ESS 6 aims at ensuring that the design and implementation of FAO programmes and projects do not create or exacerbate existing gender inequalities and discrimination, and proactively support the achievement of the Organization’s gender equality objectives. ESS 6 is consistent with the principles set out in the United Nations Development Cooperation Framework (United Nations Sustainable Development Group, 2019). It is also in line with the overarching principle, 'leave no one behing', that unifies all United Nations programming efforts. ESS 6 also reflects the Organization's alignment with international frameworks on gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment.

Objectives

• Promote women and girls’ participation and leadership in local institutions and rural organizations, which are an important vehicle for informed decision-making.
• Make sure that both women and men are provided with equal access to and control over key agricultural and natural resources (e.g. land, water, livestock, equipment, seeds and fertilizers). As with men, women who work as agricultural producers, entrepreneurs and value chain actors depend on these resources to increase their 
• Ensure equal access to agricultural support services (i.e. advisory, financial or business development services) to overcome the existing ‘gender gap’, and facilitate women’s equal uptake of technologies and practices.
• Provide equal access to markets and decent employment opportunities both on and off the farm to assure income opportunities for all, and preserve individual rights to fair treatment.
• Avoid or minimize the risk that an intervention inadvertently increases women’s work burden and time poverty as these affect women’s freedom of choice and well-being. 
• Avoid or minimize the risk to build on or reinforce discriminatory social norms and attitudes that undermine women’s position and decision-making power from the household to the institutional level.
• Strengthen the capacities to prevent, mitigate and respond to GBV and abuse that may occur in connection with any of FAO supported activities.
• Prevent and minimize unintended negative effects that can increase vulnerability and exposure to GBV, and heighten tension between the sexes, as well as ensure the proper and timely referral to relevant services of cases of disclosure of GBV and other abuse including sexual exploitation and abuse that may occur in connection with any of FAO supported activities.