New data shows that women play a central role in sub-Saharan Africa’s agrifood systems, with 76 percent of working women employed in the sector, making it the highest share globally. Their participation is especially strong in off-farm activities, where rural women are four times more likely than men to be engaged. Beyond formal employment, women also make a critical contribution through unpaid care work such as fetching water, food preparation, and caregiving, all of which support household food security and the stability of local food systems.
These findings are presented in the report “Status of Women in Agrifood Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa,” launched at the World Food Forum–Africa during the FAO Regional Conference for Africa. Developed by FAO, the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich, and African Women in Agricultural Research and Development, the report provides new evidence on women’s roles in agriculture, food security, nutrition, and overall wellbeing, along with policy recommendations to address persistent gender gaps across agrifood value chains.
The report highlights that despite their major contributions, women face significant structural barriers, including limited access to land and productive resources, lower access to social protection, and higher levels of food insecurity compared to men. Only a small proportion benefit from cash transfers or pension systems, reflecting major gaps in formal support structures. At the same time, many women demonstrate resilience by diversifying livelihoods, forming community savings groups, and adopting sustainable farming practices, although experts caution that such coping strategies should not replace systemic reform.
To address these challenges, the report calls for a shift toward gender-just agrifood systems through transformative policy action. It recommends tackling discriminatory social norms, expanding social protection coverage for both formal and informal workers, and strengthening legal protections to address gender-based violence within agrifood systems. It also stresses the need for targeted investment in women’s productivity and participation across the entire food value chain.
The report further notes that closing gender gaps in productivity and wages could significantly boost Africa’s economy, increasing regional GDP by billions of dollars while also reducing food insecurity. It concludes that empowering women farmers is essential not only for economic growth but also for achieving food security, climate resilience, and inclusive development across the region.
