Women at the center: Strengthening empowerment in fragile food systems

Across fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS), mounting evidence shows that gender profoundly shapes both the experience and the trajectory of fragility. Women are more likely to face food insecurity, lose access to income, shoulder unpaid care responsibilities, and encounter elevated risks of violence during shocks-all while being systematically excluded from the decisions that determine relief and recovery. Perhaps not unsurprisingly given these dynamics, of the 343 million people in the world today who are categorized as "extremely hungry," nearly 60% are women and girls.

These imbalances weaken the resilience of entire communities. But they are not inevitable. Research and practice increasingly demonstrate that when women's perspectives, leadership, and priorities inform decision-making in FCAS, outcomes improve for households, markets, and local institutions alike.