Resilient and inclusive agri-food systems empowering women and youth

This project aims to advance equitable economic growth in Nigeria’s agricultural sector by raising the productivity of women and youth-focused smallholder farmers and raising the business performance of women-owned small and medium enterprises and the value chains focusing on women and youth. Also the project aims to improve the enabling environment for women by working with the government civil society and farmer cooperatives to support inclusive and gender-responsive agri-food systems. Project activities include: (1) designing and deploying more accessible and adapted financial services markets and information for women and youth led farmer cooperatives and businesses; (2) providing support to micro small and medium women-led businesses to address shared value chain productivity constraints; (3) improving leadership abilities of women and youth in cooperatives and agribusinesses; and (4) supporting sector-specific government agents and civil society actors such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) to advocate for inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) enhanced adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies and practices by smallholder farmer cooperative members particularly women and youth; (2) enhanced competitiveness sustainability and resilience of women and youth-owned or led agribusinesses; and (3) improved enabling environment for sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems in selected value chains and states of Northern Nigeria.