Training, guidance and policy in support of rural women

07/03/2018

Women make significant contributions to the rural economy throughout the world. Their roles differ across regions, yet they have consistently less access than men to the resources and opportunities they need. Achieving gender equality and empowering women in agriculture is central to FAO’s agenda.

See below for FAO training, guidance and policy materials that can be used to lead interventions and mainstream gender considerations. For a larger selection, have a look at the Gender section in our Publications catalogue.

International women’s day 2018 feature – Empowering rural women and girls through ICTs

Mainstreaming gender in the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for agriculture and rural development
Rural women face a triple divide: digital, rural and gender. This publication examines the challenges rural communities have to overcome to take full and equal advantage of information and communication technologies.

E-Agriculture in Action (2017)
These case studies on innovative ICT solutions for agriculture cover food production, supply chain management, advisory services, smart water management, traceability, and even use of the internet of things.

Success stories on Information and Communication Technologies for agriculture and rural development (second edition)
ICTs can transform lives and improve livelihoods in agriculture by helping to secure savings, find affordable insurance and tools to manage risk, increase access to financial services, and provide business opportunities.

National E-Agriculture Strategy brochure
A framework to assist countries in developing their national e-agriculture strategies and to identify and develop sustainable ICT in agricultural services and solutions.

Use of mobile phones by the rural poor – Gender perspectives from selected Asian countries
The digital gender divide inhibits rural development. Given the large rural population in developing Asia, a nuanced understanding of mobile phone use and access could sharpen the design of relevant policies.

Running out of time –The reduction of women’s work burden in agricultural production
This publication raises questions about the control rural women have over their time. It provides an overview of successful technologies, including ICTs, for reducing the work burden.

Policy-related

FAO policy on gender equality
The purpose of this policy document is to provide FAO with a framework for guiding its efforts to achieve gender equality in all its technical work.

Strengthening sector policies for better food security and nutrition results – Gender Equality
This policy note guides policy makers in integrating food security and nutrition considerations into gender equality and women’s empowerment policies. It is part of a series that supports policy makers in addressing the food security and nutrition situation in their country.

SDGs

Meeting our goals:  FAO’s programme for gender equality in agriculture and rural development
This publication showcases activities implemented at country and international level, demonstrating the impact of FAO’s work towards gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Training and guidance

Towards gender-equitable small-scale fisheries governance and development
This manual addresses women’s conditions in small-scale fisheries and highlights the need for disaggregated data and gender auditing to mainstream gender in government programmes.

Developing capacities in gender-sensitive rural advisory services – A training for trainers manual
Based on a pilot training course in Turkey and Azerbaijan, this manual addresses gender issues in rural advisory services. It increases awareness of gender differences in access to services, and introduces participatory tools for gender analysis.

Training module: How to integrate gender issues in climate-smart agriculture projects
A training module for organizing a workshop, this publication analyses key climate change and gender concepts and provides recommendations for gender mainstreaming, such as increasing women’s access to education or raising gender awareness.

Governing land for women and men
This guide focuses on equity and on how land tenure can be governed in ways that address the different needs and priorities of women and men, providing advice on mechanisms, strategies and actions that can be adopted to improve gender equity.

Also forthcoming

Improving gender equality in territorial issues