Gender dimensions of agricultural and rural employment: Differentiated pathways out of poverty

This interagency report on the gender dimension of agricultural work was produced by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Labour Office (ILO) following two years of work begun in 2009. It is the first comprehensive look at gender and work in rural areas since the start of the global economic crisis.

The report examines important but rarely addressed questions such as: What do we know about the gender dimensions of rural employment, both on and off the farm? What are the gaps in data and research? Are there examples of good practice that could inform national policies?

The main topics of the report also include understanding the diverse responsibilities of women in rural agriculture, the challenges they face and the policies and supports needed to reinforce their role. The cornerstone of the report’s analysis is the United Nations Decent Work Agenda, which focuses on better jobs, social protection, universal application of labour standards and promotion of equitable rural institutions.

The findings have important implications for how economic and food price crises affect millions of women who shoulder the bulk of farming and other agricultural work in the developing world.