Blog Advancing Gender and Intersectionality in Agricultural Policy: Insights from Tropentag 2024
From September 11–13 2024, the Tropentag conference took place at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria. The event – titled “Explore Opportunities for Managing Natural Resources and a Better Life for All” – brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from across the world to discuss solutions for sustainable agriculture and rural development. Maria Blanco from the Alliance shared two presentations during the session on “Gender and Intersectional Perspectives in the Governance of Natural Resources”, providing insights into the need for more inclusive agricultural policies.
Maria Blanco from the Alliance shared two presentations during the session on “Gender and Intersectional Perspectives in the Governance of Natural Resources”, providing insights into the need for more inclusive agricultural policies.
Why gender matters in agricultural policy
In her presentation on a “feminist institutional approach” to land, food and climate change policy, Maria shared her research on how although agricultural policy aims to address food security, rural development and climate resilience for all, these policies often fail to consider the unique roles and challenges faced by women, particularly in rural and marginalized communities. While progress is being made in terms of gender inclusivity, a more nuanced analysis is still needed. Maria gave the example of Colombia's National Development Plan (NDP), which explicitly recognizes women as agents of change, and acknowledges the influences of ethnicity, socioeconomic status and geography on the experiences of women in rural areas. While this is a significant improvement on prior Colombian policies, Maria highlighted how when it comes to intersectionality, many policies continue to fall short. Intersectionality refers to the overlapping social identities – such as gender, race, and class – that affect how individuals experience inequality and access opportunities. In the context of agriculture, intersectionality is crucial for understanding how women from different backgrounds face varying challenges in land ownership, market access, and other resources that support their resilience.
Considerations of gender and intersectionality are particularly important in land policies. While Colombia’s policies include provisions for gender-sensitive land access [ joint titling, scoring system in the application form, etc], the implementation of these policies remains inconsistent: Women continue to face barriers to land ownership, and gender considerations are often treated as secondary to broader political and economic goals. Likewise, the omission of women’s experiences and needs in Colombia’s climate change policies undermines efforts to build climate resilience among vulnerable populations, particularly as women play a central role in managing natural resources and food production.
Gender budget sensitivity: an understudied area in Colombia's public policy
Gender-focused public investment holds great potential for Colombia's regional development, yet public entities still lack necessary knowledge, as highlighted in research carried out by Maria’s team. Using an econometric event study model, the team’s study found that while recent gender-sensitive investments have indeed contributed to reduced gender-based violence, there are still significant gaps in financial inclusion and equitable development when it comes to land, food and climate change policy. Regions like Antioquia and Nariño with more gender-focused projects showed better outcomes in some areas, highlighting the need for more targeted investments to address regional disparities and enhance gender equity.
Moving Forward: A Call for Inclusive Policy
As attention on sustainable development increases globally, now is the time to ensure that gender and intersectionality are put at the center of agricultural policy. Policymakers must go beyond superficial gender inclusion and tackle the structural barriers that hinder women—particularly those in marginalized communities—from not only participating in agriculture and climate-related decision-making but also from driving substantive, lasting change. This requires more comprehensive policies, as well as the dedication on behalf of political institutions to implement these frameworks effectively.
In the case of Colombia, as the country continues to develop its gender-responsive public investments, it is essential to refine these strategies by addressing the specific needs of different communities. Future policies should enhance the understanding of regional variations, and ensure that gender-focused interventions foster equitable development.
One of the key takeaways shared by the Alliance team at Tropentag 2024 is that policymakers must leave behind the norm of addressing women as a homogeneous group, and take a nuanced approach that recognizes the diverse identities and experiences of women from different socio-cultural and ethnic groups, allowing the development of policies that truly address their needs and therefore facilitate a sustainable agricultural transition that works for everyone.
