As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we applaud all the women who work in research for development to transform our food systems. Women are at the heart of CIP’s mission – those who work in labs, greenhouses, offices and the field to foster food and nutrition security and better incomes, and the millions who benefit from the nutritious and resilient crop varieties and sustainable agronomic practices CGIAR and partners have developed and delivered over the years.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality, a reminder of the importance of developing and promoting innovations that are gender responsive and gender equitable. As digital tools and connectivity drive innovation in the Global South, there are opportunities to tap the potential of those technologies and skills to enhance our work toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, we want to ensure that the innovations we develop, and the ways they are being delivered, are as accessible and inclusive as possible, to foster widespread adoption and contribute to gender equality
Gender-responsive approaches to technology development and delivery are key to achieving the SDGs, and gender transformative approaches can contribute to a more equitable world. We not only want to enable farmers to improve their food and nutrition security and income, but to contribute to a future when the world’s more than 4 billion women and girls have the same rights and opportunities as men.
“It is a source of motivation and joy for me to come to work at CIP knowing that the agricultural innovations and technologies we develop are created with a goal of promoting equal participation of men and women.”
Vivian Polar, Senior Specialist, Gender and Innovation, CIP
Innovations specifically designed for women users based on their needs can help overcome their gender-based barriers in agriculture. “Innovations for whom to what?” is an important first question we always need to think about.
Nozomi Kawarazuka, Scientist, Gender Research, CIP
“We need to create and encourage more opportunities for women at different levels to have better access to new innovations. Innovations which are sensitive to women’s needs.” .
Dorcas Amunga, Research Associate, CIP