The Ethiopian Network for Gender Equality in Agriculture (ENGEA) is a national platform established by the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture in 2015 to close the gender gap in Ethiopian agriculture through the exchange of experience and information, partnership and networking, research, advocacy, and services.
In the past eight years, the network has been organizing regular workshops, and thematic discussions, on key issues related to gender equality in agriculture. In February 2024 the network held its biannual meeting with the major objectives of disseminating the new Gender Equality Strategy and exchanging views on existing gender-responsive engineering solutions for smallholder farmers.
Mrs. Genet Abdela, Lead Executive for Women and Social Affairs Inclusion during her introductory remarks underlined that, with women making up more than half of the population, Ethiopia’s agricultural sector contributes significantly to the growth and development of the nation. The ministry’s most recent gender equality strategy provides a path map for successes and projects aimed at advancing gender equality in the industry. Mrs Genet stressed the need for strong coordination and teamwork among the network members to ensure the implementation of the plan because, in her opinion, even a well-thought-out list of goals will remain a document until it is put into action.
Following the introductory remarks, the newly launched gender equality strategy (2023-2029) was briefly introduced to participants, aiming to address key gaps in various sub-sectors and affiliated institutions. The strategy identified major bottlenecks in agriculture and horticulture development, livestock development, natural resource development, and agricultural investment and resources. The strategic document prioritized sector-wide objectives to tackle the identified challenges.
Following the presentation of the gender equality strategy, participants had the opportunity to provide feedback. Key issues raised included the need for an adequate budget for gender equality activities, addressing underlying norms perpetuating inequalities in agriculture, and the necessity to extend gender equality platforms to grassroots levels.
In addition, the meeting highlighted the crucial role of agricultural engineering in empowering women and smallholder farmers. The application of gender-responsive approaches in the development and distribution of agricultural technologies was emphasized as a means to address gender disparities. However, feedback from participants indicated that current mechanization efforts in Ethiopia do not sufficiently incorporate traditional knowledge and community norms, often focusing on developing prototypes without considering local contexts.
The discussions underscored the importance of integrating gender-responsive solutions into agricultural engineering practices to effectively support women and smallholder farmers. A comprehensive approach is required to ensure that agricultural technologies are not only accessible but also tailored to the specific needs and realities of diverse farming communities. This will contribute to enhancing operational, ownership, and decision-making capabilities, ultimately paving the way for more inclusive and sustainable agricultural development in Ethiopia.
Key takeaways
- Investing in gender equality within the agriculture sector is not only a matter of justice and human rights but also a strategic imperative for building more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems. Extending the reach of the strategy, however, requires allocating budgetary resources for translating gender strategies into actionable initiatives within agriculture. Adequate gender budgeting not only signifies a commitment to gender equality but also facilitates the implementation of targeted interventions that promote gender equality in all agricultural activities.
- Encouraging gender-responsive agricultural engineering can significantly impact the transformation of the food system by increasing women’s participation in male-dominated activities, improving productivity, decreasing labour costs, and promoting food safety and quality. This requires taking the following pragmatic actions.
o Gender integration in R&D: this can range from incorporating gender considerations into all stages of agricultural research and development processes to promoting gender transformative approaches.
o Promoting public-private partnership: bringing together the resources, expertise, and networks of both the public and private sectors, can catalyse positive change in agricultural development, scaling up agricultural innovations to make them accessible to farmers.
o Institutional and policy change: advocating for institutional and policy changes that influence decision-makers to mainstream gender considerations in agricultural policies, programs, and investments, and allocate resources for gender-responsive research and development initiatives.
- Strengthening accountability mechanisms is crucial for effective gender mainstreaming in the agricultural sector. By holding stakeholders accountable for integrating gender considerations into policies, programs, and budgetary decisions, we can ensure that gender equality objectives are actively pursued and achieved.
- Cascading the national gender equality platform to grassroots structures is essential for ensuring that gender equality initiatives are effectively implemented and have a meaningful impact at the local level. This decentralized approach promotes greater involvement and ownership from local stakeholders, enabling them to pinpoint priorities, develop interventions, and allocate resources in a manner that is tailored to local circumstances.
Looking ahead
As RAISE-FS, strives to build a more inclusive and sustainable Ethiopian food system, it is imperative to integrate gender equity and social inclusion considerations across all stages of agricultural endeavours. By leveraging gender transformative, innovative engineering solutions and promoting gender equality in agriculture, we can unlock the full potential of marginalized groups like women and youth thereby catalysing transformative change that benefits not only individuals and communities but resulting in country-wide positive effects as a whole.
RAISE-FS 