It is a proven fact that investing in women is critical to ending global hunger. This is particularly true as women are disproportionately impacted by climate change, including smallholder farmers who are bearing the brunt of longer droughts, more irregular rains and extreme weather. Yet, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) recent report, the past decade has seen little progress in empowering women in agriculture. Women’s access to irrigation, livestock and land ownership, and advisory and educational services, has barely budged over more than a decade. Women engaged in wage employment in agriculture earn 82 cents for every dollar that men earn. Yet, we know if we close the gender gap in farm productivity and the wage gap in agriculture, we could increase global gross domestic product (GDP) by 1% and reduce food insecurity by about 2% (i.e., reducing the number of food-insecure people by 45 million!).

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result; we need to do something different in how we approach women and food security. We need to put women at the heart of our food systems, including by supporting innovations that advance climate-smart food systems.

That means thinking differently — and in many cases, thinking more locally. And when it comes to empowering women, it requires thinking — and investing — with intent. That means making sure that women aren’t just “in the room,” but that their voices are heard and elevated — and that women’s ideas are incorporated in discussions and investments about research, development and innovations. It means that women are defining what our specific development objectives are in the first place — before any money is obligated. Because when women have the tools to succeed, they reinvest in their families and communities, creating a multiplier effect that promotes well-being, prosperity and stability.

In May of this year, Deputy Administrator Coleman made a call to action at the Agricultural Innovation Mission (AIM) for Climate Summit for government, private sector and nonprofit organizations to commit to new, gender-focused innovation sprints under the umbrella of AIM for Climate. Innovation sprints are new, self-financed investments from private sector and nongovernment partners that increase research and development (R&D) and innovations for more climate-smart food systems. A gender-focused sprint would significantly and intentionally advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in climate-smart food systems.

Whether you are a company or a nonprofit, organizing an innovation sprint is a commitment to making the changes required to empower women and end global hunger. Potential sprints might include efforts that:

• Integrate gender in agricultural R&D innovation processes to design climate innovations with women’s needs and preferences in mind.
• Design and disseminate climate information services that cater to the different needs of female and male farmers.
• Help close the digital gender gap through programs that expand women’s access to mobile phones and the internet, including in agricultural and rural settings.
• Tailor financial services to the needs of smallholder female farmers.
• Support the goals of Global Food 50/50 in food systems organizations by ensuring women have a formal role in leadership and planning.

These are just a few of the possibilities. We are eager to hear your ideas, but please hurry; the deadline for submitting innovation sprints is September 27th! 

For information about AIM for Climate, visit Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate. For details on how to develop innovation sprints, visit the Innovations Sprint page. And, if you’d like to brainstorm about this effort, please reach out to Caitlin Corner-Dolloff at [email protected] or Collin VanBuren at [email protected].