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Launch of the GRASS CEILING European Policy Forum for women-led innovation

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On 7 October 2024, GRASS CEILING had the launch of its European Policy Forum for women-led innovation. This event was organised by AEIDL and Copa-Cogeca.

The GRASS CEILING project seeks to empower rural and farm women and enhance their role in driving socio-ecological innovations, addressing pressing challenges, and fostering resilience in rural areas across nine European countries.

The session brought together over 80 attendees from diverse backgrounds, including representatives from EU institutions, national and regional government and public authorities, researchers, NGOs, and other EU projects from 21 countries.

The European Policy Forum showcases the findings of GRASS CEILING to advance women-led socio-ecological innovations in farming, rural economies, and communities. Following the integrated transdisciplinary and multi-level approach of the project, the Forum aims to mobilise key stakeholders to drive meaningful change and promote gender-inclusive policies and innovations.

On the back of several pivotal European discussions, including the Political Guidelines for the European Commission (2024-2029), the results of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, and the opening of debates on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027, and the design of the European Gender Strategy post-2025, the session  sought to introduce project insights, highlight its methodological foundations, and discuss with participants ideas to better integrate gender mainstreaming into relevant EU policies.

The event kicked off with a joint introduction on the role of the European Policy Forum for women-led innovation in agriculture and rural areas from Blanca Casares of AEIDL and Branwen Miles from Copa-Cogeca. Blanca Casares explained the progress of the Forum so far as well as the activities planned and in which external stakeholders can be informed and take part. Participants were invited to register as Forum’ members to co-design recommendations and tools together with the project partners.

Sally Shortall, project coordinator from The South East Technological University (SETU) in Ireland, followed with an overview of the first insights and findings of the GRASS CEILING project. It is necessary to reflect on how public policy can support women’s social entrepreneurship, which has a direct effect on the sustainability of rural areas. The private sector will never support childcare in remote rural areas for example, because it will not obtain an economic return from it. In addition, we need to rethink the concept of success when it comes to women’s innovative initiatives, Sally Shortall said.

Several key voices provided thought-provoking presentations. Elena Schubert, from the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), focused on the gender equality in the Common Agricultural Policy and its strategic role for sustainability.

Quoting Elena Schubert, there is a general and wide consensus about the crucial role of women in sustainable agriculture. We need women equally as we need men to cope with global challenges, and to preserve our European social model. Our priority is to attract more women into farming and forestry.  In this regard, equal opportunities and safe and healthy working conditions for women to fully harness their potential are essential. Overcoming gender stereotypes in agri-food sector is a must, women can be as competitive as men!  Innovation is key to offer practical, replicable and scalable solutions.

Maria Nikolopoulou, from the European Economic and Social Committee, discussed the significance of gender lens investing as a way to improve gender equality in the European Union based on an Opinion that the Committee prepared a couple of years ago. We call for an ambitious vision in the EU on gender lens investing and gender budgeting, including concrete targets and KPIs, updated criteria for public funding, intensified programs to improve female entrepreneurship and a plan for an inclusive financial ecosystem to accelerate the pace towards an effective gender equality. Furthermore, we need to develop gender dedicated funds to be sure that the investments reach women, and make sure that all big venture capital funds and private equity have a gender lens investment strategy, Maria Nikolopoulou explained.

Finally, Marta Dell’Aquila, Irina Kustova and Christian Dietz, from the Centre for European Policy Studies, presented the gender dimension in sustainable development, innovation and green transition. We discuss many different issues related to climate-related agricultural policy, but we need to focus more on the challenges of gender equality, as it is a cross-cutting, multi-dimensional issue. Specifically, when discussing gender in agriculture, we must ensure coherence with other climate policy areas that impact women in this field, such as the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 legislation package, the CEPS team members stated during their speech.

Following the presentations, participants were engaged in four interactive workshops to collaboratively develop ideas and explore key topics affecting women in agriculture and rural innovation:

  • Cultural Norms and Stereotypes
  • Gender in the Existing Legal Framework
  • Data Gaps and Lack of Disaggregated Data
  • Structural and Financial Needs

The guiding questions focused on what are the most effective strategies to (i) reduce or eliminate the impact of gender-related cultural norms and stereotypes; (ii) review and enhance gender mainstreaming in existing policies and effectively integrate into new policies (iii) monitor and analyse the situation of women in agriculture and rural areas and (iv) promote women farmers’ access to appropriate financial services and resources. Participants also reflected on what can be done at Member State level and at European level.

The results of the discussion will be analysed and used to produce a first set of policy recommendations in the upcoming months.

For more information, see agenda and event materials here.

AEIDL and Copa-Cogeca are coordinating the European Policy Forum for women-led innovation to drive progress in women-led socio-ecological innovations within farming, rural economies, and communities. By mobilising a diverse range of stakeholders, the Forum fosters impactful dialogue and collaborative efforts toward sustainable change.

Do you want to be part?

Sign up here: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/GRASSCEILING_Forum

For any clarification contact Blanca Casares (bca@aeidl.eu) or Branwen Miles (branwen.miles@copa-cogeca.eu).

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GRASS CEILING project hosts European Policy Forum for women-led innovation in agriculture and rural areas

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The European Policy Forum for women-led innovation, part of the GRASS CEILING project kicks off on 7th October 2024.

This is a virtual event that requires prior registration through this link before 1st October. The event is organised by Copa-Cogeca and AEIDL (European Association for Innovation in Local Development) in collaboration with CIHEAM Zaragoza. The event aims to enhance exchange, learning, and interaction with key stakeholders in policy strategies for gender equality.

During the session, the project’s objectives and insights and the methodological basis for developing recommendations and policy instruments will be presented by Sally Shortall, the project coordinator; Blanca Casares and Serafin Pazos-Vidal from AEIDL; and Branwen Miles from Copa-Cogeca.

The event will feature interventions from Elena Schubert, representing the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), who will speak on “Gender Equality in the Common Agricultural Policy”; Maria Nikolopoulou, from the European Economic and Social Committee, who will discuss “Gender-sensitive investment as a way to improve gender equality in the European Union”; and Marta Dell’Aquila, Irina Kustova, and Christian Dietz from the Centre for European Policy Studies, who will address “The gender dimension in sustainable development, innovation, and the green transition.”

The programme will be completed with a presentation by Blanca Casares, Serafín Pazos-Vidal, and Sally Shortall on the “Development of policy recommendations and tools within the GRASS CEILING project” and participatory workshops on “Gender Equality and Diversity” in which all attendees will participate and discuss their ideas for integrating gender mainstreaming into relevant policies.

To participate in this event, prior registration is required before October 1st through the project’s website, using this link.

The detailed programme for this event can be found here.

For further information about this event, please contact Blanca Casares or Branwen Miles

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The path to gender equality in the context of food security

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On 14th February took place the seminar on gender equality in the context of food security  organised by FAO, the Government Offices of Sweden, Sida and SIANI. This event aimed to provide current facts and figures, as well as highlight the challenges and present the solutions for transforming policy to action.

Blanca Casares, policy expert at AEIDL (European Association for Innovation in Local Development), partner of GRASS CEILING Horizon Europe project followed the event given the relevance for the project’s European Policy Forum for women-led innovation, coordinated by AEIDL and COPA-COGECA and the established Rural Pact Community group on women in rural areas they coordiate.

The seminar kicked off with a warm welcome from Dan Ericsson, State Secretary to the Minister for Rural Affairs, Sweden. The session was moderated by Johanna Bergman Lodin, Division of Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

With a full agenda of knowledgeable speakers, Lauren Phillips, Deputy Director, Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality (FAO), set the stage by presenting FAO landmark report, The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems, providing the latest data, lessons learned and recommendations about how to do more, and better. Among the data she highlighted was the evolution over the last decade of the employability of women in agrifood systems and what this represents in terms of their income. Regarding the remaining gaps, Lauren pointed out that the gender gap in land productivity between female and male managed farms of same size is 24%.

Among other relevant presentations, Rebecka Ramsted, Programme and Policy Officer, Permanent Representation of Sweden (FAO) presented process and timeline for the adoption of the Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girl’s Empowerment in the Context of Food Security and Nutrition by the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).

She pointed out that for the first time bringing a full policy product on gender equality under the umbrella of foremost inclusive international and intergovernmental platform for all stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and nutrition for all. Endorsement took place at the CFS 51 session.

The seminar continued with presentations by Geovanny Enriquez, JP GTA National Program Coordinator (FAO) on Promoting gender transformative approaches for food security and nutrition in Ecuador. Followed by Elisabeth Simelton (Sida) who replaced Sofia Orrebrink, Lead Policy Specialist for Gender Equalityy (Sida) and who gave an overview of Sida’s work in gender equality by talking about various realities in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry,etc.

The seminar came to a close with a round table discussion about transforming policy into action for food security and gender equality. The different speakers of the session deepened their reflections on the usefulness of the guidelines, the capacity of use by the different countries, the inclusiveness of the implementation processes, the relevance of investment especially in reducing gender gaps and the adoption of the proposed solutions.

The event ended with some closing remarks from ambassador Ms.Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, Chair of the Committee of World Food Security (CFS).

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Rural Women: community led-innovation and the consideration in the LTVRA

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On Wednesday 22 November, the European Economic and Social Committee organised a thematic debate on gender equality and youth in rural areas organised by the Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Section (NAT).

Blanca Casares, policy expert at AEIDL (European Association for Innovation in Local Development), was invited to present AEIDL’s work in this matter, which includes the GRASS CEILING Horizon Europe project, where Blanca leads the work package on co-creation of recommendations and tools for policy and knowledge and innovation systems that boost women’s role in the sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas.

Women in rural areas of the EU make up below 50% of the total rural population, they represent 45% of the economically active population, and about 40% of them work on family farms. The rate of self-employed women in rural areas is about 38%. Their importance in rural economy is even greater, since their participation through informal rural economy is not statistically recognised.

In her presentation, Blanca reviewed the consideration of rural women in the main policies such as the EU Gender Equality Strategy to 2025, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Green Deal and its Farm to Fork Strategy and EU long term vision for rural areas (LTVRA) by 2040.

In particular, the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers of the EU, held in Brussels on 20 November, gave the green light to the conclusions document on LTVRA, which advocates the implementation of initiatives that favour the development of these areas and the improvement of the living conditions of their inhabitants.

The Council welcomes the rolling out of the EU Rural Action Plan to achieve the goals of the LTVRA by 2040. It invites all national and regional administrations, local authorities and all stakeholders and communities to engage in the Rural Pact Community Platform.

The Council recognises that women represent a significant driving force for prosperity and social inclusion in rural areas, however they are facing additional challenges and in need of supporting measures to better integrate into the labour market, utilise existing and creating new opportunities for employment and innovation, and participate in decision making; and welcomes, in this respect, the inclusion of gender equality as one element of one specific objective of the new CAP, promoting the equal participation of women in farming and the socio-economic development of rural areas.

In response to the need for improving data collection and the quality of rural statistics, the conclusions underline the importance of expanding the EU Rural observatory, to municipal-level and, to include sex-disaggregated data and other types of functional areas, to inform the design and development of evidence-based and relevant rural policies.

Recent policy briefs published by AEIDL “Women in Rural Development: Integrating a gender dimension into policies for rural areas in Europe” as well as “The role of women in rural development and innovation“ or “Women for a sustainable future of European rural areas” detail the main challenges for rural women in relation to the labour market, participation in public decision making, access to services or land. Furthermore, these policy briefs include the need of build statistics segregated by gender as well as region as well as develop more comparative studies on rural women across Europe.

Blanca also spoke about community-led innovation to encourage positive change and generate local socio-economic and environmental welfare. Available a briefing of what we mean by community-led local innovation prepared by AEIDL’s colleagues, among them Serafin Pazos-Vidal, Senior Expert. In 2022, AEIDL launched the European Local Innovation Forum (ELIF) to help drive a pan-European conversation about local innovation, enhance action on the ground, and put them on the EU agenda. 

As part of GRASS CEILING, AEIDL and COPA-COGECA run the European Policy Forum for women-led innovation in agriculture and rural areas and are the coordinators of the EU Rural Pact Community Group on Women in Rural Areas. Anyone interested can join and help bring ideas and good practices to improve the gender dimension of EU rural policies by subscribing here.

Author: Blanca Casares (AEIDL)

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Gender equality in rural areas to be discussed during the European Gender Equality Week

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  • The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) of the European Parliament will exchange views on gender equality in rural areas and discuss the state of play and perspective in Europe and beyond.
  • This event is one of the activities organised within the framework of the EU Gender Equality Week taking place from 23 to 29 October 2023.

During the last week of October 2023, the European Parliament holds its fourth European Gender Equality Week. Following the success of the first three editions organised in October 2020, 2021 and 2022, the European Parliament continues this important initiative to highlight its continued efforts to place women at the centre of legislation.

Since the last edition of the European Gender Equality Week, important legislation was adopted: Women on boards, Equal pay, as well as the EU accession to the Istanbul Convention.

There is progress in this policy field, but much remains to be done. Therefore, the topic of focus this year is “Gender Equality: What’s next?”. The Parliament and its partners will be looking at what has been achieved so far and what still needs to be done.

All parliamentary committees and delegations, as well as many important partners of the Parliament will hold events addressing gender equality issues in their areas of competence.

On the 26 October, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) of the European Parliament will exchange views on gender equality in rural areas and discuss the state of play and perspective in Europe, and beyond, with Lauren Philips, Deputy Director of FAO’s Office on Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality and Marzia di Pastina, winner of the Innovation Award for Women farmers 2023 and member of Alleanza delle cooperative italiane agroalimentare. Here you have all the information to join this very interesting event:

Date: 26 October 2023
Time: 9:00 – 10:00
Webstreaming available here
Programme available here

Besides, on 23 October the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries (PECH) will exchange views with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) on the status of women in agri-food systems with a special focus on gender equality in fisheries and aquaculture. Here you have all the information to join the session:

Date: 23 October 2023
Time: 15:30 – 16:30
Webstreaming available here
Draft programme available here

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GRASS CEILING establishes a Rural Pact Community Group on women in rural areas

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In 2021, the European Commission launched the Rural Pact, as part of its Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas. 

The Rural Pact aims to give rural stakeholders a greater voice, move their needs up the policy agenda, support networking, and promote action on the ground. The Rural Pact Community Platform (RPCP) is an important tool for achieving the objectives of the Rural Pact. It is an online space that brings together all members of the Rural Pact Community.

The RPCP provides the opportunity to form Community Groups of stakeholders to facilitate structured exchanges and discussions on common areas of interest. In light of this possibility, GRASS CEILING expressed interest in establishing a group on women in rural areas which was approved on 29 June.

GRASS CEILING is a Horizon Europe project (2023-2025) aiming to boost women-led innovation in farming and rural areas.

The approved Community Group seeks to contribute to a greater understanding of the full contribution of women in rural areas, building on the work conducted by the Horizon project GRASS CEILING and its European Policy Forum for women-led innovation, coordinated by AEIDL and COPA-COGECA.

The objectives of the Community Group are:                                   

  • Provide a space for engagement and exchange of knowledge and experiences which contributes to the European Policy Forum for women-led innovation implemented under the Horizon project GRASS CEILING.
  • Raise awareness of the needs and challenges faced by women in rural areas as well as of emerging opportunities.
  • Share and analyse key policies that support women in rural areas and build recommendations based on lessons learned.
  • Create opportunities to link up and connect stakeholders and experts and trigger the development of projects, initiatives and shared action. Provide opportunity for knowledge exchange with other EU funded projects supporting women in rural areas

Join the group!

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