Gender: the Key to Sustainability and Food Security

Based on FAO's Plan of Action for Women in Development (1996-2001) this document describes FAO's conceptual framework for analysing the implications of gender in sustainable agriculture and rural development, and outlines its strategies and actions aimed at addressing these issues. Areas of focus include: (i) natural resources, including land and water, plants, animal resources, forests and trees, and fisheries; (ii) agricultural support systems, including rural finance and marketing services, rural groups and organisations, agricultural research and technology development, agricultural education and extension, and communication; (iii) food and nutrition; and (iv) improved policy-making and planning, including data collection, research and analysis, and legislation. Institutional arrangements for, for example, monitoring and evaluation of progress within FAO are also described.