International Women's Day 2026
CGIAR will join the UN International Women’s Day campaign under the tagline ‘Science for Rights, Justice, and Action: Empowered Women Transforming Agrifood Systems’.
This framing aligns CGIAR’s work to drive just, sustainable and resilient food, land and water systems with UN Women’s global theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls.” It will spotlight the role of science and innovation in advancing gender equality across food, land and water systems.
From harmful social norms to discriminatory laws, women and girls continue to face entrenched obstacles – even pushback – to equal justice. If progress continues at its current pace, it will take 286 years to close legal protection gaps (UN Women)
We must work to fix the systems that continually fail women for long-lasting change and just and equal food systems.
This year, IWD 2026 calls for action to dismantle the structural barriers to equal justice: discriminatory laws, weak legal protections, and harmful practices and social norms that erode the rights of women and girls. This day marks a moment to amplify our collective determination for the rights and empowerment of all women and girls in food, land and water systems.
Global IWD Events and Campaigns
Rights. Justice. Action: Co-creating equitable agrifood systems with women at the center
CGIAR @ Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems 2026
News Articles
IWD's call to action extends beyond a single day and underscores the need for sustained, evidence-driven solutions that translate rights and justice into measurable outcomes for women in food, land, and water systems. We share some of the stories from across CGIAR and beyond.
2026 also marks the International Year of Woman farmer (IYWF). We will be showcasing innovations/solutions working for ALL farmers, including women and youth, evidence on the gaps and how we can address them through science and by engagement in different policy events.
Latest research advancing the rights and justice for women in agrifood systems
Lessons on methodologies to assess women’s empowerment from two agricultural and livestock project portfolios: CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion Working Paper #030
Women’s collective action and its impact on their resilience in agri-food systems: a rapid evidence review: CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform Working Paper #29
Booker, F., Duffy, J., Nicolini, G., Nieto, I. N. P., Wagner, K., Verma, B., Anbacha, A. E., Puskur, R. and Kori, P. 2025. Women’s collective action and its impact on their resilience in agri-food systems: a rapid evidence review. CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform Working Paper #029. Nairobi, Kenya: CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform.
Inclusive, transformative agri-food systems
Blare, T., Bliznashka, L., Chavarro, M., Jaleta, M., Kasala, K., Lopez-Avila, D., Ravula, P. 2025. Inclusive, transformative agri-food systems for sustainable healthy diets, better nutrition, and health. Agenda Setting Brief - 3. Nairobi, Kenya: CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion, CGIAR Better Diets and Nutrition Science Program.
Pathways to gender equality and empowerment
Mapedza, E., Adam, R., Galie, A., Bonis-Profumo, G., Terfa, Z., Njiru, N., Mosbah, M. and Njogu, L. 2025. Pathways to Gender Equality and Empowerment, Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods: Setting the Science Agenda (2025–2030). Agenda Setting Brief - 6. Nairobi, Kenya: CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion, CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Program.
Towards inclusive innovation
Mokhema, S., Euler, M., Begum, K., Cole, S., Huyer, S., Mayanja, S., Mwakanyamale, D., Paez-Valencia, A.M. and Puskur, R. 2025. Towards Inclusive Innovation: Gender and Youth in Sustainable Farming Systems. Agenda Setting Brief - 5. Nairobi, Kenya: CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion, CGIAR Sustainable Farming Science Program.