On October 12, 2021, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) will be leading an interactive session on ‘Unlocking the Potential of Gender Research and Researchers to Revolutionize Agricultural Research and Development at the virtual Cultivating Equality 2021 Conference.

The AWARD session will explore how to enhance the contribution of gender research in advancing agricultural research and development and discuss strategies for gender researchers to lead socially inclusive practices that drive transformative change in the agricultural sector.

There is a growing global momentum to strengthen agricultural research for development (AR4D) by integrating gender into research projects and development interventions.  Agricultural scientists, managers, and particularly gender researchers are at the core of these processes to ensure effective and appropriate responses to the needs and priorities of diverse groups of food system actors—including their most marginalized members, such as rural women. Achieving this balance calls for embedding the realities and experiences of differentiated groups as an integral part of the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all AR4D work so that all are represented equitably and benefit equally.

The AWARD-led session brings together an array of gender expert speakers, including Dr. Nicoline de Haan, Director of the CGIAR GENDER Platform, Professor Petra Abdulsalam-Saghir of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in Nigeria, Dr. Rosanne Diab, Director of GenderInSITE in South Africa, and Ms. Titilope Fakoya a Gender and Social Development Specialist from Nigeria.

We invite you to register and participate in the event as we explore research that helps advance agriculture and equality in food systems globally.

Register and catch up with the AWARD session on October 12, 2021, from 1130hrs to 1300hrs CEST.

The virtual ‘Cultivating Equality: Advancing Gender Research in Agriculture and Food Systems’ conference focuses on research that helps understand and advance positive synergies among sustainable and resilient agricultural, rural, and food systems and equality in societies globally. The conference is co-organized by the CGIAR Gender Platform and Wageningen University & Research as an EU Gender-Smart partner.