The Importance of Investing in Nutrition

The voice of rural women for a sustainable and healthy feature was hosted by the Governments of Italy and Zambia, along with the World Health Organization on March 12, 2018.

UN moderator Nazneen Damji put it best when she stated, “the 2030 Agenda is clear – there can be no sustainable development without gender equality. The agenda’s promise to leave no one behind means that the benefits of sustainable development must reach every woman and man, boy and girl”.

Yet, across all countries and for far too long, rural women and girls lag the furthest behind on every development indicator for which data is available.

Multiple and intersecting inequalities means that rural women and girls are at the highest risk of poverty, food insecurity, and the effects of climate change. In addition, they suffer disproportionately from unequal access to land, natural resources, and services such as healthcare and education.

So what can be done?

Madame Inonge Wina, Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, argues that formulating effective national policies and programs is a much needed first step. She calls for the empowerment of rural women in the agriculture sector, stating that it is “much needed and very timely”.

In Zambia and in many other developing countries, women represent over 70% of the agriculture labor force. Yet, they lack the right to own or control their own land. Not only does this contribute to low agriculture productivity and food insecurity, it ultimately leads to poor health among women and girls, especially those living in rural areas. By formulating effective land policies and reforming legal practices, national governments can consider the prevailing customs and practices while ensuring a healthier future for rural women and girls.

Vice President Wina also spoke about two national programs: The School Feeding Programme and The First 1000 Most Critical Days Programme. The School Feeding programme has been implemented in 54 of the 106 districts across the country. At the end of 2017, more than 1 million children had benefitted from the programme. The First 1000 Most Critical Days Program consists of a wide range of interventions that aim to reduce the levels of chronic malnutrition in Zambia. Specific interventions include educating women and girls about nutrition during pregnancy and promotion of breastfeeding.

Vice President Wina closed her keynote speech by reminding us of the importance of empowering women and giving them a voice. She states that, “any nation that suppresses the voice of women in any matter of national importance sets the stage for a disastrous future for the next generation. May we never be found guilty of this offense”.

Useful Links:

https://www.wfp.org/content/school-feeding-fact-sheet

http://www.nfnc.org.zm/content/first-1000-most-critical-days-programme-communication-strategy-and-implementation-plan

Sustaining Our World: The Need to Empower Indigenous Women Farmers

By Andrea Moran

The March 21st panel at the Salvation Army in NYC.

Passion.
Power.
Potential.
Purpose.

These are the four keys to empowering indigenous women in farming, according to Tee Thompson, a presenter at the "Transforming Indigenous Women Through Agribusiness" event on March 21st, as part of the UN's 61st CWS.

But why farming?

The world's surging population is one reason. By 2030, the UN projects that the world's population will surpass 8.6 billion. (It reached 7 billion in 2011, so we're in for some incredible exponential growth).

Despite the dramatic increase in the world's population, the growth farming sector, as it is, will not be able to keep pace, according to Thompson. To make matters more serious, by 2030, over half the world's populations will live in urban areas. This shift from rural to city life will no doubt impact agriculture, a sector which is already showing a decline in the percentage of world population working in the field, according to the World Bank. 

"Women represent a whole lot of untapped potential," said Esther Ibanga, Founder of the Women Without Walls Initiative, (WWWI). Unfortunately, women in many countries, such as Nigeria, face extreme difficulties in accessing land, equipment, loans, and training to take leadership roles within agriculture. Empowerment and enablement to hold power in this sector is crucial not only for the development of the nation, but to ensure these women can sustain their families and communities with food.

Ibanga applied for a loan in Nigeria, and 4 years later, she said her loan application has not advanced. She said patriarchal and traditional views of women's roles hinder their advancement and involvement in the agriculture sector. Overcoming these attitudes, and allowing women  legal rights to land, training, and loans, is crucial if the nation is to develop and include women within agribusiness.

While humanitarian aid sends food to Africa, Africa already has all the resources and arable land it needs to sustain itself, said Barrister Udy Ubom, a lawyer and panelist. The key is enabling Africa's women to become empowered leaders of their agricultural lands and small farms.

"They don't need food shipped from America. They have land, they have rivers," he said, re-affirming that instead of sending aid money to supply food to Africa, donors should send aid to support women in the above mentioned areas.

Additional Resources:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Article: Levelling the Field: Improving Opportunities for Women Farmers in Africa (World Bank)