Course Details

Gender in Agriculture and Inclusive Agribusiness Training Course

Introduction

Despite being significant contributors to agricultural labor, food production, and rural economies, women often face disproportionate barriers that limit their access to resources, information, markets, and decision-making power within the agricultural sector. These gender-based inequalities hinder not only women's empowerment but also undermine agricultural productivity, food security, and sustainable development efforts. Traditional agricultural development approaches often overlook or inadequately address these systemic biases, leading to less effective interventions and a perpetuation of gender disparities. An inclusive agribusiness approach, recognizing and valuing the diverse roles and contributions of all actors, particularly women, is essential for unlocking the full potential of agricultural value chains. It involves identifying and addressing the specific constraints faced by women and other marginalized groups, promoting equitable access to opportunities, and ensuring that benefits are shared fairly across the value chain. Ignoring gender dynamics and exclusion limits market growth, innovation, and resilience within the agri-food system. Our intensive 5-day "Gender in Agriculture and Inclusive Agribusiness" training course is meticulously designed to equip agricultural development practitioners, policymakers, agribusiness managers, researchers, gender specialists, and rural development professionals with the essential knowledge and practical skills required to understand gender roles and relations in agriculture, conduct gender analysis, design gender-responsive interventions, and foster inclusive agribusiness models that empower all stakeholders, especially women, for sustainable and equitable agricultural development.

This comprehensive program will delve into key gender concepts, methodologies for gender analysis in agricultural contexts, the specific challenges faced by women farmers and entrepreneurs, strategies for promoting women's access to land, finance, technology, and markets, and approaches for mainstreaming gender across agricultural programs and policies. Participants will gain hands-on experience in applying gender analytical tools, developing gender-responsive project designs, and understanding how to foster more inclusive and equitable agribusiness environments. By the end of this course, you will be proficient in integrating gender perspectives into agricultural development initiatives, promoting women's empowerment, and contributing to the creation of more inclusive, efficient, and resilient agricultural value chains.

Duration

5 Days

Target Audience

The "Gender in Agriculture and Inclusive Agribusiness" training course is crucial for a broad range of professionals and stakeholders committed to fostering equitable and sustainable agricultural development. This includes:

• Agricultural Development Practitioners: From NGOs, international organizations, and government agencies.
• Policymakers and Planners: Involved in agricultural policy formulation, food security, and rural development.
• Agribusiness Managers and Entrepreneurs: Seeking to build more inclusive and socially responsible business models.
• Gender Specialists and Social Development Experts: Working in agricultural and rural contexts.
• Agricultural Extension Officers and Field Agents: Directly engaging with farming communities.
• Researchers and Academics: Focused on gender studies, agricultural economics, and rural sociology.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists: Designing and assessing gender-responsive indicators.
• Cooperative Leaders and Farmer Organization Representatives: Aiming to enhance gender equality within their groups.
• Donor Agency Program Officers: Involved in funding and supporting gender-inclusive agricultural initiatives.
• Anyone interested in understanding and addressing gender disparities in the agricultural sector.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the "Gender in Agriculture and Inclusive Agribusiness" training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand fundamental gender concepts and their relevance to agricultural development and agribusiness.
• Identify the diverse roles and contributions of women and men in agricultural value chains.
• Apply various methodologies for conducting gender analysis in agricultural contexts.
• Recognize and address the specific constraints and barriers faced by women farmers and entrepreneurs.
• Develop and design gender-responsive agricultural programs, projects, and policies.
• Promote women's equitable access to productive resources (land, finance, technology, information).
• Foster inclusive agribusiness models that enhance women's participation, voice, and benefit-sharing.
• Advocate for gender equality and women's empowerment within the agricultural sector.

 Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Gender Concepts in Agriculture

• Defining gender, sex, gender roles, and gender equality.
• Understanding the importance of gender analysis in agricultural development.
• Roles and contributions of women and men in different farming systems and value chains.
• Impact of gender inequality on agricultural productivity, food security, and livelihoods.
• Global frameworks and commitments on gender equality in agriculture.

Module 2: Methodologies for Gender Analysis in Agriculture

• Purpose and steps of conducting a gender analysis in an agricultural context.
• Tools and frameworks for data collection: Gendered household surveys, focus group discussions, time-use studies.
• Analyzing gendered access to and control over resources (land, water, inputs, labor).
• Analyzing gendered benefits and decision-making power.
• Practical exercises in applying gender analysis tools to agricultural scenarios.

Module 3: Women's Access to Productive Resources

• Land Tenure: Challenges women face in accessing and owning land, customary vs. statutory rights.
• Access to Finance: Barriers to credit, savings, and insurance for women farmers and entrepreneurs.
• Technology and Innovation: Gender-specific needs and adoption patterns of agricultural technologies.
• Inputs and Extension Services: Unequal access to quality seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural advice.
• Information and Training: Gender gaps in access to market information and skill development programs.

Module 4: Gender in Agricultural Value Chains and Markets

• Identifying gendered roles and power dynamics at different stages of the value chain.
• Challenges faced by women in accessing and participating in remunerative markets.
• Strategies for strengthening women's market linkages and collective action.
• Addressing gender-based constraints in agro-processing and value addition.
• Promoting gender-equitable benefit sharing along the value chain.

Module 5: Inclusive Agribusiness Models and Entrepreneurship

• Principles of inclusive agribusiness: Equity, participation, benefit sharing.
• Strategies for integrating women into agribusiness leadership and decision-making.
• Supporting women's entrepreneurship in agriculture: Business development services, mentorship.
• Developing gender-responsive business plans and investment opportunities.
• Case studies of successful inclusive agribusiness models that empower women.

Module 6: Designing Gender-Responsive Agricultural Interventions

• Integrating gender considerations into project identification, design, and implementation.
• Setting gender-sensitive objectives and indicators for agricultural programs.
• Developing gender-specific activities and targeting strategies.
• Budgeting for gender-transformative interventions.
• Ensuring gender-equitable monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Module 7: Mainstreaming Gender in Agricultural Policies and Institutions

• Analyzing existing agricultural policies from a gender perspective.
• Advocating for gender-responsive agricultural policies and legal reforms.
• Strengthening institutional capacity for gender mainstreaming in agricultural ministries and agencies.
• Promoting women's representation in agricultural decision-making bodies.
• Gender budgeting in agricultural sector planning.

Module 8: Advocacy for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Agriculture

• Developing advocacy strategies for promoting women's rights and empowerment in agriculture.
• Building alliances and networks for collective action on gender equality.
• Effective communication of gender issues in agriculture to diverse audiences.
• Measuring and communicating the impact of gender-inclusive agricultural development.
• Commitment to continuous learning and adaptation for gender transformation in agriculture.

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com