3rd Food Systems Talk: “Rural women and girls in sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems”

On the occasion of International Day of Rural Women (15 October), the United Nations Issue-based Coalition on Sustainable Food Systems (IBC-SFS) and the Issue-based Coalition on Gender Equality (IBC-GE) organized the third edition of the Food Systems Talks series, with a special angle on the role of women and girls in reaching sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems.

Entitled “Rural women and girls in sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems” the third food system talk aims at raising awareness on the key role women and girls, particularly those living in rural areas, in achieving and contributing towards a food systems transformation.

The Talk features an interview led by Alia El-Yassir, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia and Co-Chair of the IBC-GE, with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Albania, Frida Krifca. It sheds light on key policies and interventions for increasing women’s access and rights to resources, services and opportunities and eliminating barriers, particularly for rural women and girls. The Talk also explores the main food systems priorities of the current multiple crises and will showcase innovative and profitable solutions for advancing women’s empowerment in food systems.

“Rural women and girls are crucial for food security and sustainable life. This is why we have included in our National Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development 2021-2017 a special focus on rural women and girls, for creating an enabling environment which stimulate equal opportunities, guarantee access to economic and financial public sources and build entrepreneurial capacities”, said Minister Frifca.

The Talk also includes an inspiring intervention by Natalia Efros, a wine producer from Moldova, who tells her story as an entrepreneur as well as the key challenges and opportunities she has faced as a woman in the sector.