AgriCord has taken an important step forward in strengthening gender equality within farmers’ organisations with the launch of its new Gender Vision Document. Developed by the Gender Working Group and validated by AgriCord’s General Assembly, the document sets a shared direction for advancing gender-transformative approaches across the alliance. It was presented during two internal webinars on 10 and 17 November 2025, which brought together agri-agencies and partner farmers’ organisations from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. An open webinar for a wider audience is scheduled for 5 March 2026.
The Gender Vision promotes the shift from gender mainstreaming to gender-transformative approaches. It underlines the need to challenge norms, power relations, and structural barriers that limit women’s voice, opportunities, and leadership. It also highlights the role of agri-agencies as key agents of change in this process.
A vision built on shared learning
The Vision Document is the result of several years of collective learning across the AgriCord alliance. It outlines how agri-agencies can move from gender mainstreaming toward gender-transformative approaches. The vision highlights the need to challenge norms, power dynamics, and structural barriers. The document brings together methodological guidance, checklists, and examples from 17 cases from around the world. These examples show how change can be put into practice in diverse contexts and how farmers’ organisations can strengthen gender equality from within.
In her opening remarks, AgriCord Director Katja Vuori reminded participants that:
"gender equality is not an optional component of development work, but rather a fundamental condition for resilience, productivity, and justice within agricultural and rural communities. She added that: women farmers play a central role in food security and community wellbeing, yet their access to resources, representation, and decision-making power remains far lower than that of men."
Strengthening gender equality therefore directly contributes to stronger and more resilient farmers’ organisations.
Learning from practice: Four case studies
During the first webinar on 10 November, participants explored two examples of transformation in practice from Tanzania and North Macedonia.
1. North Macedonia: Securing paid maternity leave for women farmers
The National Federation of Farmers (NFF) in North Macedonia supported by We Effect shared its decade-long work to secure paid maternity leave for women farmers. Women who were legally registered as farmers had access to social protection but lacked even basic rights such as sick leave or parental leave. Through organisational reforms, the strengthening of the Female Farmers’ Network, and sustained advocacy involving multiple ministries and the CEDAW review process, NFF managed to achieve access to nine months of paid maternity leave. An achievement now recognised in EU Progress Reports and inspiring neighbouring countries.
2. Tanzania: Strengthening women’s participation through twinning
The second case, from Tanzania, presented by NADO with support from FFD, showcased the power of the twinning approach in building confidence, skills, and leadership among rural women. Over the years, women have expanded their technical knowledge through peer learning, strengthened their economic position through income-generating activities, and taken on leadership roles within cooperatives and community groups. Savings cultures have also played a key role, with hundreds of women’s groups now maintaining their own financial systems. The experience demonstrated that empowering women has a multiplier effect on entire communities, even in contexts where access to land and capital remains a challenge.
Further insights from Latin America and Africa
The second internal webinar, held on 17 November, highlighted two more examples of gender-transformative work from Latin America and Africa.
3. Honduras: Inclusion through an integrated sustainability model
The coffee producers’ organisation CAFESCOR supported by Trias, presented its integrated sustainability model, which brings together women, men, youth, and children in a holistic approach to organisational development. Its work is built on three pillars:
- women’s leadership schools,
- pilot entrepreneurs,
- and masculinity schools.
These activities are now institutionalised, contributing to a more inclusive organisation.
CAFESCOR also runs quality-control and organic agriculture schools for youth, as well as childhood strategy with toy libraries and educational camps. Their experience illustrates how gender equality can be woven into organisational development, community engagement, and long-term sustainability.
4. Chad: Literacy as a foundation for women’s participation
To address gender inequalities and low literacy among women in Chad, Afdi partnered with three local farmers' organizations (FOs), member of the national FO CNCPRT, to implement a functional literacy program aimed at empowering women to take on leadership roles. The programme enabled more than 2,600 women to participate in literacy campaigns, with over a thousand obtaining certification. Beyond literacy, the initiative helped redefine roles within households, encouraged shared responsibilities, and strengthened women’s leadership within farmers’ organisations.
The project has also built systems to ensure continuity beyond donor funding, such as peer networks and adapted newsletter in local languages.
Across both webinars, participants expressed strong interest in deepening the discussion on gender-transformative approaches and exploring how to institutionalise them within their organisations.
Looking ahead, AgriCord will host a public webinar on 5 March 2026, bringing together donors, partners, researchers, and the broader development community.
The launch of the Gender Vision reflects the collective energy and commitment of the AgriCord alliance. It provides a shared framework for action while recognising the diversity of contexts and starting points among agri-agencies. Most importantly, it affirms that lasting change is possible when organisations challenge inequitable norms, centre the experiences of women farmers, and build transformation from within.