ROME – Investing in gender equality and women's empowerment is not only more urgent than ever, it also supports economic growth, food security and income opportunities, especially in rural areas, where most of the world's poorest people live. , it is also a very wise investment to create a better life. That will be the message from leaders at the Rome-based United Nations Agriculture and Food Organization's Investing in Women: Accelerating Progress event on International Women's Day tomorrow.
According to the FAO Situation in 2023, closing the gender gap in agricultural productivity and wages within agricultural systems could increase global domestic production by 1% (equivalent to nearly $1 trillion) and reduce global food insecurity levels. 45 million more people could become food secure. Women in the agri-food system report.
“Investing in women means investing in sustainable development. The return on investment is not only in overcoming poverty and inequality, but in building stronger institutions, economies, and entire communities.” ” said Geraldine Mukeshimana, deputy director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
“Given the important role of women in rural economies and agricultural systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries, addressing gender disparities in financing is critical to more inclusive and equitable rural development. Not only does it empower women, but it can also have huge benefits for their families and communities,” said Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). I did.
“When we invest in women and girls, we nurture entire communities,” said Valerie Guarnieri, Deputy Executive Director for Program Operations at the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). “By empowering women and supporting them at the forefront, we can win the fight against hunger and malnutrition.”
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) 2022 Gender Snapshot, today only 4% of total bilateral aid goes to programs with gender equality as their main objective. Furthermore, existing funding gaps to achieve gender equality in key areas, such as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals to end hunger and poverty by 2030 and supporting women's equal participation in society, It is approximately $360 billion annually in Japan (FAO 2023).
Agricultural products systems are an important source of income for women in many countries. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, 66% of women's employment is in agricultural systems, while in South Asia it is as high as 71%. Women are essential to global, regional and national food security (FAO 2023).
However, the unequal status of women due to discriminatory social norms that exist in society and agricultural systems makes them more vulnerable to hunger and poverty. In 2022, 388 million women and girls were living in extreme poverty, and 27.8% of women were moderately or severely food insecure.
This overall gender disparity is most evident in rural areas. Limited access to assets and agricultural inputs drives gender disparities in land productivity, with a 24% difference in productivity between women-managed farms and men-managed farms of the same size. In wage employment in agriculture, women earn on average 18.4% less. For every dollar a man earns, a woman earns about 82 cents. Heatwaves and floods also affect rural women and men differently, increasing income inequality, as highlighted in the Unjust Climate Report (FAO 2024).
Rome-based United Nations Agriculture and Food Organization calls for action to address gender gap
The Rome-based Agency (RBA) is committed to strong political commitment and increased investment in gender equality and women's empowerment to improve food security and livelihoods, economic and social well-being for all people. and seeking acceleration.
The solution lies in investing in women and girls' capabilities through education, developing leadership skills and addressing discriminatory social norms that limit opportunities. Strengthening women's land rights is essential, as is ensuring women's equal access to resources such as financial and extension services to close the productivity gap.
FAO, in close collaboration with IFAD and WFP, will present the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, to be held on 11-12 March 2024. We are planning to launch a new initiative. This is based on the Commission on World Food Security (CFS) Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls in Food Security and Nutrition approved in 2023 and the FAO 2023 Status of Women in Agricultural Products Systems. This is the momentum generated by the report.
The RBA also spearheads gender transformative approaches in agriculture and rural development projects through its joint program on Gender Transformative Approaches for Food Security, Improved Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture, addressing gender norms and practices, power relations and Challenging the decision-making process. Together with UN Women, the Rome-based agencies are also implementing the Joint Program on the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women, a global initiative to ensure the livelihoods, rights and resilience of rural women.
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