| Title: |
Co-Creating a Gender and Social Inclusion Learning Agenda for Food, Land, and Water Systems in Middle East and North Africa Region |
| Authors: |
Adam, Rahma; El-Zainy, Eman Abd-Allah A.; Mosbah, Menna; Puskur, Ranjitha; Verma, Benu; Najjar, Dina; Enokenwa Baa, Ojongetakah |
| Source: |
Adam, R., El-Zainy, E. A. A., Mosbah, M., Puskur, R., Verma, B., Najjar, D. and Enokenwa Baa, O. 2025. Co-Creating a Gender and Social Inclusion Learning Agenda for Food, Land, and Water Systems in Middle East and North Africa Region: Report of the Proceedings of the Stakeholder Workshop. Nairobi, Kenya: CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator |
| Publisher Information: |
CGIAR System Organization |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
CGIAR CGSpace (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) |
| Subject Terms: |
gender; social inclusion; ecosystems |
| Description: |
This report details the proceedings of the Regional Workshop on ‘Co-Creating a Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) Learning Agenda for Food, Land, and Water Systems (FLWS) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region’, convened by the CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator. The workshop brought together researchers, policymakers, civil society actors, and development partners to assess existing evidence, identify persistent gaps, and co-design a regional learning agenda to inform gender-responsive research, policy, and practice that can advance gender equality and inclusion in the region. Discussions were framed by MENA region’s intersecting challenges of climate change, water scarcity, land degradation, conflict, displacement, and widening inequality. Participants highlighted a defining contradiction shaping gender outcomes in the region - the MENA paradox - where women’s relatively strong achievements in education and health have not translated into commensurate economic participation, leadership, or decision-making power. Despite women’s substantial and growing contributions, female labour force participation within agriculture and rural livelihoods remains among the lowest globally. A central theme that dominated the workshop discussions was the growing feminisation of agricultural labour driven by male migration, changing employment patterns, and crisis-related disruptions. While women’s participation in agriculture, fisheries, and food systems is increasing, this has not resulted in greater recognition, agency, or leadership. Instead, women are concentrated in informal, low-paid, and insecure forms of work, with limited voice in households, producer organizations, and policy processes. This feminisation without power was consistently identified as a defining feature of agrifood systems across the region. Participants emphasized that deeply rooted structural barriers continue to constrain inclusive transformation. These include restrictive gender norms and patriarchal practices, persistent wage ... |
| Document Type: |
report |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180331 |
| Availability: |
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180331 |
| Rights: |
Open Access |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.7D35ACED |
| Database: |
BASE |