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Transforming climate change research: new CCAFS Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy

Gender equality is a key leverage point for change given women’s important roles in agricultural production, food security, nutrition and livelihoods. Photo: E. van de Grift

The new Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy focuses on women as central to agriculture in developing countries within a broader social context.

What is the new strategy?

CCAFS has a new Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) Strategy which is an update of the CCAFS Gender Strategy, 2012. The strategy addresses gender and inclusion for different social groups while bearing in mind that women are central to agriculture in many areas of the world.

Why now?

The new GSI Strategy was written during the planning for Phase II of the CCAFS program. It builds on the program’s research and experience since 2010. It also draws on various external reviews and the performance management and measurement frameworks in place since 2011.

What will the strategy deliver?

The main goal of the GSI strategy is to promote gender equality in CCAFS work towards climate-smart agriculture, food systems and landscapes. The GSI strategy aligns with the CGIAR strategy’s priorities to create opportunities for women, young people and marginalized groups, and to promote equitable access to resources, information and power in the agri-food system for men and women in order to close the gender gap by 2030. 

How will the strategy do this?

CCAFS will undertake research that can inform, catalyse and target CSA solutions to women and all groups in society, increase their control over productive assets and resources (e.g. climate information, new approaches to climate finance), and increase participation in decision-making (e.g. in local and national climate adaptation and mitigation strategies). This will be done through using approaches that address vulnerabilities to climate change, promote gender transformation, and strengthen institutions. CCAFS Flagship Program Leaders and Regional Program Leaders will be responsible for integrating gender and social inclusion into CCAFS research in collaboration with the GSI Research Leader, Science Officer, and a network of gender and climate change researchers.

 

Catherine Hill is the Gender and Social Inclusion Programme Manager at CCAFS.