The Africa Agribusiness Science Week (AASW) organized by Forum for Agriculture Research in Africa (FARA) will run June 5-8 in Durban, South Africa. The African Women in Agricultural Research for Development (AWARD) is organizing a parallel event together with CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and The Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAR). The event is a major continental platform for stakeholders involved in agriculture and agribusiness research and innovation in Africa.
Overview of the parallel session
In the context of food systems, gender-responsive agriculture and nutrition-sensitive agriculture are inextricably linked. This is because for us to address the underlying causes of undernutrition, we must pay attention to the needs, priorities and capabilities of a diversity of women and men to contribute and benefit from agriculture. While addressing women’s roles in production, processing, trading and households’ food consumption, we must also consider how the women are positioned in agri-food systems as well as their participation in decision-making and generation of knowledge for agricultural research and development.
The recently released United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s report on the Status of Women in Agrifood Systems presents new evidence which underscores the central role of gender equality and women’s empowerment in achieving sustainable agri-food systems. The report highlights not only why closing the gender gap is an urgent imperative, but also how strategies such as adoption of gender-transformative approaches can move the needle.
This session will illuminate what needs to be done to accelerate progress toward equitable and healthy food systems and highlight why gender-responsive agriculture is a fundamental prerequisite. Discussions will provide insights on the role of gender-responsive policies in fostering equitable agri-food systems able to provide healthy, nutritious solutions for women, children and men. Speakers will share some of the ways we can achieve equitable food systems and address positive nutritional outcomes and highlight some of the commitments that are required to make this a reality.
Session format
The session will begin with a scene-setting presentation of The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems Report, followed by a moderated discussion on why equitable food systems are an imperative and how gender-responsive solutions can get us there. Panelists will include a diversity of experts involved in various innovative initiatives to advance gender-responsive agricultural research and development.
The Department of Animal, Aquaculture and Range Sciences
The College of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture
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