E-learning course puts gender equality at the centre of agricultural planning

15 October 2014, Rome - To strengthen the capacities of member countries in reducing gender inequalities in agriculture and increasing productivity, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, with support from the European Union, has produced a new e-learning course to help policy-makers and agricultural planners develop gender-responsive policies and programmes for food and nutrition security.                      

The course, “Gender in Food and Nutrition Security”, is the result of the combined efforts of a multidisciplinary team of international and local practitioners. It is designed to help professionals working in agricultural development and food and nutrition security to promote gender equality from the design stages through to the implementation and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects.

This is the most recent of a series of e-learning courses, developed under the EU-FAO programme “Improved Global Governance for Hunger Reduction”, which focus on topics related to food and nutrition security, climate change, social analysis, impact assessment and land governance.

All courses are offered free of charge and are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of users, from policy- and decision-makers in ministries, project staff, statisticians and university students wishing to enhance and update their knowledge and skills. Over 200 000 learners have taken advantage of previous courses. Recent surveys of past learners have shown a very positive response, with 93 percent noting they had “learned new skills and methods” and that they found the courses to be “well organized and easy to use”.

The e-learning course “Gender in Food and Nutrition Security” was launched today  during the 41st Committee on World Food Security (CFS). www.fao.org/elearning

Further information on FAO’s Policy on Gender Equality