Everyone on Board: Promoting Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men, Girls and Boys

64 percent of women in low-income countries, and 42 percent in lower middle-income countries, work in agriculture. Their contribution—both paid and unpaid—to food production is essential, as it is to the preservation and restoration of important natural resources, such as forests. Nevertheless, women suffer from a lack of access to, and control over, the resources and inputs they need to be able to participate in rural economies. Similarly, they are not (or only partly) represented in decision-making bodies.

Gender inequality can only be addressed structurally if its root causes are identified and addressed. That’s why the Rainforest Alliance—working together with rural communities, companies, governments, and local civil society groups—promotes a gender transformative approach through our four key interventions: certification, landscapes management, supply chain services, and advocacy. Only by working together and on multiple fronts can we create a conducive environment for gender equality.