In countries where women are most marginalized, discriminated under the law and where gendered norms prevent women from owning property and resources, people are also the hungriest. This is because gender equality and food systems are intertwined.  However, too often, we only focus on the roles that women play in production, processing, trading of food and in making decisions about consumption and purchase of food at household level. And while this is important, we must also focus on whether the food system as organized is just and equitable and whether it promotes the empowerment and livelihoods and health of women and girls. Stark gender inequalities are both a cause and an outcome of unsustainable food systems, unjust food access, consumption and production. Tackling gender injustice and truly empowering women is not only a fundamental prerequisite for food systems transformation but also a goal.

This dialogue is one in a series of regional dialogues to discuss how we can achieve the triple goal of gender equality, sustainable and healthy food systems. It will bring together scientists, farmers and farmer organizations, policy makers, consumers, private sector and others to discuss and share solutions on guaranteeing land rights for women, rural women’s economic empowerment, women’s voice and decision making in food systems, bridging the gender technology gap and more.

Key outcomes of the dialogue include: (i) a set of solutions and commitments for gender equality in food systems (ii) an African position on what commitments are needed to achieve gender equality in food systems for the UN Food Systems Summit (iii) a community of practice to advance commitments on gender equality in food systems