of the effects of a nutrition-sensitive agriculture program on women’s time use in Malawi

•Nutrition and agriculture-based programs often rely on women’s participation; little evidence if programs burden women.•We investigate how a nutrition-sensitive agriculture program delivered through preschools in Malawi affected women’s time.•The program modestly increased lean season time in caregiving, but investments were considered important to child development.•Mixed-method evaluations of women’s program participation can improve interpretation of time tradeoffs and help avoid harm.