SIANI’s expert group Drylands Agroforestry in East Africa has issued a call to accelerate gender equality in agriculture and economic development. The statement has been published as an op-ed in several local newspapers and describes five concrete actions governments can take.
The article Women’s Grassroot Leadership – A catalyst for sustainable agriculture and economic development in East Africa was written by Dr. Monica Nderitu on behalf of Vi Agroforestry and the Dryland Agroforestry in East Africa expert group. In conjunction with International Women’s Day, the op-ed was published in CGTN Africa, Citizen Digital, Nation Newspaper and People Daily.
According to the African Development Bank, women provide 50 percent of agriculture labour, but studies from the World Bank and UN Women show that women farmers face gender discrimination in access to and utilisation of production resources such as land, agricultural inputs, and financial services. Consequently, women farmers have lower agricultural productivity than their counterparts. The article summarises the situation:
“Women play an indispensable role in agriculture, food security, and economic development, yet systemic barriers hinder their full participation. Addressing these barriers and fostering grassroots leadership is essential for creating sustainable development in East Africa.”
Women leadership in the community and farmer-based organisation is described as key in accelerating action towards gender equality in agriculture sectors. The article also calls on governments, private sector stakeholders, civil society organisations, and development partners to take five concrete measures:
- Increase investment in gender-responsive agriculture, ensuring women’s access to land, finance, and productive resources.
- Enhance women’s adoption of climate-smart agriculture to strengthen resilience against climate change.
- Promote inclusive governance structures, ensuring women have a voice, agency and power in agricultural policy and rural development.
- Foster public-private partnerships, facilitating market access for women-led agribusinesses.
- Support research and data collection to inform evidence-based interventions promoting gender equality in agriculture.
The article concludes:
Accelerating women’s leadership in agriculture is not only a matter of equity but also an economic necessity. Investing in women’s empowerment strengthens food security, community resilience, and sustainable development across East Africa.