From participation to power: Advancing women’s leadership in rural development

The International Day of Rural Women (October 15) highlights the essential roles that rural women play in sustaining households, managing natural resources, and contributing to rural economies. Yet even as they participate extensively in agriculture and local organizations, women's ability to influence the policies and institutions that shape their lives often remains limited.

To design more equitable and effective policies, research and practice must take women seriously not only as members of households but also as economic and political actors in public life. Empowerment cannot be understood-or achieved-if we focus on one domain at the expense of the other. What happens inside the home and what happens in communities and local governments are deeply connected. Understanding both-and how they interact-is key to fostering inclusive and resilient development.