Gender and youth

PROPAC: Study Tour to Senegal for the Promotion of Bread‑making with Local Flours
Gender and youth

From 27 January to 1 February 2025, the Regional Platform of Farmers’ Organisations of Central Africa (PROPAC) took part in a study tour in Senegal. Organized by ASPRODEB, the visit brought together leaders of farmers’ organisations, processors, and bakers to explore Senegal’s successful experiences in incorporating local cereal and tuber flours into bread and pastry production. A Project under the FO4FS Initiative PROPAC is a beneficiary of the FO4FS (Farmers’

Rural women ring in change in West Africa
Gender and youth

Across West Africa, rural women are showing that small-scale agriculture isn’t just the foundation of sustainable global food systems – it’s an avenue for economic, social and political empowerment. Meet three women who are leading their communities towards a more prosperous and equal future. Breaking ground When Anta was growing up, it was customary for young women to leave their homes in Ngoudiane to find domestic work in Dakar, the Senegalese capital. Anta

A gift for conservation helps reduce conflict between humans and wildlife
Gender and youth

Chipo Munsaka explains that her first name means “a gift” in her language. “A gift for conserving wildlife,” the young Zimbabwean adds radiantly. That neatly sums up her commitment and contribution to addressing the growing problem of conflict between humans and wildlife. Chipo works as a Resource Monitor in northern Zimbabwe with the Mucheni Community Conservancy, which is being established with support from the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme. In

Rice-fish farming in the Land of Milk and Honey: South-South Cooperation is revolutionizing agriculture in Uganda
Gender and youth

Anastasia Mwamula roots weeds from her quarter-of-an-acre paddy field barefoot. It’s a back-breaking exercise. But, at 51 years of age and with eight children to feed, she’s gotten used to hard work. Every morning, Anastasia and her 58-year-old husband, Zakaria Wapali, leave their red-brick home on the edge of a tiny village known as Scheme View to tend to this and other crops on their 15-acre field, a two-kilometre walk

Empowering African Rural Women Leaders in Kigali, Rwanda
Gender and youth

A group of 20 rural women leaders from 13 African countries and Germany gathered in Kigali for the second session of the “Women Lead: Leadership for Rural Women” program. PAFO organized the initiative in partnership with the Andreas Hermes Akademie (AHA) and the German Rural Women’s Association (dlv) to strengthen women’s leadership in agriculture and equip them with the skills needed to drive positive change in their communities. Building Leadership Skills The program provided a

International Women’s Day 2025- For all women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment
Communication and ICTs

On March 8, the world celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD). This year, the celebration is under the theme “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”, focusing on unlocking equal rights, power and opportunities for all. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation of youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls as catalysts for lasting change. Progress in Women’s Rights in Agriculture and Rural Development In recent years,

FAO-PAFO youth mentorship programme: Call for mentors
Gender and youth

Empowerment of Young Agricultural Producers in Africa through inclusive mentorship Program (EYPA) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) invite experienced agriculture, agribusiness, leadership, and rural development professionals to join the FAO-PAFO Youth Mentorship Program. This program will equip young African agricultural producers with skills, knowledge, and connections to thrive in agri-food. Mentors will provide capacity-building workshops, guidance, and networking opportunities to 50 selected young farmers

Harvesting Hope: Empowering Women Farmers for Higher Healthy Food Production in Northern Ghana
Gender and youth

In Ghana, access to key agricultural productive assets, such as seeds, fertilizers, water and land, is critical to agricultural productivity and food security, especially for women and youth. This disparity is particularly pronounced in some parts of Ghana, where traditional norms and cultural practices often restrict women’s access to agricultural inputs and tools, relegating them to secondary roles in agriculture despite their significant contributions to food production and household nutrition.

African Youth Participate in Formation Sessions in South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mauritius
Gender and youth

Between October and December 2024, African youth participated in various training (formation) sessions focused on global contextual analysis, political debates, social movement building, food sovereignty, and youth participation. These events, held in South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mauritius, fostered exchanges and connections to enhance and strengthen youth-driven actions for 2025 and beyond. Nkrumah School – Training of Trainers in Political Education, South Africa The first gathering occurred from September 20th to

Large-scale investment in Farmer Field Schools in Kenya helps expand farmers’ knowledge and increase their incomes
Gender and youth

For a few months now, Esther Munani Kyalo’s routine has changed. A mother of three living in the Miambani ward in Kitui county, Kenya, she has followed a new ritual every Tuesday since the Kavakaky Farmer Field School was launched. Together with around 35 other women from her area, she walks to a nearby house where the group meets and breeds chicks in the small but brand-new poultry house. Sitting