CENDEKIA INSIGHTS
Empowering Women Farmers and Fishers
in Inclusive Food Systems
in Inclusive Food Systems
Have you ever paused to think about where the fresh vegetables on your dinner table or the fish at your favorite seafood spot actually come from?
Behind the global food systems that nourish us every day are millions of resilient women who serve as central drivers of food security, poverty reduction, and climate resilience. Making up 39.6% of the global agricultural workforce and nearly half of those engaged across the global fisheries value chain, women carry multiple responsibilities across production, household care, and supplementary income generation. Yet, policy and financing systems continue to under-recognize their vital contributions.
Women are not marginal actors. They are essential to how agriculture and fisheries function every single day. In developing nations, women account for roughly 43% of agricultural labor, while in Southeast Asia, agriculture employs an average of 26.7% of working women, and their participation in small-scale fisheries averages 12%. Despite these significant roles, women farmers face persistent productivity gaps, producing 20% to 30% less than men. This shortfall stems directly from systemic barriers, including limited access to finance, essential inputs, markets, technical assistance, and extension services.
Recent evidence reveals that women farmers, fishers, Indigenous Peoples, and Local Communities continue to face uneven and fragmented access to targeted funding across Southeast Asia. Between 2016 and 2026, only 126 supported projects across six countries were identified, backed by a total of 11 funders. Capital is heavily concentrated, with a single donor—the Global Greengrants Fund—accounting for around 63% of grants by number.
Unlocking the full potential of these women requires moving beyond fragmented, micro-level support toward flexible, gender-responsive financing and structural empowerment. Aligning credit schedules with agricultural cycles, reducing strict land collateral requirements, and offering localized technical training enable rural women to overcome productivity barriers and build resilient livelihoods. Moreover, building dedicated philanthropic coalitions can pool resources to strengthen local, women-led organizations directly on the frontlines.
Closing these persistent gaps is far more than an economic initiative. It is a vital step toward an equitable, climate-resilient, and food-secure future for everyone. When we invest in women farmers and fishers, we nourish entire families, uplift local economies, and cultivate a fairer world. Let us stand together, align our funding priorities, and actively champion the empowerment of the remarkable women who feed our planet.
Women are not marginal actors. They are essential to how agriculture and fisheries function every single day. In developing nations, women account for roughly 43% of agricultural labor, while in Southeast Asia, agriculture employs an average of 26.7% of working women, and their participation in small-scale fisheries averages 12%. Despite these significant roles, women farmers face persistent productivity gaps, producing 20% to 30% less than men. This shortfall stems directly from systemic barriers, including limited access to finance, essential inputs, markets, technical assistance, and extension services.
Recent evidence reveals that women farmers, fishers, Indigenous Peoples, and Local Communities continue to face uneven and fragmented access to targeted funding across Southeast Asia. Between 2016 and 2026, only 126 supported projects across six countries were identified, backed by a total of 11 funders. Capital is heavily concentrated, with a single donor—the Global Greengrants Fund—accounting for around 63% of grants by number.
Unlocking the full potential of these women requires moving beyond fragmented, micro-level support toward flexible, gender-responsive financing and structural empowerment. Aligning credit schedules with agricultural cycles, reducing strict land collateral requirements, and offering localized technical training enable rural women to overcome productivity barriers and build resilient livelihoods. Moreover, building dedicated philanthropic coalitions can pool resources to strengthen local, women-led organizations directly on the frontlines.
Closing these persistent gaps is far more than an economic initiative. It is a vital step toward an equitable, climate-resilient, and food-secure future for everyone. When we invest in women farmers and fishers, we nourish entire families, uplift local economies, and cultivate a fairer world. Let us stand together, align our funding priorities, and actively champion the empowerment of the remarkable women who feed our planet.
