Integrating gender for inclusive growth – COLEAD strengthens its commitment to equality and empowerment

More than 150 participants joined COLEAD’s webinar “Integrating Gender for Inclusive Growth” last month, an interactive session focused on the central role of gender equality in building sustainable and resilient agri-food systems.

The event, opened by COLEAD chairman Stephen Mintah and General Delegate Jeremy Knops, explored practical approaches to mainstream gender at all levels: individual, organisational, and systemic.

International expert Kerry Kyd (South Africa) delivered a dynamic presentation on gender-related risks and opportunities in operations, encouraging participants to reflect on their daily practices and their impact on inclusion.

The session also featured an interactive quiz and the official launch of COLEAD’s first gender training module, presented by Dorothée Vandeleene, along with an update on COLEAD’s gender action plan by Inês Bastos.

Turning commitment into action

Finalised in 2024 following an extensive consultation process with teams, partners, and donors, the COLEAD gender strategy and action plan embodies a clear vision:

“Growing people: addressing women’s vulnerabilities in the agri-food sector and promoting their empowerment.”

This plan is built around four key outcomes:

• strengthening the capacity of COLEAD teams and stakeholders to integrate gender considerations into their practices and processes
• ensuring inclusive planning processes that take women’s needs and perspectives into account in project design
• improving women’s access to training, information, and sustainable innovations
• enhancing women’s economic empowerment along agri-food value chains

The new gender training package announced during the webinar marks a major milestone in implementing this strategy. It includes tutored modules– as well as post-training support to consolidate learning outcomes in the field.

The first in-person sessions will take place in Tanzania and Senegal in November 2025, followed by blended and self-paced learning opportunities in 2026.

Gender equality at the heart of COLEAD’s strategic vision

Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, as enshrined in Sustainable Development Goal 5, lie at the core of COLEAD’s 2030 strategic plan.

By mainstreaming gender across all its programmes – including Fit For Market Plus (FFM+), AGRINFO, and national initiatives – COLEAD positions inclusion as a key driver of sustainable growth, innovation, and resilience in agri-food systems.

This approach is fully aligned with COLEAD’s sustainability strategy, built on the three pillars of people, planet, and prosperity. It aims to ensure that women and men enjoy equal opportunities to contribute to and benefit from agricultural development.