Gender equality has been recognized as an important goal in itself as well as important to achieving other development objectives, such as reducing hunger and poverty. This is true worldwide and especially so in rural Africa, where women play an important role in the agricultural sector. Gender-sensitive policies and programming are central to effectively advancing the Malabo Declaration’s agricultural transformation agenda. But what is the progress in achieving gender equality?  What are the major challenges, and what are the effective means of overcoming those challenges?

Seminar speakers addressed these questions and discussed the findings and recommendations of the 2019 Annual Trends and Outlook Report, Gender Equality in Rural Africa: From Commitments to Outcomes. The report takes an in-depth look at gender in Africa by examining the intersections of gender and 1) context and institutions, 2) assets, 3) shocks and resilience, 4 livelihood strategies, 5) income and control of income, and 6) well-being.

The report is produced by the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS), which provides data and analyses to inform the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). ReSAKSS is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.