The Rural Women in Action Network has launched the campaign ‘Rural Women in Action: Building a Sustainable Future’ to commemorate the role of women in agriculture and rural development in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Rural women make up almost half of the labor force in agriculture but they continue to face discrimination and inequality. In response, the campaign aims to highlight the need for inclusive policies that ensure the economic autonomy of women and promote equity in family farming.

Key messages of the campaign include land and resources for rural women; valuing the work of women family farmers; greater participation of women in decision-making; access to technology and co-innovation for women; and equity in climate action.

The Rural Women in Action Network enjoins stakeholders to take action by sharing the campaign and amplifying the voice of rural women and family farmers; promoting equity policies in family farming; supporting initiatives for access to land and financing for women farmers; and promoting women leadership in decision-making.

The network thus asserts that “without rural women, there is no sustainable future.”

This celebration is in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls, which seeks to recognize women’s importance in building sustainable communities.

This story was written by Xchaina Amo, ComDev Asia Intern.