Deputy Secretary-General Calls for Partnerships, Investment to End Hunger, Improve Rights of Rural Women, in Message at Africa Regional Conference

(Delayed in Transmission)

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message at the launch of the “Leaving No One Behind – A Regional Outlook on Gender and Agrifood Systems” report at the thirty‑first session of the Regional Conference for Africa, held on 28 October:

It is my great pleasure to join you for the launch of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)‑African Union Commission report “Leaving No One Behind – A Regional Outlook on Gender and Agrifood Systems”.

Rural women in Africa play a crucial role in agriculture, from production to processing and marketing.  Rural women are the pillars of our food systems, and agents of change for food security and climate justice.  But they are also disproportionately affected by poverty, inequality, exclusion and the effects of climate change.  Too often, structural barriers and discrimination limit rural women’s abilities to participate in political activities and decision‑making.

The transformation of food systems is closely intertwined with gender equality, and both are central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

But even before the COVID‑19 pandemic, Africa was not on target to achieve the [Goals] by 2030.  The pandemic is now further undermining efforts to achieve zero hunger and is set to increase poverty for the first time in decades.

The United Nations Secretary‑General will convene a Food Systems Summit next year, to secure policies and commitments to transform the way we produce, process, and consume food.  Women’s leadership and the equal participation of rural women and girls must be central to this effort.

We need policies, strategies and investments that close gender gaps in all areas, from access to land and natural resources, to services, technology and information.

We need to change the patriarchal and discriminatory systems that create exclusion and marginalization – including women’s unpaid care work.  To achieve this, we will need the involvement and buy‑in of men - and perhaps especially, boys.

I commend the FAO and the African Union Commission for their strong commitment to advancing the rights of rural women and girls.  This excellent report will make an important contribution to the Food Systems Summit and to policies and strategies that empower rural women and girls in Africa.

Through partnerships, investments and concrete actions, we can improve the status of rural women and make a leap forward to ending hunger in Africa by 2025.  Thank you.