21–22 October 2025, Cairo, Egypt

Women across the MENA region play a central role in food systems as producers, processors, innovators, and holders of knowledge. Yet, persistent barriers continue to restrict their full participation in agro-food value chains. These obstacles include limited access to land and finance, weak representation in cooperatives and decision-making bodies, exclusion from innovation ecosystems, and agricultural policies that often remain blind to gender issues.

At a time when Mediterranean countries are facing converging crises — climate volatility, food insecurity, and youth unemployment — women-led innovation emerges as a key lever for transforming agri-food systems and fostering sustainable development.

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), with the financial support of AECID (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo) and in collaboration with the CIHEAM, FAO-NENA Regional Office, and the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (EI/AUC Egypt), is organising a two-day Multi Stakeholder Dialogue and Training Workshop in Cairo on 21–22 October 2025. This gathering is a milestone in co-designing a Regional Agenda on Innovation for Women Entrepreneurs in Agro-Food Value Chains.

The objectives of this event are to strengthen entrepreneurial and innovation capacities of women active in agro-food value chains, to share gender-responsive technologies and climate-smart solutions, to build a regional network of women entrepreneurs, incubators, researchers, and financial actors across the region, and to foster policy dialogue toward defining a Regional Innovation Agenda for women in the agro-food sector.

The programme includes capacity-building workshops on 21–22 October, designed to train 30–40 women entrepreneurs and cooperative leaders from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia on innovation-driven approaches, business modelling, access to finance, and engagement in public policy. On 22 October, a multi-stakeholder dialogue will bring together 60 to 80 key regional actors — UN agencies, donors, financial institutions, civil society, and academia — for a half-day consultation dedicated to defining the priorities of this Regional Innovation Agenda.

Discussions will focus on inclusive innovation ecosystems, access to finance and infrastructure, enabling policies and institutions, as well as women’s leadership and collective action. Expected outcomes include an initial framework for a Regional Innovation Agenda, strengthened regional cooperation, and concrete commitments to empower women entrepreneurs in agri-food systems.

This Dialogue seeks to unlock the potential of women as innovators, business leaders, and investors, ensuring their full inclusion in building resilient and sustainable food systems across the MENA region.