A synthesis report of the Africa Region - Women, agriculture and rural development -

A synthesis report of the Africa Region - Women, agriculture and rural development

Compiled from the national sectoral reports for: Benin, Burkina Faso, Congo, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe

Prepared under the auspices of FAO's Programme of Assistance in Support of Rural Women in Preparation for the Fourth World Conference on Women

Women in Development Service
Women and Population Division
Sustainable Development Department

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome 1995

This report was prepared under the auspices of FAO's Programme of Assistance in Support of Rural Women in Preparation for the Fourth World Conference on Women and follows the Guidelines prepared by FAO for reporting on the status of women within the agricultural, forestry and fisheries sectors, to ensure that the situation of rural women is adequately addressed in policy and decision-making debates.

The opinions expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the position of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Contents

Executive summary

Abbreviations and acronyms

Methodology

Introduction

Review and appraisal at the national level

The situation in the early 1980s

Changes since the early 1980s

Inequality in the sharing of power and decision-making at all levels

Insufficient mechanisms at all levels to promote the advancement of women

Lack of awareness of, and commitment to, internationally and nationally recognized women's rights

Poverty

Inequality in women's access to, and participation in, the definition of economic structures and the productive process itself

Inequality in access to employment

Selected programmes in support of women in agriculture, forestry-and fisheries

Future strategic goals and objectives

Conclusion

Bibliography