On October 15, 2024, World Rural Women’s Day celebrates the vital role of rural women in agriculture and food security. These women make up 40% of the global agricultural workforce and process 80% of agricultural products in Africa. However, they still face significant barriers to accessing agricultural resources and participating in strategic decision-making.
Persistent challenges for rural women
Despite their essential role in agriculture, rural women encounter difficulties in accessing land, seeds, and agricultural equipment. They are often excluded from decision-making processes, limiting their influence. Climate change and armed conflicts exacerbate these challenges, increasing their workload and family responsibilities.
Supporting rural women’s leadership through PAFO
The Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) is committed to enhancing the leadership of rural women, in partnerships with AHA and the German Rural Women’s Association . Through the initiative: Women’s Leadership Program and the establishment of the PAFO Continental Women’s Platform, PAFO ensures better representation of rural women in decision-making bodies, including the PAFO Board.
The Declaration of African Rural Women, adopted at the PAFO Rural Women’s Forum, emphasizes the critical role women play in African agriculture while highlighting the many challenges they face. These include limited access to land, resources, and technologies.
The Declaration outlines ten key recommendations, including legal reforms, improved access to financing, and increased representation of women in decision-making bodies, thus strengthening their leadership for sustainable agricultural development.
On World Rural Women’s Day 2024, it is crucial to celebrate and support the empowerment of rural women. By strengthening their leadership, improving their access to agricultural resources, and encouraging their participation in strategic decision-making, we are building a more inclusive and equitable rural development for the future.