The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, in collaboration with the National Rural Women Structure and Partners, will on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 celebrate the International Rural Women’s Day in Sanniquellie City, Nimba County. This important day is being globally recognized to honor and support the multiple roles that rural women play, particularly as farmers and entrepreneurs, and their indispensable contributions to food security and community development.
The global theme for this year’s celebration, “Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All,” emphasizes the vital role rural women play in ensuring food security worldwide. In alignment with this, Liberia’s national theme for the occasion is “Empowering Rural Women through Agriculture to Provide Nutrition for All,” which highlights the government’s commitment to promoting rural women’s participation in agriculture as a key driver of food security and nutrition.
International Rural Women’s Day was first celebrated on October 15, 2008, following its establishment by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. The day was developed from the momentum of the UN Conference for Women held in Beijing in 1995, and supported by organizations like the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) and the Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF). Since then, the day has served as an opportunity to recognize rural women as a key force in global agricultural production, food systems, and socio-economic progress. Despite their significant contributions, rural women face disparities in income, access to resources, and food security.
Rural women make up more than a quarter of the world’s population and play an essential role in feeding their families and communities. However, the global gender gap in agri-food systems continues to limit their potential. Addressing this gap is critical to achieving food security and advancing rural development.
In Liberia, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, along with its partners, has been working to ensure that gender-responsive interventions are implemented to empower rural women and girls, catalyzing progress in agriculture and nutrition.
In 2008, the National Rural Women’s Program (NRWP) was launched to provide rural women with opportunities to participate in national development. Through this program, over 12,000 rural women have been supported with farming inputs, seedlings, skills training, and small business loans, enabling them to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
As part of this year’s celebration, various activities will take place in Sanniquellie City, including recognition of rural women farmers who have made outstanding contributions to food security. Farmers with the highest yields will be honored to encourage other women farmers to follow their example.
Additionally, there will be a training workshop for rural women farmers focused on agro-value addition, Climate Smart Agriculture, digital marketing, and nutrition, with an emphasis on food diversification.
The Ministry remains committed to supporting rural women through initiatives aimed at promoting economic empowerment, leadership development, and access to resources. We are proud to stand with Liberia’s rural women, whose efforts and resilience continue to drive the country’s development and contribute meaningfully to achieving the national agenda.
As we celebrate International Rural Women’s Day, we encourage all citizens and stakeholders to recognize and support the invaluable contributions of rural women to Liberia’s agricultural sector and socio-economic progress.
