The Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 is building momentum with a compelling webinar that puts gender equality front and center. On July 28, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:00 PM (EAT), the “Women in Food Systems: Cultivating Equality, Harvesting Growth in Food Systems” webinar will tackle one of the most critical questions facing African agriculture: how to move beyond inclusion to true ownership and leadership for women across the value chain.
Why This Conversation Matters
In Rwanda alone, women make up 58% of the agricultural workforce, yet many remain on the margins of ownership, access, and decision-making. This pattern repeats across the continent. As Grace Kelly Muvunyi powerfully noted at the AFS Forum launch, “If women grow the food, they should own the value.”
The webinar’s focus on gender-transformative innovation couldn’t be more timely. Evidence suggests that closing the gender gap in agriculture could contribute nearly USD 1 trillion to the global economy and reduce food insecurity risks for 45 million people. But achieving this requires shifting not just policies but deeply entrenched social norms.
What the Webinar Will Explore
The session, titled “Shifting Norms & Shifting Systems: Challenging Restrictive Norms through Gender-Transformative Innovations,” will present evidence from maize/legume and dairy value chains in East Africa. Participants will learn about cutting-edge approaches that combine social and technical innovations—known as socio-technical innovation bundles (STIBs)—designed to empower women while building climate resilience.
Key questions to be addressed include:
- What gaps are holding women back from fully participating in food systems?
- What strategies are proving successful in challenging restrictive norms?
- How can successful approaches be scaled across different contexts?
- What role do youth and technology play in accelerating gender transformation?
A Powerful Coalition of Partners
The webinar brings together an impressive array of organizations committed to gender equality in agriculture:
Lead Organizations:
- The Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Thematic Partners:
- IDRC-CRDI (Canada)
- AWARD (African Women in Agricultural Research and Development)
- IFAD
- AGRA
- FAO
- UN Women
- CABI
- Women for Food and Nutrition
- UPL
Building Toward the Main Event
This webinar is part of the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 Webinar Series, building momentum toward the flagship summit taking place from August 31 to September 4, 2026, at the Kigali Convention Centre, Rwanda. Under the theme “Investing in Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience,” the summit promises to be Africa’s premier platform for shaping the continent’s agricultural future.
As one participant at the AFS Forum launch emphasized, “The real shift across African agri-systems now is moving beyond inclusion to positioning women closer to where margins are created—through aggregation, processing, and market access. That’s exactly how ownership starts translating into real economic power at scale”.
Who Should Attend
This webinar is essential for:
- Policymakers seeking evidence-based approaches to gender-responsive agriculture
- Development practitioners working on food systems transformation
- Researchers interested in gender and agricultural innovation
- Women agripreneurs looking to connect with a network of supporters
- Private sector leaders committed to inclusive value chains
- Anyone passionate about building resilient, equitable food systems in Africa
How to Register
Registration for the webinar is now open. Secure your seat at this important conversation by visiting the official AFS Forum registration page: https://my.afs-forum.org/.
The Time for Change Is Now
As Incoline Dehaan powerfully reminded attendees at a previous AFS Forum, “We spend time trying to change women, but it’s time we change the system”. This webinar is about exactly that—shifting the systems and structures that perpetuate inequality, and building food systems where women don’t just participate but lead.
The journey to AFS Forum 2026 begins here. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation that will shape Africa’s agricultural future.
Event Details at a Glance:
- What: Women in Food Systems Webinar
- Date: July 28, 2026
- Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM (EAT)
- Theme: Cultivating Equality, Harvesting Growth in Food Systems
- Topic: Shifting Norms & Shifting Systems: Challenging Restrictive Norms through Gender-Transformative Innovations
- Register: https://my.afs-forum.org/
- Hashtag: #AFSForum2026
