This year’s forum explored how advancing equal participation in agriculture can unlock women’s potential to boost agricultural production, food security, and sustainable development. Key stakeholders and experts from international organizations and academia identified policy recommendations for empowering women to participate in agriculture on a level playing field, with equitable opportunities for decent work and livelihoods.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating consequences for progress toward gender equality in Asia. The UN Women’s Rapid Gender Assessment—which provides snapshots of how the region’s women and girls have experienced the pandemic—is helping expose the extent of these impacts and their implications for the region’s recovery.