Agri-food systems facing climate change in the MENA region: gender equality for better resilience

 On 7 March 2022, in the context of the 2022 International Women’s Day, recognizing this year the contribution of women and girls to build a more sustainable future, the UfM organised, in partnership with the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa of FAO and the CIHEAM , the online event on “Agri-food systems facing climate change in the MENA region: gender equality for better resilience” to identify challenges faced by women as change drivers for a more resilient agri-food systems facing climate change. Moreover, possible solutions were put forward in terms of policies, strategies and governance at regional and country levels. The discussion focused its attention on the need to foster rights and fair policies in order to support the most fragile groups, namely women, girls and children. Women – especially in rural communities – provide for their families and contribute to the resilience of their communities while being paid less than men and are often those affected by discriminating policies and harmful social norms which exclude them from the relevant decision-making processes. When it comes to the migrations caused by climate change, women are the most vulnerable and it is therefore important to include political measures to promote women’s priorities linked to climate change events.