FAO Pushes for Women’s Inclusion in Trade and Agriculture



The Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), H.E. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, has called for decisive action to empower women in trade and agrifood systems to unlock Africa’s economic potential. Speaking at the 2024 International Women’s Day celebration in Accra, under the theme "Empowering Women, Transforming Trade: Unlocking Africa’s Economic Potential," he emphasized the need to remove systemic barriers that hinder women’s participation in trade.


Haile-Gabriel highlighted that women are central to Africa’s agrifood systems, making up nearly two-thirds of the workforce. However, they face significant challenges such as limited access to finance, restrictive trade policies, gender biases, and inadequate infrastructure. These challenges are further exacerbated by climate change, which disproportionately affects women due to their limited assets and additional care responsibilities.


Citing the FAO’s 2024 report, The Unjust Climate, he noted that extreme weather events widen the income gap between female- and male-headed households, costing women an estimated USD 37 billion annually due to heat stress and USD 16 billion due to floods.


"Women traders sustain families, communities, and entire economies, yet their work remains largely informal and undervalued. Overcoming these obstacles is not just a gender issue—it is an economic necessity," he stated.


He proposed five key interventions to support women in trade and agrifood systems:

1. Providing targeted financial products, capacity-building, and mentorship for women-led businesses.


2. Strengthening trade policies that facilitate women’s participation in local, regional, and international markets.


3. Leveraging technology for better access to e-commerce, digital payments, and trade information.


4. Advocating for gender-sensitive trade policies that eliminate discrimination and promote inclusivity.


5. Strengthening partnerships between governments, private sector actors, development partners, and civil society to create enabling environments for women in trade.


FAO has already initiated several programs, including mentorship for women-led small businesses in Africa and collaborations with the International Trade Center to help women entrepreneurs leverage opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).


Haile-Gabriel also highlighted FAO’s Commit to Growth Equality (CGE) initiative, aimed at increasing financing, partnerships, and targeted investments for gender equality in agrifood systems. Additionally, FAO is working on the Africa Status of Women in Agrifood Systems report, which will provide new data and insights specific to Sub-Saharan Africa.


Looking ahead, he urged stakeholders to capitalize on the upcoming International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026, as declared by the UN, to further amplify the voices of women in agrifood systems.


"The transformation of Africa’s trade and economy depends on empowering women. No single actor can achieve this alone. We must collaborate, align our efforts, and set our ambitions higher," he concluded.

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