The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP) marked International Women’s Day 2025 with a renewed call for the empowerment of women and girls, particularly in the fight against hunger and food insecurity. The three Rome-based UN agencies gathered under this year’s theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” emphasizing the urgent need for systemic changes that enable equal opportunities for all.
International Women’s Day serves as a global platform to celebrate women’s achievements and highlight the challenges they continue to face. This year’s observance coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark global commitment to advancing women’s rights. Over the past three decades, progress has been evident in legal reforms protecting women from discrimination and violence, increasing female representation in political and decision-making roles, and improving access to financial services, education, and healthcare.
Despite these advances, significant gender disparities persist, particularly in food security. Women continue to experience higher levels of food insecurity compared to men, and current global efforts remain off track to meet key nutrition targets by 2030. The FAO, IFAD, and WFP stressed that achieving gender equality is critical to reducing poverty, strengthening food systems, and building resilience in rural communities.
FAO Assistant Director-General and Chief Scientist ad interim, Beth Crawford, underscored the economic importance of closing the gender gap in agriculture. “Women play a critical role in agrifood systems, yet they face persistent barriers to accessing resources, technology, and opportunities. At FAO, we strongly believe that closing these gaps is not just a matter of fairness, but an economic imperative,” she stated.
UN agencies stress gender equality in agrifood sector
IFAD’s Vice-President, Gérardine Mukeshimana, emphasized the broader impact of women’s economic empowerment. “Investing in women is not just the right thing to do; it is an essential element for improving food security, reducing poverty, and achieving prosperity in rural communities,” she said, highlighting the need for targeted policies that support female farmers and entrepreneurs.
Addressing the disproportionate impact of crises on women and girls, WFP Assistant Executive Director Valerie Guarnieri stressed the importance of ensuring access to nutritious food and resilience-building measures. “Women and girls are disproportionately affected by conflict and disasters.
WFP works to ensure they have access to nutritious food and to build their resilience to withstand future shocks. When we invest in women and girls, we nurture families and communities,” she said. FAO, IFAD, and WFP reaffirmed their commitment to empowering women and girls worldwide, recognizing that gender equality is fundamental to achieving a more resilient and sustainable future for all. – By MENA Newswire News Desk.