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Praxis discussion: Women in Agriculture
November 21, 2014World Bank office, Level 19, 14 Martin Place, Sydney, NSW

In the Pacific, women hold an essential role in agriculture but are often excluded from decision-making and don’t have control over the land they work on. Follow our televised panel discussion on how we can help level the field for women in agriculture.

The Glass Ceiling isn’t just a problem for women in the corporate sector.

In many developing nations, the significant contribution women make in agriculture is consistently undervalued, and opportunities for growth are stifled.

Across regions, despite the fact that they are just as efficient as men and account for almost half of the global agricultural workforce, females have less access to productive resources and opportunities than men and are often paid significantly less, if at all.

In our region, the Pacific, even though women hold an essential role in the agricultural sector, they are often excluded from local authority decision-making in the management of markets, and don’t have control over the land they work on, or other assets. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that equalising access to productive resources could increase agricultural output by 2.5 to 4 percent; representing a missed opportunity for both men and women.

How can we level the field for women in agriculture? How do we give women a voice in areas including land rights and wages? And how can we ensure that the challenges and opportunities presented by the growth of modern supply-chains are met and fully realized? 

Joining us to discuss these critical topics we have Christie Chang, Agricultural Economist, University of New England; and Randy Stringer, Professor of Agriculture and Food Policy, University of Adelaide and; Amy Luinstra, Senior Gender Specialist at the International Finance Corporation who will be discussing the soon-to-be-launched report The Fruit of Her Labour – analysing the role of women in agriculture in Papua New Guinea.

The discussion will also be televised at the World Bank offices in Dili, Honiara, Port Moresby. 

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Please arrive by 12:45pm in order to be seated on time. Refreshments will be provided. The discussion will last an hour, with 30 minutes set aside for questions from the audience. 

RSVP: We need to confirm numbers by 5pm Wednesday, November 19. Please email us at pacificmedia@worldbank.org, to register your attendance. As this is a catered event, please only RSVP if your attendance is assured.  

Follow on Twitter: @WorldBankAsia #PacificPraxis
Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6FE8A490B08CB2DB&feature=plcp

  • Christie Chang

    Agricultural Economist at the University of New England
    Christie is an agricultural economist by training. She has been conducting research in PNG since 2008. Her work focuses on improving marketing efficiency, postharvest management and value addition of sweetpotato. She has also consulted for AusAid and NZAid funded development projects in PNG. Participatory action research is used to understand issues facing smallholder farmers, especially women, and to develop locally appropriate intervention strategies.
  • Randy Stringer

    Professor of Agriculture and Food Policy at the University of Adelaide
    Over the past thirty years, Randy has taught, published and conducted research and policy analysis on agricultural development, natural resource management, food security, land tenure, rural development, poverty and environmental issues. Before joining the University of Adelaide, Randy was Chief of the Comparative Studies Service at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
  • Amy Luinstra

    Senior Gender Specialist at the International Finance Corporation
    Amy works in the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which is the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. She leads projects that engage the private sector in improving opportunities for women while at the same time contribute to business growth. She recently supported work on the Fruit of Her Labor report looking at women’s role in agriculture in PNG. Prior to this, Amy managed a global partnership to improve working conditions for women in the garment factories in East Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
  • when: November 21, 2014, 1pm – 2pm (Sydney)
  • where: World Bank office, Level 19, 14 Martin Place, Sydney, NSW
  • moderator: Bronwyn Adcock, Journalist



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