African Parliamentarians push for women empowerment for food security
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The ECOWAS Parliamentary Network on Gender Equality and Investments in Agriculture and Food Security appreciates this learning exchange, hosted by the Rwandan Parliament, to learn from the best practices in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment through oversight, legislation and policy making.
In particular, the ECOWAS Network of Parliamentarians appreciates the 2-day capacity-building workshop, which has enhanced their skills to develop gender responsive policies and legislations.
The ECOWAS Network appreciates the very inspiring high-level policy dialogue, which has brought together parliamentarians from ECOWAS, Rwanda, and EALA, as well as high-level representatives from different ministries, the EAC Secretariat, and CSOs. This has provided a valuable opportunity for peer learning and exchange of good practices. We appreciate the very focused, results-oriented, and thought-provoking sessions, and the strong collaborative spirit of all stakeholders to move this agenda forward.
The ECOWAS Parliamentarians Network thereby commits itself to pursuing the following recommendations:
Voice and decision-making power. The representation of women at all decision-making levels in politics and government is decisive for making change happen. This participation of women in high-level positions needs to be ensured in all sectors, including agriculture and land. This should also cover the private sector, including financial institutions.
It is essential to foster women’s participation and leadership in FBO and cooperatives in mixed and women-only organizations. This will help to access inputs, productive resources, and services, such as financial services. Being organized will allow members of these organizations, including women, to increase their bargaining and contractual power as business partners and market actors.
Land laws and policies. Land is essential for agriculture production and food security. In this light, policies and land-related laws should be reviewed with a gender lens and relevant action taken so that land tenure security improves. Within this context, in order to promote women’s land rights, ECOWAS parliamentarians commit to this objective, including through oversight of SDG 5.a.2 on women’s legal land rights.
We will also endeavor to achieve the harmonization of customary and statutory land laws and other related legal and regulatory instruments.
Budget. We recognize the importance of gender-responsive budgeting for ensuring the translation of our commitments into action.
Responsible investment. Fostering inclusive, responsible investment from both public and private actors is vital for realizing the potential of countries’ agricultural sectors. This investment also has an important gender component, which must be acknowledged, recognized, and supported.
Trade and value chains. Promoting value addition of primary products of female farmers will help enable their participation and improve their competitiveness at national, regional, and international markets. It will drive greater investments into the necessary infrastructure to bring these products to market, along with creating employment in high value-added jobs and maintaining this employment in the longer term.
Continued exchanges and capacity development. This partnership with Rwandan parliamentarians should be formalized with the support of IISD, FAO and Oxfam.
Done on July 18, 2019 – Kigali, Rwanda
Contact:
Teopista Mutesi | Communications Specialist | FAO-Rwanda | Email: [email protected] OR [email protected]