In this Article
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) underscores the need for holistic and integrated actions to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. FAO shows how empowering women can drive meaningful progress in strengthening food security and building resilient agrifood systems through initiatives such as the Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress Towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE) and various women-led innovation initiatives.
Image Source: FAO
Women play a crucial role in ensuring food security and good nutrition for families and communities, and in building resilient agrifood systems, yet they encounter barriers such as limited access to financial resources, productive assets, social protections, and capacity development. FAO emphasizes the need for holistic and integrated actions to promote gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, exemplified by its collaboration in JP RWEE, a global initiative with an overarching goal securing rural women’s livelihoods, rights and resilience in the context of sustainable development.
FAO is also advancing numerous focused initiatives that highlight the transformative impact of women-led innovation. One example is the Accelerator Mentorship Programme, which pairs 50 African women entrepreneurs with individual mentors from a panel of expert women. Over its nine-month duration, the program provides structured training and encourages practical advice shared through the mentor-mentee conversations such as business plan development, managing hires, and preparing elevator pitches to access finance. The program has supported 150 women entrepreneurs, creating ripple effects across their communities and benefiting 700,000 people.
Meanwhile, in the mountains of Georgia, grassroots innovation is reshaping the dairy sector through the Farmer Field School initiative, co-implemented by FAO and UN Women. Over 30 female dairy farmers shared their insights across a farming season, generating ideas and learning techniques to refine production and respond to demand. Through the Farmer Field School Initiative, insights from producers are fed back into the educational program, building on real-world learning and experience.
Reference:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2025). World Food Day: Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future. Retrieved November 27, 2025 from https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/02acfe46-87b8-4952-a67c-54469969c19e/content
