Report on "Regional Strategic Dialogue: Climate Change, Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa Region"
This report, an outcome of the Regional Strategic Dialogue on Climate Change andWomen in Agriculture held in Kampala, Uganda on November 20-21, 2023, addresses the critical role ofwomen in Sub-Saharan Africa's agricultural sector and the challenges they face due to climate change and systemic gender inequalities. Women constitute a significant portion of the agricultural labor force but often lack agency, ownership of land, and access to resources, which hampers their productivity and resilience. The dialogue held in Kampala brought together 31 experts, policy makers and specialists from various academic institutions and organisations across the regionwhere they worked together to identify key challenges and discuss possible solutions. Challenges highlighted at the dialogue included a lack of women in leadership roles, prevalent gender stereotypes within the society, limited decision-making power among women, and women’s inadequate access to technology and financial services in the agriculture sector. To address these issues, this policy brief makes clear, actionable recommendations to policymakers andstakeholders in a digestible format, including but not limited to, comprehensive sensitization programmes to change societal attitudes, policies and programmes to support women's access to and control of resources, amendments to policies and legal frameworks, and capacity-building initiatives to enhance women’s skills and knowledge. By implementing these recommendations,we can create a more inclusive and resilient agricultural sector in the Sub-Saharan Africa region,empowering women to contribute significantly to food security and economic development in the region.