Every year on 15 October, the world celebrates the International Day of Rural Women, a date that honours and highlights the vital role that rural women play in our society. They produce the food we eat, care for the land and natural resources, sustain households and communities, yet their contributions often remain invisible, and the challenges they face underestimated.
This day is not only about celebration; it is also a call to action — to recognise the structural and systemic barriers that rural women face, from lack of land and credit to limited access to markets, technology, and decision-making. It is an invitation to connect efforts and work together to build societies and food systems that are more inclusive, more sustainable, and more just.
The Challenges Rural Women Face
Across the world, women are responsible for around half of all food production. They work the land, protect biodiversity, and care for the environment that sustains us all. Moreover, in many rural communities, it is women who ensure food reaches families and local markets. Yet, despite their enormous contributions, rural women and girls continue to face deep inequalities. In comparison to men doing the same work, they have far less access to what they need to succeed — from land ownership and credit to agricultural inputs, fair markets, and high-value food chains.
These challenges are not only economic but also social. Structural barriers and long-standing gender norms continue to limit women’s voice in decision-making, both within households and in their wider communities. Many still lack equal access to education, healthcare, and essential infrastructure, including clean water and sanitation. Much of their labour, especially in caregiving and home-based farming, remains unpaid and invisible.
On top of that, women face higher levels of poverty and exclusion, and are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change. Yet, in the face of these obstacles, they continue to sustain families, nourish communities, and protect the planet, proving that empowering rural women is not just about fairness, but about building a more resilient future for everyone.
The History and Meaning of the Day
The International Day of Rural Women was officially established by the United Nations in 2007, and first observed on 15 October 2008.
The day serves as both a celebration and a reminder. It recognises “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.”
Every year on 15 October, for the past 17 years, we have celebrated the strength, knowledge, and leadership of rural women who sustain families, preserve traditions, and care for ecosystems. At the same time, this day reminds the global community of the continuing need for equality and inclusion in rural development.
Over time, the International Day of Rural Women has become an important platform to raise awareness, inspire policy change, and encourage investment in women-led solutions. It calls for recognising rural women not as beneficiaries, but as agents of change — leaders who hold the keys to building sustainable and resilient food systems.
INCiTiS-FOOD and the International Day of Rural Women
At INCiTiS-FOOD, empowering women and youth lies at the heart of our mission to build sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban and peri-urban food systems across Africa. While the International Day of Rural Women shines a spotlight on challenges in rural communities, its message resonates far beyond — reminding us that rural and urban food systems are deeply interconnected.
Through the project’s Living Labs, we work alongside women entrepreneurs, researchers, and community leaders to co-create solutions that promote equity, innovation, and sustainability. INCiTiS-FOOD contributes to a broader vision where no one is left behind in the transformation of food systems.
On this International Day of Rural Women, we join the global call to recognise the essential contributions of women everywhere — in villages, towns, and cities alike. Empowering them means empowering entire communities, creating opportunities that bridge divides, and nurturing food systems that are just, sustainable, and truly shared by all.
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