March 4, 2026 (Djibouti, Djibouti): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will convene the IGAD Women Forum on Agrifood Systems on 5–6 March 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, bringing together regional stakeholders to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in building resilient and inclusive food systems across the IGAD region.
Women play a critical role across agrifood value chains, yet many continue to face barriers limiting access to land, finance, markets, and economic opportunities. The Forum responds to these challenges by creating a regional platform for policy dialogue, experience sharing, and investment discussions to advance gender equality in agrifood systems.
The Forum is organised under the Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (FSRP), implemented by IGAD with support from the World Bank. The programme aims to enhance food systems resilience and improve preparedness for food insecurity in participating countries.
Over two days, policymakers, parliamentarians, women farmers, cooperatives, private sector actors, and development partners will exchange experiences and discuss priority actions to strengthen women’s access to finance, markets, climate information, and agribusiness opportunities. Discussions will also highlight women’s contributions in policy processes, digital agro-climate services, and climate-smart agriculture practices.
A key outcome of the meeting will be the formal establishment of the IGAD Women Forum on Agrifood Systems, supported by agreed Terms of Reference and an action plan outlining priority policy and investment recommendations. The Forum will serve as a consultative platform contributing to regional implementation of continental commitments while promoting inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems transformation.
Participants will include representatives from IGAD technical divisions, Member States’ parliaments and ministries, gender focal points, women cooperatives, private sector partners working with women farmers, and women leaders in the agrifood sector.
The initiative aligns with IGAD’s Food Systems and Nutrition Security Strategy (2024) and supports the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Fourth Commitment on Advancing Inclusivity and Equitable Livelihoods, which calls for empowering at least 30 percent of women farmers in agrifood value chains by 2035.
About IGAD
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a regional economic community comprising Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. IGAD promotes regional cooperation and sustainable development to enhance resilience, food security, and economic integration in the Horn of Africa.
