ReliefWeb

HARARE—Putting women and girls front and centre in policy decisions and programmes to tackle hunger and poverty is vital for reaching our goal of a Zero Hunger world by 2030. Reducing inequalities and removing barriers that exclude women from influencing development in all sectors advances food security.

This year’s UN theme for International Women’s Day—think equal, build smart, innovate for change—resonates with WFP’s gender-transformative approach: working to give everyone lives of dignity, choice and opportunities. For example, our integrated programmes using cash transfers contribute to reducing gender-based violence, strengthening women’s decision-making and increasing women’s leadership.

“International Women’s Day reminds us about the immense and valuable contribution women make towards a more peaceful, prosperous and well-fed world,” said WFP Executive Director David Beasley, “All around the globe, WFP programmes help empower women so they can have more opportunities to not just improve their lives, but those of their families, communities and nations.”

In Zimbabwe, WFP is working to ensure equal participation and representation by women in community-based initiatives such as the Food Assistance for Assets programme. As a result, an increasing number of projects focus on creating resources used by women (such as vegetable gardens) and improving conditions within their traditional sectors of activity. By engaging women in leadership and planning positions, and by putting assistance directly in their hands, WFP is empowering women and men to improve livelihoods, strengthen their roles in the public sphere, increase their decision-making power and promoting their own rights.

“Women’s participation is a precondition, but not a guarantee, of women’s empowerment. It is imperative that all partners work together to realize our shared ambition for our programmes to be gender transformative and empower women,” said WFP Country Representative and Director Eddie Rowe.

Gender continues to be a critical component of our work. WFP is constantly challenging the status quo and working to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment through its programmes. School feeding programmes have demonstrated an increase in nutrition and education among girl students and contributed to a decrease in teen pregnancy and child marriage. Our Food for Assets projects have empowered women who now are able to work in their communities, feed their families, sell their produce and contribute towards the development of themselves and their families.

Photos for download here: https://bit.ly/2BKPOFt

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The United Nations World Food Programme - saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions through sustainable development. WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters, and laying the foundations for a better future.

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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
Ashley Baxstrom, WFP/Harare, Tel. +263 8677 000 805, Mob. +263 772 295 684