In the Republic of Moldova, far more women living in rural areas are at risk of poverty compared with men and with urban populations. The recently released National Gender Profile on Agricultural and Rural Livelihoods in the Republic of Moldova presents a snapshot of gender inequalities that affect various aspects of agricultural production and rural livelihoods in the country.

Progress in advancing gender equality has been made but significant gaps remain to be closed. National data analysed in the national gender profile presents a picture of positive developments mixed with immediate challenges, such as land tenure rights, access to resources and inputs, and the negative and disproportionate impact of climate change.

Women control only 19 percent of the total farmland and female farmers own less than 12 percent of all types of machinery and equipment.On the other hand, there is an upward trend in women’s engagement in entrepreneurship: more than half of the subsidized startups are run by female farmers.