Meet women driving climate resilience in their communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal

Women are central to producing and providing our food, yet they are among the hardest hit by climate change, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This is rooted in longstanding inequalities, but women are working to change the narrative.

International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder to intensify efforts and champion gender equality every day for a more sustainable future for all.

At FAO, this commitment has always been integral to the “Food security and agriculture: accelerating adaptation” (SAGA 2) project, in technical and financial partnership with the government of Quebec. From training farmers and planting trees, to pioneering beekeeping, local finance and restorative gardening techniques, women are shaping climate solutions.

With our implementing partners, Crossroad International, Génération Femme du 3ème Millénaire (GMF3) and l'Association pour la Promotion de la Femme Sénégalaise (APROFES), we are proud to support and benefit from women farmers driving climate resilience in their communities.

Here, we speak to Adagra and Amy, two inspiring women farmers in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, to find out more about their experiences and learn what advice they would pass on.

Let’s Celebrate Women in Agriculture!

Amy Sarr

At 45, Amy is a passionate farmer and a member of the "Bok Jom" group from the village of Gapakh, in the heart of the Saloum region in southwest Senegal. Her agricultural journey began at 18, when she was the youngest member of the group, supported by APROFES. Today, she has fully immersed herself in this field, which allows her to support her family. Together with her women's group, they are creating local solutions to finance their climate-resilient agricultural projects, providing their community with both sustainable food and income.

Adagra Cécile Epse Kouamé

At 52 and a mother of three, Adagra is a member of the "BENKADI" Village Savings and Loan Association in Kirifi, located in the Indénié-Djuablin region in central-eastern Côte d'Ivoire. Formerly a transit agent, she had to reduce her physical activities due to health problems in 2009. Encouraged by a friend, she started growing a garden of okra, eggplants, and chili peppers behind her house. Today, she is an active advocate for organic farming and raises awareness among the women of Kirifi, particularly to improve the nutrition of children at the local school canteen, where she serves as committee president.

What are your greatest sources of pride as a producer?

Amy : I have built up a lot of relationships through my work. Before, Before, I lived in my own corner, with not many connections. Today, I feel confident. Not only has it given me a great reputation, it is also enabled me to make a good living out of it. I manage to look after the health and education of my children, some of whom are at university.

Adagra : Today, thanks to my vegetable garden, my greatest satisfaction is to be able to feed my family with healthy produce while preserving their health. I have also succeeded in encouraging other AVEC women to adopt chemical-free farming for the well-being of their families. This collective awareness is a great pride for me, as it contributes to improving the quality of food in our community.

Adagra in ger garden / © GFM3 Côte d’Ivoire

In your profession, what challenges have you faced? Especially in the face of climate change?

Adagra : The major challenges for me are the lack of rainfall, which dries out the land and makes farming more difficult. On top of that, the soil is poor, which affects the quality of my harvests. With climate change, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to produce enough. To deal with this, I use natural compost and diversify my crops to preserve the fertility of the soil and ensure good production.

Amy : I am experiencing enormous difficulties linked to climate change. It's hampering the development of our sector, which depends so much on rainfall. My fellow farmers and I are increasingly dealing with extreme heat, off-season rains, or rains that don’t come when we expect them. In market gardening and horticulture, climate change is holding back the development of our business.

How has the SAGA 2 project, with the support of the NGO Carrefour International, helped you strengthen your adaptation capacities and open up opportunities for more women to succeed in the agrifood sector?

Amy : The income from our resilient market garden allows us to meet our needs, but also to set up an endogenous savings and loan system with our women’s group. Thanks to the SAGA 2 project, we have been able to: revise our internal regulations, create appropriate management tools, analyse the environment and the vulnerability of women and girls to climate change in Kaolack, study opportunities for women's groups to access funding for starting and expanding agricultural production projects, and organise an awareness-raising day.

Adagra : Thanks to the SAGA 2 project, we have improved our knowledge and ability to deal with climate change in several areas of our farming activities. We have been made aware of the importance of structuring networks of women's associations into regional federations, as well as harmonizing management tools and drawing up regulations to improve our productivity. We would therefore like to thank Carrefour International, GFM3 and FAO for their commitment to supporting our efforts.

Harvesting fresh vegetables from Adagra's garden / © GFM3 Côte d’Ivoire

Why do you think it’s important to have diverse voices, especially those of women, in the fight against climate change in agriculture?

Adagra : It is important to involve women in this fight because it has a direct impact on the quality of life for all of us. Women play a central role in the family, in food production, and in protecting the environment. It’s crucial to mobilize them so they can contribute more actively to protecting natural resources, such as trees, to guarantee a better future for generations to come.

Amy : From my point of view, everything related to our empowerment should concern everyone. The consequences of climate change are harmful to our activities, so it is crucial that everyone speaks up to raise awareness about this phenomenon. Stigmatization has no place in the search for solutions to fight climate change. Women must therefore be involved in finding solutions as key players in agriculture to help find the answers.

Amy and one of her fellow farmers after a fruit and vegetable harvest. / © APROFES Senegal

Have other women and men played a role in your journey, by supporting or inspiring you? If so, how?

Amy : During the SAGA 1 project, we realized the importance of women’s role in agriculture. Since then, prejudices against women have begun to fade. We now work in synergy with the support of "male champions" in the village who help us develop our sector. We progress through solidarity and mutual support. This is what has led to the success of the various crops in our vegetable farm.

Adagra : Yes, several people have played an important role in my journey. I'm thinking in particular of the wife of the headmaster of the Kirifi school, who passed on to me her passion for agriculture. Additionally, the women of Kirifi, despite the challenges related to perennial crops, have inspired me with their commitment to ensuring their food self-sufficiency by growing staple and vegetable crops.

Amy and members of the women’s group « Bok Jom » / © APROFES Senegal

What advice would you give to young girls and men considering a future in agriculture, especially in the face of climate change challenges?

Adagra : Eating well protects us from illness. It is important to stay brave and continue farming for the food self-sufficiency of our families and our country. Climate change is a major obstacle for agriculture, but we, women, have a key role to play in protecting the environment. By doing so, we will ensure fertile soil and strong agriculture to pass on to future generations. There are many techniques to practice agriculture despite climate change. Agriculture is knowledge passed on by our mothers, and it is our duty to preserve it.

Amy : I would advise them to value their work by showing resilience. Practice makes perfect. It's essential to love what you do, because work allows you to earn a decent living. Agriculture is a sector that requires patience and determination, especially in the context of climate change. I hope that the younger generation will take over this vital sector for our future.