In a decisive move to embed gender equity at the core of agricultural transformation, the World Bank hosted a high-level regional training workshop from June 18–19, 2025, under the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP) for Eastern and Southern Africa. Held in Johannesburg, the event convened gender focal points and representatives from FSRP Project Implementation Units (PIUs), along with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) — the regional coordinating bodies for Eastern and Southern Africa, respectively.
Held under the theme, "Building Gender-Smart and Climate-Resilient Innovation Pathways," the workshop served as a critical platform for capacity building, inclusive innovation planning, and regional policy dialogue. It also laid the foundation for the co-creation of a Gender-Smart Innovation Marketplace — a new regional mechanism aimed at accelerating inclusive agricultural innovation and investment across FSRP countries.
From Equality to Equity: Changing the Lens of Innovation
A central theme of the workshop was the shift from equality to equity in how agricultural innovations are designed and delivered. Using the apple tree metaphor, facilitators illustrated how offering the same support to everyone — regardless of starting point—often fails to correct deeply rooted structural disadvantages.
- Equality is giving everyone the same ladder to reach apples, regardless of their height or starting position.
- Equity is recognizing that some people may need a taller ladder, closer proximity, or different tools to succeed.
This metaphor catalyzed deep discussion about real-world disparities. In sub-Saharan Africa, women contribute up to 60% of food production, yet own less than 15% of agricultural land and receive only 10% of extension services in many contexts (FAO, 2023; World Bank, 2024). These challenges are especially stark in FSRP countries, where women and marginalized groups still face barriers to finance, markets, and leadership opportunities.
In this context, gender equity requires tailored innovation pathways that acknowledge these barriers and actively dismantle them — ensuring that no one is left behind.
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GenderUp: Practical Tools for Responsible Scaling
At the heart of the workshop was the GenderUp methodology — a participatory tool designed to guide teams in scaling agricultural innovations responsibly and inclusively. Developed by Responsible Innovation partners, GenderUp enables country teams to:
- Identify unintended consequences of innovations that scale without inclusion;
- Use persona mapping to understand different user realities;
- Prioritize rural women’s voices and lived experiences;
- Build proposals that emphasize social return on investment, not just technical efficiency.
Participants applied GenderUp to live FSRP initiatives — from digital agro-climate advisories to seed access programs — and explored how these tools can better serve women, youth, and other underrepresented groups.
A Marketplace for Inclusive Innovation
A major outcome of the workshop was the collaborative design of the region’s first Gender-Smart Innovation Marketplace, set for launch in November 2025. Envisioned as a dynamic regional platform, the marketplace will:
- Showcase gender-responsive tools, technologies, and business models;
- Enable cross-country learning and collaboration;
- Support inclusive procurement systems;
- Strengthen scaling pathways for innovations that empower women, youth, and underserved communities.
Participants stressed the importance of anchoring the marketplace in real user demand, particularly from women-led cooperatives, youth innovators, national programs, and private sector actors committed to equity and inclusion.
CCARDESA: A Strategic Hub for Southern Africa
Given its mandate as a subsidiary body of SADC, CCARDESA is a natural institutional host to anchor the marketplace in the Southern African region. With deep technical expertise, policy influence, and regional networks, CCARDESA is well-placed to:
- Facilitate knowledge exchange and peer learning;
- Host a regional repository of gender-smart innovations;
- Drive strategic partnerships and investment alignment;
- Provide technical support for gender integration at country level.
In 2024, CCARDESA adopted its Gender and Social Inclusion Policy, formally embedding gender equity into all its research and development programming. This policy offers a strong foundation for advancing gender-responsive approaches to innovation in agriculture across the region.
Looking Ahead
The workshop closed with a clear call to action: transform training into implementation. Country teams committed to integrating gender equity into their national roadmaps, leveraging tools like GenderUp, and contributing to the emergence of a truly inclusive innovation ecosystem.
As FSRP countries gear up for the launch of the 2025 Gender-Smart Innovation Marketplace, the message is clear: resilient food systems can only thrive when women are not just included — but prioritized, empowered, and equipped to lead.
With the World Bank’s leadership and the coordinated support of CCARDESA and IGAD, the region is turning policy ambition into tangible, inclusive action.
