This knowledge brief summarizes the current situation regarding women’s formal land ownership in Laos, particularly among different ethno-linguistic groups, and provides recommendations for strengthening women’s rights through systematic land registration processes. 

This International Women’s Day, the theme “Give to Gain” invites reflection not only on what must be invested, but on how change is built. For FAO’s Communication for Development (ComDev), investing in rural women and girls means strengthening the communication processes that allow them to participate, influence decisions and shape...

Although climate change is a global challenge, it does not affect all people equally. This research project uses a novel dataset spanning six sub-Saharan African countries and combining nationally representative socio-economic survey data with daily rainfall and temperature information. Using regression analysis, we show that when rural areas are exposed...

Cette note traite de la sécurisation foncière des femmes au Sénégal comme pilier de la résilience climatique. Malgré des cadres juridiques favorables, les barrières structurelles limitent l’accès réel des producteur-rices à la terre. La publication recommande d’articuler systématiquement le foncier à l’autonomisation économique et d’imposer la parité dans les instances de gouvernance...

Highlights We assess the differential effects of climate stressors on rural people based on their wealth, gender, and age using data from 24 countries. Poor and female-headed households lose significantly more of their income due to extreme weather than non-poor and male-headed households. Households headed by youth rely on off-farm income sources to...

Organizations from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe that work with—or are formed by  — small farmers, Indigenous, and fishing communities gathered in Brazil to exchange experiences and, with traditional knowledge at the center, promote agroecology in their territories. What do the revival of ancestral foods in the western United States...

Women are central to agrifood systems, yet persistent gender inequalities continue to limit their access to agricultural extension, resources and decision-making. At a time when closing gender gaps could improve food security for 45 million people, these guidelines show how Farmer Field Schools (FFS) can move from gender-blind implementation to...

Industrial farming practices are leaving harmful marks on India’s agricultural resources. 30% of the soils are degraded, groundwater is depleting fast, and biodiversity – specifically critical soil microbes, insects and birds – continues to disappear. Furthermore, these practices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, rendering Indian food systems ever more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The resulting losses in production have pushed marginalised communities – in particular small farmers, women, and Indigenous...

Back in 2024, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) already highlighted – in the Global Land Outlook – that “current global food systems are among the main sources of land degradation. Globally, they are responsible for 80% of deforestation, 70% of freshwater use, and are the largest cause of terrestrial...

Indigenous beekeeping practices across dryland and semi-arid regions often rely on wild, native pollinator populations and are embedded within seasonal, place-based ecological knowledge systems. These practices integrate biodiversity stewardship, water availability, food systems, and livelihoods without treating them as discrete domains. This learning material documents a Maasai women-led beekeeping practice in...

In this episode of The Work We Do, we speak with Lauren Phillips, Director of Partnerships and UN Collaboration at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, about why women and youth are central to the transformation of agrifood systems. The conversation draws on FAO’s flagship reports to...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and CARE USA collaborated in conducting a gender stocktaking exercise to enhance understanding of gender equality integration within Farmer Field School (FFS) programmes. The primary objective of this exercise was to better understand the extent to which FFS have addressed...

Millets have been grown for ages and are an important staple crop in arid and semi-arid regions under adverse weather conditions. The traditional practices of millet cultivation, resulting in lower yields, need to be replaced with improved practices. Millets are known for their ecological resilience and nutritional richness and remain...

Formed in 2007, Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group (FPS) creates science-based educational materials, which: identify highly nutritious local food plants, explain how to grow them in a sustainable, agroecological way, detail the nutritional value of the plants and describe why human bodies require those nutrients. The resources created by FPS allows people to better...

Formed in 2007, Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group (FPS) creates science-based educational materials, which: identify highly nutritious local food plants, explain how to grow them in a sustainable, agroecological way, detail the nutritional value of the plants and describe why human bodies require those nutrients. The resources created by FPS allows people to better...

Formed in 2007, Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group (FPS) creates science-based educational materials, which: identify highly nutritious local food plants, explain how to grow them in a sustainable, agroecological way, detail the nutritional value of the plants and describe why human bodies require those nutrients. The resources created by FPS allows people to better...

Formed in 2007, Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group (FPS) creates science-based educational materials, which: identify highly nutritious local food plants, explain how to grow them in a sustainable, agroecological way, detail the nutritional value of the plants and describe why human bodies require those nutrients. The resources created by FPS allows people to better...

In this episode of The Work We Do, we speak with Lauren Phillips, Director of Partnerships and UN Collaboration at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, about why women and youth are central to the transformation of agrifood systems. The conversation draws on FAO’s flagship reports to...

Community Learning Centres (CLCs) serve as decentralised hubs where farmers can test innovative farming techniques, access expert guidance, and collaborate on sustainable agricultural solutions. This guideline aims to make the CLCs effective knowledge hubs for farmers, practitioners, and extension workers, empowering farming communities to adopt sustainable solutions and build resilience...

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026 NENA Regional Conference will bring together regional partners, government representatives, technical experts, researchers, and pastoralist organizations to strengthen collaboration and advance sustainable rangeland management across the Near East and North Africa (NENA).