The Union for the Mediterranean and CIHEAM launch a regional initiative for innovation and women empowerment in agri-food systems
21–22 October 2025, Cairo, Egypt
Around 80 regional stakeholders - including women entrepreneurs, innovation hubs, representatives of women-led cooperatives, research institutes, national institutions, donors, investment funds, financial institutions and international organizations - gathered in Cairo for the Stakeholder Dialogue and Training Workshop on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in the Agro-Food Sector of the MENA region through social and technological innovation. The event was organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) with financial support from AECID, in collaboration with the CIHEAM, the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (EI/AUC Egypt) and the SFSMed platform.
Women in the region play a key role in food systems - as producers, processors, retailers and innovators - yet they continue to face persistent barriers, including limited access to land, to finance and to innovation ecosystems. In a context of poly-crisis, where climate change, geopolitical tensions, resource scarcity and economic imbalances reawaken the food‐security question in the Mediterranean, the dialogue stressed the urgent need to leverage women-led innovation to promote more resilient, sustainable and equitable agro-food systems.
Capacity-Building and Regional Dialogue
The two-day event featured a one-and-a-half-day training programme for 50 women entrepreneurs and cooperative leaders from seven countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia) followed by a regional stakeholder dialogue that brought together donors, UN agencies and regional partners to exchange insights and strengthen collaboration.
During the workshop, a draft joint declaration entitled “CIHEAM–UfM Commitment to a Regional Innovation Programme for Women Entrepreneurs in the Euro-Mediterranean Agro-Food Value Chain” was presented. The declaration outlines a shared vision to enhance women’s access to enabling ecosystems, strengthen their participation in decision-making processes, and promote gender-responsive policies and technologies across the region. A joint action plan for 2026–2030 is currently in preparation, alongside the establishment of a dedicated working group to be launched in 2026 — a year proclaimed by the United Nations as the International Year of Women Farmers.
A Growing Commitment on Behalf of the CIHEAM
For CIHEAM, this initiative forms part of a long-term strategy to eliminate the remaining barriers to the active participation of women in governance, research and innovation within the agro-food sector. It builds on the commitments made during the International Symposium organised at CIHEAM Zaragoza (June 2025) on Women’s Empowerment through Innovation in Mediterranean Agro-Food Systems, organised in partnership with UfM, AECID and FAO.
Through this initiative, the CIHEAM reaffirms its commitment to advancing policies and programmes that promote inclusive innovation ecosystems, equitable access to quality and continuous training, financing and infrastructure, and the strengthening of women’s leadership in collective action.
CONCEPT NOTE AND AGENDA
