CGIAR GENDER Equality and Inclusion Newsletter, April-June 2025, issue 1
Photo: Axel Fassio/CIFOR-ICRAF
Welcome to the CGIAR GENDER Equality and Inclusion newsletter for April-June 2025.
This issue of the CGIAR GENDER newsletter places social inclusion at the center of efforts to transform food systems. Drawing on global frameworks and CGIAR research, the newsletter emphasizes that inclusion must be treated not just as an objective, but as a process and an outcome that ensures dignity, opportunity, and equity for those historically marginalized.
Within the CGIAR, gender and youth have been the two hallmarks of social inclusion and have been part of our research agenda, but as the newsletter shows social inclusion does not stop there. You are encouraged to explore our recently published paper on integrating social inclusion perspectives in agricultural food systems research for development to find out more on these concepts.
Across regions, CGIAR and its partners are challenging structural barriers that limit women’s access to land, leadership, and agricultural innovation. Research from countries like Tanzania and India shows how climate-smart agriculture, if made truly inclusive, can build resilience while addressing intersecting inequalities of gender and age.
Institutional change is also gaining momentum. In Kenya, plant breeding stations are breaking down gendered norms by training and equipping women for roles in field research and mechanized agriculture. Meanwhile, innovations in cassava and maize seed systems in Nigeria and rice farming in Bangladesh are becoming more responsive to women's preferences, thanks to efforts that integrate gender and social equity from design to delivery.
These stories, among others featured in this newsletter, demonstrate that inclusion is essential to achieving sustainable, just, and climate-resilient food systems.
Looking ahead, don’t miss the 2025 CGIAR GENDER conference—happening this October. The conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore innovations in gender equality, food systems, and climate resilience. Get more information and register here.
