We cannot end hunger and poverty without empowering both men and women in agrifood systems.
Today, agriculture and food systems face an unprecedented array of challenges. We must feed a growing global population in a context of emerging and persisting crises - economic, energy, environmental, food and social. These include conflicts, natural disasters, price volatility, market insecurity, mass migrations, health crises, and more, all of which are exacerbated by climate change, depletion of natural resources, rapid urbanization, shifts in dietary patterns and livelihood systems.
Faced with these challenges, it is more important than ever to build inclusive, sustainable and resilient agrifood systems, so that the agricultural sector can perform to its full capacity and become more efficient. FAO recognizes that in order to achieve this, we must address the persisting inequalities that effect the underperformance of the agriculture sector in many countries. We need to work with and empower rural women, men, girls and boys.
FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development
Discover this global recognition initiative marking the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
The Year will spotlight the essential roles women play across agrifood systems, from production to trade, while often going unrecognized. Women farmers are central to food security, nutrition and economic resilience.
Latest Publications
Publications
Making locally led adaptation work for women farmers: Evidence, financing models and enabling pathways
01/11/2026
This publication gathers insights from 34 FAO-supported initiatives in 26 countries on how adaptation support can shift decision-making and resources...
Publications
Handbook on gender equality in agrifood systems
01/10/2026
This handbook underscores the critical role women play across agrifood systems and the persistent gender inequalities that limit their contributions,...
Latest Multimedia
Video
Pastoralism, Biodiversity Conservation, and Women’s Empowerment in Mongolia
23/10/2026
A study led by FAO in collaboration with the Green-Gold Mongolia Rangeland Research Center shows that pastoral systems in Mongolia are more friendly...
Video
A young pastoralist woman advocating for the future of Karamoja’s rangelands
16/09/2026
In Karamoja, Uganda, Nyangan Sidore Koriang, a young pastoralist and youth accountability advocate from Nabilatuk District, works with young people...
Video
Karamoja's pastoralists are custodians of the rangelands
16/09/2026
In Karamoja, Uganda, pastoralists hold extensive knowledge of the rangelands on which their livelihoods depend. Through the experiences of Maria Koriang,...
E-learnings
FAO Policy on Gender Equality 2020-2030
Gender equality is essential to achieve FAO's mandate of a world free hunger, malnutrition and poverty. The Organization recognizes that persisting inequalities between women and men are a major obstacle to agriculture and rural development and that eliminating these disparities is essential to building sustainable and inclusive food systems and resilient and peaceful societies.
Related links
- Commit to Grow Equality
- Gender | Policy Support and Governance Gateway
- Gender mainstreaming | Integrating Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)
- FAO Gender-Lex
- FAOSTAT gender in agrifood systems domain
- Fisheries and Aquaculture | Gender equality in fisheries and aquaculture
- Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP)
- Rural women | Family Farming Knowledge Platform
- Technical Cooperation Programme
- UN Joint Programme on Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment - JP RWEE

