Integrating gender for inclusive growth – COLEAD strengthens its commitment to equality and empowerment
- 03/11/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
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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… +Focus Caribbean – strengthening agricultural value chains and regional synergies
- 03/11/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
From 23 September to 8 October 2025, a dedicated mission took COLEAD to Saint Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, and Guyana under the Fit for Market Plus (FFM+) and AGRINFO programmes. The objective: to support the empowerment of Caribbean agricultural stakeholders while strengthening coordination with regional institutions and development partners. This field mission also marked COLEAD’s first physical presence at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), following several virtual participations since 2021. Caribbean week of agriculture 2025: a strategic participation Organised… +West Africa: new initiatives launched with AFD to support agripreneurs in seven countries
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In April 2025, COLEAD secured new funding from the French Development Agency (AFD) to provide long-term support to the horticultural sector in sub-Saharan Africa. This three-year project builds on the Fit for Market programmes and broadly aims to reduce poverty and improve food and nutrition security. The objective is to support agripreneurs in implementing sustainable practices. The initiative targets smallholders, farmers’ groups and SMEs, aiming to maintain and strengthen their access to national, regional and international horticultural markets. The focus… +Gillian Goddard (Trinidad & Tobago), co-founder of the Alliance of Rural Communities
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
An activist, systems thinker, and organic food pioneer, Gillian has spent over three decades cultivating not just crops, but community. As co-founder of the Alliance of Rural Communities, she has turned her passion for food justice into a bold movement spanning the Caribbean, Africa, and North America, with a single vision: to restore power, pride, and prosperity to rural communities. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Gillian left for the United States at 17, where she built on her gardening experiences… +Participatory development of the COLEAD 2030 strategy: initial results and trends from the public consultation launched in June
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
The consultation process, which officially began in June 2025, aimes to contribute to the development of the COLEAD 2030 strategy. Close to 300 contributions have been registered so far. These responses come from members, technical and financial partners, and the COLEAD team. This wide-ranging survey reveals some valuable initial findings, which we share with you here. Please note that there is still time to respond to the questionnaire (and at 2030@colead.link) as the consultation closes at the end of July.… +COLEAD Board and General Assembly: 2024 annual report approved, on course for 2030!
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
On 25 June, COLEAD held its Board of Directors and General Assembly in a hybrid format, bringing together almost 200 members who joined the event online through national members’ meetings. Around twenty countries were represented. This level of participation highlights the network’s increasing vitality and the value placed on direct dialogue between members, teams, and partners. During the meeting, members approved the 2024 annual report and financial accounts. The meeting also provided an opportunity to review progress towards the five… +A new version of Agrinnovators.org is now available, providing a global hub for entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
COLEAD is pleased to announce the new version of Agrinnovators.org. This new version has been developed as part of the FFM+ programme, in collaboration with PAFO, the OECD, IICA, PFO and UN Women. While the platform was previously focused mainly on African entrepreneurs, it is now open to all regions of the world, strengthening our commitment to South-South cooperation and knowledge sharing. Agrinnovators.org is a dynamic platform that connects entrepreneurs, companies, and experts to accelerate the development of sustainable solutions… +‘Voices from the Earth’: the latest news on the global poetry and song contest dedicated to women farmers this year
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
To celebrate the United Nations’ International Year of Women and Girls in Agriculture in 2026, COLEAD has launched ‘Voices from the Earth’, a global poetry and song contest that highlights the vital contribution of women farmers to food security and sustainable development. The theme for 2025/26 is ‘Women farmers are cultivating sustainable futures’, reflecting the priorities of the United Nations and COLEAD’s mission. Latest news: Djaïli Amadou Amal, a Cameroonian writer and patron of the first edition of the competition,… +Join the COLEAD 2030 movement. Your voice matters! 👉 2030@colead.link
- 06/05/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
For over 50 years, COLEAD has been working to strengthen sustainable, inclusive and competitive agricultural systems. In 2025, we open a new chapter in our collective history: the development of our COLEAD 2030 strategy. This process will not take place in isolation. On the contrary, it is based on a strong conviction: COLEAD’s future and the future impact of its action will be built with those who bring it to life – team, members, partners, partner-beneficiaries, institutions, practitioners, donors, experts,… +Rachel Renie, an inspirational figure from Trinidad and Tobago who combines entrepreneurship, innovation and social impact
- 06/05/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Rachel Renie is a visionary entrepreneur and a leading force in Trinidad and Tobago’s agri-food sector. As the co-founder and Managing Director of D’Market Movers Ltd, Rachel has redefined how food is sourced, sold, and consumed in the Caribbean. Her bold vision, combined with her entrepreneurial spirit, has not only transformed food distribution in her country but also laid the foundation for empowering women and local communities through innovation and sustainable practices. D’Market Movers: bridging farmers and families In 2009,… +