Gender Latin America and the Caribbean
Latin America and the Caribbean face a context of economic slowdown, with an increase in food insecurity, malnutrition and the risks associated with climate change. This situation strongly affects rural women and constitutes a significant obstacle to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
That is why FAO is committed to promoting gender equality and protecting women's rights as fundamental human rights.
Consequently, FAO Policy on Gender Equality 2020-2030 mandates the Organization to focus its work on achieving equality between women and men in sustainable agriculture and rural development with a view to eliminating hunger and poverty.
This site reports on the work in favour of gender equality carried out by FAO in cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean States, providing information on initiatives, good practices, methodologies and tools that contribute to the achievement of gender equality.
Stories
Mujeres Rurales, Mujeres con Derechos [Rural Women, Women With Rights] Campaign
The campaign convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is a collaborative work initiative that joins efforts, articulates networks, disseminates knowledge and positive experiences to promote the full autonomy of women in the rural world.
Since 2016 this campaign articulates government entities, civil society organisations and United Nations agencies around regional and national advocacy actions in favour of the empowerment of rural women in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Actions
| Year | Action |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Regional social media campaign |
| 2017 | Regional campaign on social networks and competitions at territorial level. |
| 2018 | Regional social media campaign and platform to energize sub-regional agendas. |
| 2019 | Days of social media activism and national activities. |
| 2020-2021 | Regional campaign on social networks and competitions at territorial level. |
Featured publications
Transformative initiatives
Peru
National Agricultural Innovation Programme
The National Agricultural Innovation Programme of the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, funded by the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, and implemented by the National Institute for Agricultural Innovation, seeks to promote the development of productive, inclusive and sustainable agriculture. The aim is to improve the competitiveness and profitability of small and medium-sized agricultural producers.
In this way, the project promoted the empowerment of rural women by providing support and advice to women producers and their organisations.
Reducing the vulnerability of rural women and their livelihoods for resilient agriculture
There are significant gender gaps in Peru that prevent rural women from achieving full autonomy. For example, out of a total of 691 921 women producers, women manage 22.6 percent (3.1 million hectares) of the total agricultural area.
In addition, 26.6 percent of women producers cannot read or write, only 3.2 percent have received technical assistance or training, and only 6.4 percent have access to credit.
in this context, FAO, the Peruvian Government institutions and the Spanish Cooperation are promoting a project to reduce the vulnerability of rural women and their livelihoods for resilient agriculture.
This project works in three important areas: public policy, gender-focused field schools and women-led bio-businesses.
In this way, the gender approach has been incorporated into the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation's budget programme for Technical Assistance and Rural Extension.
The budget target for the Municipal Incentive Programme with a gender focus has been influenced, and agroclimatic and vulnerability assessments of rural women have been carried out.
Field schools have enabled the training and certification of women. Likewise, their economic and social empowerment has been promoted, making visible the importance of generating positive environmental impacts.
FAO has identified three key actions to boost the empowerment of rural women working in agriculture:
- Conduct gender training for all field facilitators.
- Mainstream gender into all phases of the project or intervention.
- Work hand in hand with specialized gender institutions.
Videos
Contact
Communicator for the Thriving and Inclusive Rural Societies Regional Initiative
FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
Communications Assistant for Gender and Indigenous Peoples