On October 16, 2024, the Rural Women’s Assembly (RWA) hosted an impactful online gathering for World Food Day under the theme “Climate Justice is Food Justice: A Feminist Call for Global Action.” The webinar saw participation from nearly 600 rural women across RWA chapters in Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, excluding Mozambique. The event served as a platform for rural women to advocate for climate resilience, food sovereignty, and rural rights. It was divided into two sections: a commemoration of World Food Day and a session dedicated to submissions on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP).
World Food Day Commemoration
Setting the Tone
The event commenced with a culturally resonant song on seed sovereignty, followed by a stirring poem titled My Mother Gave Me a Sister, performed by young RWA member Senge. The poem set a tone of solidarity, underscoring the shared challenges faced by rural women in their fight for climate justice and food security.
Keynote Speakers: Perspectives on Climate and Food Sovereignty
Beatrice Makwenda (Malawi)
Beatrice Makwenda provided a comprehensive analysis of food production systems, linking them to climate change and systemic inequality. She emphasized that food justice requires dismantling corporate monopolies that prioritize profit over sustainability. She stated, “The monopoly of food systems by big corporations, driven by profit over sustainability, is deepening inequalities. True food justice is about allowing rural women to produce and consume food that resonates with their culture and traditions.”
She advocated for agroecology as an alternative to industrial agriculture, arguing that transitioning to agroecological methods would ensure food security, cultural preservation, environmental health, and community empowerment.
Renette (South Africa)
Renette highlighted the struggles of small-scale farmers in South Africa, detailing the challenges posed by erratic weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and economic marginalization. She remarked, “We struggle to celebrate World Food Day because so many of us lack access to land and water, essentials without which there can be no food security.” She also addressed market exclusion, calling for policies that support rural farmers and ensure their access to markets.
Key Themes from the Discussion
- Agroecology as a Pathway to Food Sovereignty: Participants stressed the potential of agroecology in empowering rural women and mitigating climate change impacts.
- Water and Land Access: The discussion highlighted the urgent need for political action to ensure rural women have access to land and water.
- Seed Sovereignty for Climate Resilience: Participants advocated for the protection of indigenous seeds as a key strategy for climate adaptation and food security.
Way Forward
The session concluded with key action points:
- Promote Agroecology in National Policies: Advocate for agroecology to be integrated into national agricultural strategies.
- Secure Land and Water Rights: Push for policies recognizing rural women’s land and water rights.
- Enhance Seed Sovereignty Initiatives: Support indigenous seed-saving programs to strengthen climate resilience.
UNDROP Submissions Session
Understanding UNDROP and Its Impact
The second session, led by Lungisa Huna, focused on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP). She emphasized the importance of using UNDROP as a tool for advocacy, stating, “UNDROP offers rural communities a voice on the global stage, a means to demand that our governments respect our rights to food, water, and seeds.”
Country Contributions and Key Issues Raised
- Malawi: The UNDROP document remains largely inaccessible due to language barriers, as it is only available in English.
- Tanzania: Successfully translated UNDROP into Swahili, though government support is lacking.
- South Africa: RWA South Africa has promoted UNDROP, but government participation remains minimal.
Challenges in UNDROP Implementation
- Language Accessibility: Limited translation of UNDROP into indigenous languages restricts broader community engagement.
- Lack of Government Support: While RWA has educated members about UNDROP, government involvement remains inadequate.
- Resource Constraints: Financial and logistical challenges hinder widespread dissemination and implementation of UNDROP.
Way Forward
Engage with UN Bodies: Consolidate feedback for the UN Working Group on UNDROP to ensure rural women’s voices are central in policy-making.
Amplify Advocacy for UNDROP: Push for government recognition and implementation of UNDROP.
Increase Translation Efforts: Translate UNDROP into local languages for broader accessibility.
droughts and sudden floods, have disrupted traditional planting seasons, making it harder for
farmers to secure stable livelihoods. “We struggle to celebrate World Food Day because so
many of us lack access to land and water, essentials without which there can be no food
security,” Renette explained.
She further discussed the barriers to market access, which often exclude rural farmers,
preventing them from selling their agroecologically produced food. Renette explained, “The
current food system does not support small-scale farmers; it is controlled by large
commercial entities that prioritise profits over people. Without access to markets, we cannot
sustain our livelihoods.” Her call echoed the session’s theme by urging policies that
recognise rural women’s rights to land, seeds, and water, as well as support for agroecology
as a climate-resilient farming method.
Key Themes from the Discussion
The discussions that followed the presentations underscored several core issues faced by
RWA members:
Agroecology as a Pathway to Food Sovereignty: Many participants highlighted the potential
of agroecology to empower rural women and mitigate climate impacts. As Euscah Chimhare
stated, “Agroecology remains sidelined as a ‘small-scale’ approach, yet it holds
transformative potential. We must push for its recognition and adoption by governments.”
Water and Land Access: Access to water and land emerged as crucial themes. Baphetsile
from Eswatini shared, “We don’t talk about water enough, yet without it, farming is
impossible. We need to share indigenous water conservation techniques and address the
political challenges surrounding water access.”
Seed Sovereignty for Climate Resilience: Participants stressed the need to protect
indigenous seeds. Daria remarked, “Local seeds are crucial for food security and climate
resilience. They are better suited to our environments and help us adapt to climate change,
unlike imported, commercially engineered seeds.”
Way Forward
The World Food Day session concluded with a clear set of action items aimed at
strengthening food and climate justice for rural communities:
● Promote Agroecology in National Policies: Advocate for agroecology to be integrated
into national agricultural strategies.
● Secure Land and Water Rights: Intensify advocacy for policies that recognize rural
women’s rights to land and water access.
● Enhance Seed Sovereignty Initiatives: Support and scale indigenous seed-saving
programs to build climate resilience.
Section 2: UNDROP Submissions Session
Overview and Key Issues Raised
The second session was dedicated to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and
Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP). Lungisa Huna led this discussion,
underscoring UNDROP’s role as a tool for holding governments accountable. She explained,
“UNDROP offers rural communities a voice on the global stage, a means to demand that our
governments respect our rights to food, water, and seeds.”
Lungisa outlined the importance of RWA’s collective submission to the UN Working Group
on UNDROP, as it provided an opportunity for rural women’s voices to shape the policies
affecting them. This session focused on challenges related to UNDROP dissemination and
implementation in each country.
Contributions from Country Representatives
Each country shared insights on their progress with UNDROP dissemination:
Malawi: Reported that the UNDROP document remains untranslated in national languages,
with the declaration available only in English. Representatives highlighted a need for
resources to make UNDROP accessible in local dialects.
Tanzania: Successfully translated UNDROP into Swahili and distributed it within local
communities, though no government support has been offered. This grassroots-led effort
aimed to raise awareness and empower communities.
South Africa: RWA South Africa has led efforts to disseminate UNDROP within their
networks, but government participation remains limited. As Renette shared, “We are doing
our part, but without government support, our reach is restricted. We need state investment
in promoting these rights.”
Key Challenges and Progress in UNDROP Implementation
Language Accessibility: Translation of UNDROP into indigenous languages has been
limited, hindering broader community understanding and engagement.
Lack of Government Support: While RWA has made strides in educating members about
UNDROP, few governments have actively promoted or implemented its principles.
Resource Constraints: Participants noted the logistical and financial challenges of
translating, disseminating, and implementing UNDROP at the grassroots level without
adequate funding or support.
Way Forward
The UNDROP session concluded with commitments to:
Amplify Advocacy for UNDROP: Advocate for governments to recognize and implement
UNDROP.
Increase Translation Efforts: Work towards translating UNDROP into local languages to
enhance accessibility.
Engage with UN Bodies: Consolidate feedback for the UN Working Group on UNDROP to
ensure rural women’s voices are central in policy-making.
