Caravan 30: Gender focus: prioritizing the needs of women farmers

Abstract

In this issue of Caravan – a collaborative effort with the CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems – we focus on gender related research being undertaken by ICARDA and national and CGIAR research partners across the world's dry areas, reflecting on experience and insights from Morocco to South Asia and beyond. Articles cover proven extension models that are successfully delivering new technologies and innovations to women farmers; capacity-strengthening initiatives that are helping biophysical scientists to incorporate gender into their research more effectively; insights into the performance of rural women's cooperatives and how these organizations can be strengthened; and success stories from across CGIAR – including initiatives to improve dairy production in Jordan, raise the productivity of women livestock producers in Afghanistan, and deliver gains to female cactus producers in Egypt. This issue also discusses the new gender strategy of CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems, an ambitious plan that sets out the challenges and targets for addressing gender issues as a core activity of this ICARDA-led program. At the heart of these initiatives lies a commitment to gender equity and an inclusive form of agricultural development designed to deliver maximum impacts – not only for women, but for rural communities in general.