Forum spotlights interventions for designing more gender-inclusive agrifood policies in Africa
Photo via AWARD.
Experts working across different sectors of agri-food systems have called for enhanced women’s representation in the agricultural value chain, which would necessitate the design of gender-responsive policies in agrifood systems across the continent.
The thought leaders convened at a side event held at the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) in New York. The side event was co-hosted by the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uganda, and Malawi to the United Nations.
The event took stock of the progress on gender equality and emphasized the critical role of well-designed policies in shifting the needle toward equitable agrifood systems.
In a recorded message, Ambassador Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, the representative of the Republic of South Africa to Italy, urged organizations working in food systems to collaborate in developing innovative solutions to translate the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Voluntary Guidelines into tangible actions for equitable agrifood systems in Africa.
“These guidelines encompass a broad spectrum of policy recommendations, ranging from promoting women’s food security and nutrition to ensuring their full participation and leadership in agrifood systems,” Amb. Jezile said.
Sharing their experiences as Fellows in AWARD’s Gender Responsive Agriculture Systems Policy (GRASP) Fellowship, Dr. Romana Mbinya, Dr. Clara Chinwoke Ifeanyi-obi, and Ms. Comfort Yelipoei highlighted the critical need to include women’s voices, needs, and priorities in the design on Policies.
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