November 15, 2023- FAO Technical Network on Sustainable Food Value Chains Development & Finance (SFVC D&F) has organized a webinar on: “Gender-sensitive value chains in action:  
The Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA) Initiative of FAO and UNIDO to address gender challenges in the Pineapple Value Chain in Suriname”.

This webinar addressed the crucial intersection between gender equality and inclusive food systems and value chains. It provided a platform for stakeholders, experts, and practitioners from various sectors to explore and discuss FAO´s guiding framework for Developing gender - and - culturally sensitive value chains to address the gender gap.

What does it mean in practice?

To help pineapple farmers upgrade their production models, increase their revenue and address the gender disparities in Suriname, the Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA) project of FAO and UNIDO, co-implemented with UNFPA and ILO was formulated with a strong focus on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. The project, that provides technical assistance, access to finance, and networking opportunities to pineapple stakeholders, also organizes capacity-building events with a gender lens.

The webinar revealed how, by empowering the female pineapple farmers, who are often marginalized and excluded from decision-making processes and market opportunities, ASTA has supported the establishment of a more inclusive and sustainable pineapple value chain, where women have equal access to resources, information, and markets.
 
Guest Speakers:    
 
Ms. Erika Valerio, gender and agri-food systems specialist, FAO. Erika is a gender and agri-food systems specialist with ten years of experience managing diverse projects across multilateral agencies, research organizations, and private sector. Her primary expertise lies in gender and innovation, value chain development. She is proficient in using mixed-methods research for comprehensive policy and program evaluation and has fieldwork experience in Latin America, Southern Africa, and Southeast Asia. In recent years, she has collaborated on ACIAR funded research projects in South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam, focusing on the agricultural value chains, gender and innovation. Erika holds a PhD in Gender and Rural Development from Newcastle University.

Ms. Astrid Runs works for the UNFPA, as the project officer for the three joint SDG Fund projects in Suriname. The three joint projects are the ASTA, ‘Sustainable Pineapple Value Chain project’ , the Leave No One Behind programme, and the SDG – component 1 Roadmap for a Sustainable Financial System for Suriname” programme.  In all these programmes UNFPA’s aims at improving the inclusion, and strengthening the resilience of women, girls and youth regarding their sexual and reproductive health rights and economic participation.

Ms. Wendeline Sabajo, Captain of Matta, district Para
After functioning as acting Captain for one year, for the village of Matta, Ms. Wendeline Sabajo was elected by the village in 2022 as the Captain of Matta. Before that she was actively involved in the village council of Matta as ‘Hoofd Basja’, as from 2011. Together with the village council the aim is to create an economically self-sufficient strong community who is not dependent on others. Furthermore, she is the school director of the primary school O.S. Matta.  As a farmer her main agricultural crops are pineapple, cassava, and sweet potatoes. As a leader her focus is strengthening the entrepreneur skills and economic participation of women and youth of her community. With the other farmers she is very active in the ASTA ‘ Sustainable Pineapple Value Chain Development” project as from the beginning.    
 
 
ACCESS WEBINAR RECORDING
 https://fao.zoom.us/rec/share/HHjM64cA9sUZszm2uILzJA2B0mmU1Yt7EgrQl3Mw1_dMtlRK2yxCloRse4oMR1Qs.l1kTW8cVP-Riuhu-
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