Rural women are the backbone of agrifood systems across Europe and Central Asia

Empowering rural women is central to fulfilling the mission of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to eradicate hunger and ensure food security globally. Women play critical roles in agrifood systems as farmers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. However, their contributions are often limited by systemic inequalities that impact their working conditions and economic opportunities. Women often have limited access to productive resources and opportunities as compared to men, which hinders their socioeconomic development and hampers agrifood systems’ productivity. Tackling these inequalities is essential for unlocking the full potential of both rural women and agrifood systems.

This year’s International Women's Day theme, ‘For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,’ calls for actions that ensure equal rights and opportunities, particularly empowering young women and girls as agents of change.

On this day, Nabil Gangi, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia highlights the importance of tackling these challenges and takes us through several FAO initiatives in the region dedicated to building agrifood systems that are efficient, sustainable, resilient, and particularly inclusive, ensuring that no one is left behind.

What are the main barriers that rural women face in accessing resources, employment, and equitable opportunities in agriculture across the Europe and Central Asia region?

First, let me congratulate all women in our region and beyond on International Women’s Day. It’s a day to remind ourselves that women have been and will continue to be a pillar for our region’s development and prosperity. Rural women are no different, and dare I say a key player in FAO’s efforts for rural development and food security; they play a crucial role in sustaining our agrifood systems. Yet, they face profound inequalities that affect their economic opportunities. Across Europe and Central Asia, a lack of decent employment opportunities in rural areas has been a major obstacle for women, making it difficult for communities to leverage their full potential in agriculture. Their limited access to essential resources like land, credit, and farming supplies, are only some of the delimiting hurdles for their and their rural communities’ development.

Moreover, some discriminatory traditional social practices of single-handedly managing household responsibilities add to the burden on women who find themselves also working in fields, cultivating crops, harvesting, and tending to livestock under such challenging conditions. It is no surprise that we find rural women spending twice as much time on household chores as men - and urban women - while facing long hours in low-paid work on seasonal jobs in the informal sector, increasing their economic vulnerabilities.

Political tensions, civil unrest and “frozen” conflicts with periodic escalations have been particularly hard on our rural populations; disrupting their lives and often leaving women as sole providers for the livelihood of their families. All this has contributed to migration from rural areas, setting back their economic development and their traditional role as the food producers for their societies.

I guess looking all this in the eye, leads us without hesitation to conclude that the key to reversing this economic time-bomb is to actively and seriously address the inequalities between men and women in rural areas, not only with robust policy interventions but also through active community engagement to dismantle the structural impediments that hinder women's full participation in agrifood systems. By doing so, food security can be improved and national economies reinvigorated.

How does FAO integrate gender-related research into its agrifood system strategies and policies?

Our key focus is to ensure that gender equality is not just a token phrase but a principal component in all our projects and initiatives. As such, FAO adopts a two-pronged approach; one through advocating for changes in policies and legal frameworks that provide the space for rural women to exercise their full potential through equal access to inputs; and the second is to promote such equality in all our projects and operational interventions through evidence based and key studies.

The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems report which draws extensively on findings from the FAO-conducted ‘country gender assessments’ (CGA) has been key not only in shaping the design of FAO’s projects but also in influencing the formulation of national policies that directly benefit rural women. A recent example is from Georgia where FAO’s CGA uncovered significant discrepancies in land ownership between men and women. This insight has sparked wide consultations at all levels leading to robust initiatives for legal and financial reforms addressing equitable land ownership and enhancing support for agricultural value chains.

Similarly, the Gender-responsive value chain analysis in Albania report identified significant barriers and also highlighted opportunities for women in the Elbasan, Puka, and Leskovik municipalities. In response, FAO teamed up with UN Women and local authorities to launch a women-led agribusiness incubator which enables women to prepare and package artisanal products for both domestic and regional markets.

While each one of these examples might seem modest in its returns, together they are steps towards implementing context-specific interventions towards enhancing agricultural productivity and economic growth; something with the potential to boost the global economy by USD 1 trillion and reduce food insecurity by 45 million people (FAO, 2023).

Cooperatives play a significant role in agrifood systems. Can you share some impactful examples of initiatives that contributed to empower women in the region?

Fundamentally, it’s about facilitating rural women’s access to the resources they need to transform their communities and economies. Cooperatives and women-led associations are indispensable because they enable easier access to markets, and financial resources and encourage women to collaborate, share resources, and leverage collective bargaining power, which would otherwise be particularly challenging if carried individually.

Let me give an example from Türkiye, where despite challenges from the 2023 earthquake, the FAO-supported Samandağ Women's Cooperative has made remarkable progress. The Cooperative scaled up operations and managed to reduce costs and enhance access to markets. This means they can continue producing and selling local food products like jams and pickles, sustaining livelihoods and strengthening the bonds within their community.

Similarly, in Armenia, the 'Berd Bean' Women’s Association addresses the challenges posed by fragmented landholdings, which significantly limit women farmers' ability to reach larger markets. Supported by our ‘Local Empowerment of Actors for Development’ project, this association helps members transition to organic farming. This shift is strategic—it opens doors to premium markets and secure higher incomes for these women.

I believe there are some important lessons here that I hope we have collectively learned. Through technical assistance, capacity building, and direct market linkages, and by transforming challenges into opportunities, FAO is creating the conditions for women to succeed, lead and inspire.

With the profound impact of climate change on agriculture, what measures is FAO taking to address these challenges for women in the region?

Climate change doesn't just alter landscapes; it disproportionately affects the lives of women in agrifood systems.  Women are typically more affected by disasters, climate risks, and crises due to discriminatory social norms that limit their access to resources and decision-making roles. To give you an example, findings from the FAO report The Unjust Climate reveal that a 1° C increase in long-term average temperatures can reduce incomes in female-headed households by 34 percent, compared to male-headed households. It’s a priority for FAO to respond to these challenges by integrating women's roles into climate action strategies. Let me give you an example from Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we are empowering women through climate-resilient agricultural practices helping them adopt sustainable farming techniques such as drought-resistant crops and efficient water management systems. Likewise, in Kyrgyzstan, we support women farmers who lead climate-smart initiatives to restore land and enhance forest carbon sequestration. These efforts do more than just provide women with vital skills—they open new economic opportunities and play a crucial role in environmental sustainability. FAO is committed to ensuring that women farmers are equipped to both adapt to climate change and take the lead in mitigating its impacts.

Looking ahead to the International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026, what specific initiatives is FAO planning to further promote women's empowerment in agriculture?

As we look forward to the International Year of the Woman Farmer, FAO is ramping up efforts to give greater visibility and celebrate the indispensable role women play in agriculture. We’re planning to expand successful cooperative models, roll-out innovative agricultural technologies designed for women, and enhance our training programs. These steps are designed to improve women’s access to essential resources and leadership roles, aiming for a profound transformation of agrifood systems globally. Our goal is clear: to ensure that women not only participate in but lead the development of efficient, sustainable, resilient and inclusive agrifood systems and their rural environment.

Finally, if you could allow us a personal question: this is not the first time we have seen you as a dedicated advocate for equal rights, opportunities, and the empowerment of rural women. What makes these issues particularly important to you on a personal level?

Hahaha… I am happy to take the personal question!

I deeply believe in equality! Throughout my childhood and part of my adult years, witnessing the implicit discriminatory actions towards my mother, a working woman, and for a long time the sole earner of our household, I have been enraged by such practices and the prevailing inequalities. Since then, and throughout my career I have been an advocate for equality between women and men, and even more so for the empowerment of rural women, whose immense contributions have long been overlooked by our societies.