Re-imagining the future of women in food systems

With SDG 5 (Gender Equality) under review for the 2025 High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development HLPF), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) coordinated a series of side events and special sessions at four of the Regional Fora on Sustainable Development discussing, “Re-imagining the future of women in food systems”. Implemented with the support of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, UN Regional Economic Commissions and regional organizations, these events spotlighted persisting challenges women face in agrifood systems that hinder their equal participation and leadership and showcased successful initiatives to break these barriers and empower women.  

As stated by FAO Uganda Representative, Antonio Querido, opening the side event at the African Regional Forum, these discussions highlighted that the solutions for gender equality and women’s empowerment are already known – what is needed is to share and scale them widely.

Science and technology as equalizers

One unifying thread across all Fora was the power of science and technology to reduce inequalities, if designed intentionally and inclusively. Examples shared included the Farm Planning Model in Uganda, which introduced basic soil testing kits to help women farmers optimize productivity, leading to higher yields and land ownership; an FAO dairy production initiative in Georgia which focused on improved animal health and saw milk yields boosted by 65 percent; and the Greening the Desert Project in Jordan which is empowering rural women through training in permaculture techniques, including integrated waste management, composting and poultry production. Digital tools also featured prominently - in Latin America, for example, platforms such as 60_decibels are enabling real-time, gender-sensitive feedback through phone and digital surveys, helping tailor interventions to women's lived experiences.

Financing women’s potential

Access to finance emerged as both a barrier and an opportunity. During discussions at the forum in Europe and Central Asia, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development noted that women-led startups receive just 3 percent of total startup funding. Bridging this gap means designing gender-responsive financial mechanisms and treating women as credible entrepreneurs. A relevant example of this in practice was showcased in the event at the Africa Forum, where the Commissioner at Uganda’s Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development highlighted how the country has implemented gender-responsive budgeting, legally requiring ministries to fund gender equality actions to address traditional shortfalls in funding. The Uganda Development Bank complements this by offering partial guarantee schemes and longer grace periods which address women’s difficulties in accessing collateral and meeting short-term return requirement.

The power of policy and partnerships

Across all sessions, political will and legislative action were recognized as essential to structural change. In Latin America, the Parliamentary Front Against Hunger has developed a new Parliamentary Guide on how to legislate on gender and food to support this transformative change, with examples of new legislation in Chile aiming at improving women’s access to healthy food. Cited legislative changes in Africa have focused on strengthened women’s land rights, while in the Arab region, specifically Lebanon, quoted policy updates focused on women’s entrepreneurship and skills training. Policy changes in non-state organizations were also emphasized for their importance, with the example of gender quotes introduced in agricultural cooperatives in Norway discussed in the Europe and Central Asia Forum, which were praised for their role in ensuring gender parity in leadership.

Speakers also emphasized the importance of multisectoral coordination. From academia-led data observatories in Latin America and the Caribbean and private sector enterprises providing training in renewable energy in Albania, to banks in Uganda, providing innovative financial products for new areas like carbon markets and community and development sector actors supporting urban farming among displaced women in the Gaza Strip, it was clear from the initiatives discussed, that only collective action can unlock systemic change.

Changing narratives, re-imagining systems

Perhaps the most powerful theme emerging from all four discussions was the need to shift narratives. Women are not passive beneficiaries - they are seed guardians, hydrologic engineers, food tech innovators, carbon traders, cooperative leaders and parliamentarians. But to thrive in these roles, they need visibility, resources and representation.

To scale solutions speakers called for:

• Better gender-disaggregated data to inform policies
• Education and training, especially in finance literacy and entrepreneurship
• Gender-sensitive innovation systems, co-created with women, not just for them
• Gender-responsive financial mechanisms to address investment gaps
• Gender-inclusive policies to ensure women's representation in governance at all levels
  

Women are already leading innovation in agrifood systems. The task now is to ensure they are fully empowered, equitably supported and structurally enabled to drive the transformation the world needs. As stated by FAO Director, Stefanos Fotiou, the existing inequalities for women and girls “are not just an obstacle to agrifood systems transformation but to a just and democratic society”.

Recap these events: Latin America and Caribbean Forum | Europe and Central Asia Forum | Africa Forum | Arab Forum