Madam Winnie Osulah, Lead for Gender Integration at AGRA.

At a recent AGRA convening in Accra, Madam Winnie Osulah, Lead for Gender Integration at AGRA, issued a strong call for African governments to move beyond policy drafting and toward concrete implementation of gender-responsive agricultural strategies. Her message was clear: without targeted delivery, the continent risks sidelining the very women who form the backbone of its agricultural workforce.

Speaking under the theme “Enhancing Gender-Responsive Decision-Making in Agriculture through AGRA’s Gender Mainstreaming in Agriculture Scorecard,” Osulah emphasized that while many African nations have developed gender-sensitive agricultural policies, most remain outdated or unexecuted. This disconnect, she warned, is widening the gap between policy intentions and real-world impact.

The AGRA Gender Scorecard, which evaluates government performance across three key areas—enabling environment, commitment, and capacity—revealed troubling trends. Ghana, for instance, scored 72 percent on policy presence but only 56 percent on implementation capacity. Government commitment stood at 60 percent, falling short of the 75 percent benchmark required to be considered gender responsive.

“Governments must target the right audiences and build capacity to translate policy into measurable outcomes,” Osulah stated. She called for practical investments in training, institutional strengthening, and monitoring systems that assess whether policies are improving lives—particularly for women smallholder farmers.

Women represent approximately 80 percent of Africa’s agricultural labour force, yet their needs are often overlooked in policy and programming. Osulah stressed that ignoring these needs undermines the full potential of African food systems.

Mrs. Faustina Acheampong, Director at Ghana’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, echoed these concerns. She highlighted ongoing efforts to update the national gender policy for 2025–2034 and announced plans to establish a women’s development bank aimed at expanding financial inclusion and economic empowerment for women and girls, especially in underserved communities.

“Let us continue to commit to creating spaces where women’s leadership in agriculture is nurtured, where their voices shape policy, and where their innovation drives transformation,” Acheampong urged.
The convening made it clear: Africa’s agricultural future depends not just on inclusive policies, but on the will and capacity to implement them. Without action, the continent risks leaving behind the very people who sustain its food systems.