The Country Lead for Policy LINK, Yunus Abdulai is advocating for the inclusion of women in agricultural policies formulation and governance processes.
According to him policies get better outcomes when all stakeholders are brought on board to make inputs into the design and implementation of the policies.
Mr Abdulai said this in Wa during a policy dialogue on the inclusion and active participation of women in agricultural policy and governance processes as part of activities to commemorate the International Day of Rural Women.
The dialogue was organized by the USAID Feed the Future Ghana initiative.
“We all know and research and evidence has shown that when policy formulation and implementation is inclusive.
If all the stakeholders who will be affected by the policy are around the table and make inputs into the design and implementation of the policy, it leads to better outcomes”, he explained.
The event, which was on the theme: “Shaping Ghana’s Agricultural Future: The Role of Rural Women”, brought together women groups and associations in agriculture and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
He therefore urged stakeholders to support the efforts of rural women towards the advancement of their livelihoods and general well-being.
He said over the years, the USAID Feed the Future Ghana Policy LINK activity has been working through the ministries to address issues that affect women in general and rural women in specific.
Mr Abdulai explained that the day was set aside by UN to recognize the critical role and contribution of rural women in improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
Madam Rashida Iddrisu, the Head of Women in Agricultural Development, called for stakeholders’ commitment to addressing challenges confronting rural women such as limited access to land and resources, gender-based discrimination, and unequal access to healthcare and education.