INVESTING in gender equality and women’s empowerment is not more urgent than ever, but also an incredibly smart investment to generate economic growth, food security, income opportunities and better lives, particularly in rural areas where most of the world’s poorest live. This was the message on International Women’s Day from leaders at the Rome-based United Nations agriculture and food agencies event - Invest in Women: accelerate progress.
Closing gender gaps in farm productivity and wages within agrifood systems could boost the global domestic product by 1%, representing nearly US$1 trillion, and decrease global food insecurity levels, leading to 45 million more people being food-secure, according to the 2023 FAO status of women in agrifood systems report.
“Investing in women means investing in sustainable development. The return on investment is not just being able to beat poverty and inequality, but building stronger institutions, economies and entire communities,” said Gerardine Mukeshimana, vice-president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
“Given women’s crucial role in rural economies and agrifood systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, addressing the gender gap in financing is critical for more inclusive and equitable rural development. Bridging this gap not only empowers women, but can also have significant benefits for their households and communities,” said Maria Helena Semedo, deputy director-general, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
“When we invest in women and girls, we nurture entire communities,” said Valerie Guarnieri, World Food Programme (WFP) assistant executive director, programme operations.
“We can win the battle against hunger and malnutrition by empowering and supporting women to take the lead.”
Today, only 4% of total bilateral aid is dedicated to programmes with gender equality as the principal objective, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2022 Gender snapshot. Furthermore, the existing funding gap to achieve gender equality in key areas, including reaching the Sustainable Development Goals to end hunger and poverty and supporting equal participation of women in societies by 2030, is about US$360 billion annually in 48 developing countries (FAO 2023).
Agrifood systems are an important source of income for women in many countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, 66% of women’s employment is in agrifood systems, and in southern Asia, it is as much as 71%. Women are essential to global, regional and national food security (FAO 2023).
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Yet, women’s unequal status, due to discriminatory social norms present in society and agrifood systems, leaves them vulnerable to hunger and poverty. In 2022, 388 million women and girls lived in extreme poverty and 27,8% of women were moderately or severely food insecure.
The Rome-based agencies are calling for strong political commitment and increased and accelerated investments in gender equality and women’s empowerment to improve food security and livelihoods and economic and social well-being for all.
The solutions lie in investing in women’s and girls’ capacity through education, developing leadership skills and by addressing discriminatory social norms that limit their opportunities. Strengthening land rights for women is also essential as is ensuring women’s equal access to resources, including financial and extension services, to bridge productivity gaps.
In close collaboration with IFAD and WFP, FAO plans to launch a major global initiative to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment at the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which will take place from March 11 to 22, 2024, harnessing the momentum generated by the Committee on World Food Security Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women's and Girls' Empowerment in Food Security and Nutrition endorsed in 2023 and the 2023 FAO Status of women in agrifood systems report. - Tatenda Macheka
