Climate change, conflict and inequality: why the Middle East and North Africa region needs a gender-responsive learning agenda

The food, land and water systems of the MENA region already struggle with limited natural resources and slow technological advancement. At the same time, socio-cultural norms and gendered constraints often go unaddressed, further exacerbating the challenges women face. Women face both biophysical limitations and intra-household barriers that restrict their access to and use of  innovations, highlighting the need for gender-inclusive approaches in designing these technologies and innovations and a call for gender-responsive extension services.

Despite this urgency, the evidence base on gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) in MENA’s food, land and water systems remains scarce and fragmented. Without solid evidence, it becomes difficult for policymakers and practitioners to set priorities and identify impactful opportunities.

“We need more evidence recognizing women as farmers—legally and socially,” said Dina Najjar, Senior Gender Scientist at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

Why action is needed

As climate shocks and conflicts intensify inequalities, the MENA region urgently needs stronger evidence to inform effective policy. Globally, efforts are underway to close gender gaps in food systems, but projections show that, at the current pace, it will take 142 years to close the gender gap in the region. Participants at the workshop unanimously recognized that waiting for more than a century to achieve gender equality is unacceptable and demands immediate, transformative action.

“We keep doing a lot of diagnosis, but it’s time we focus on what works—finding solutions for women. We need to move analysis to action, accelerating progress toward gender equality,” said Puskur.

No silver bullet: bundling innovations for greater impact

Workshop participants stressed that transforming food systems for women requires multisectoral solutions. Bundling innovations—technical, social, financial and institutional—was highlighted as being critical.