Blogs

PepsiCo and USAID have partnered to develop new gender-responsive on-farm approaches that generate data and insights that will make a compelling business case for scaling investments in women’s economic empowerment within agricultural supply chains in India and around the world.

USAID is committed to being a leading investor, partner, and advocate to achieve the goal of gender equality across societies. Jamille Bigio, USAID Senior Gender Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, highlights 10 of the ways USAID is advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment around the world.

Women play a critical role in agricultural research communities and help ensure that innovations work for all farmers and participants in agrifood systems Read the stories of women researchers working in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and beyond to end hunger and create more resilient food systems through their contributions in science, technology, research and agriculture.

In the face of societal norms in Upper Egypt where women do not typically own business or work in public-facing roles, Asmaa’s journey is an inspiring testament to resilience and the transformative power of entrepreneurship.

USAID’s Amazon Business Alliance, a joint initiative with the Government of Canada and Conservation International, promotes economic development based on the sustainable use of natural resources and on gender and intercultural approaches to improve the people’s welfare and forest conservation.

Project Kirana recognized the complex set of problems encountered by women micro entrepreneurs in India: limited business and digital financial capabilities, and limited access to formal financial services. By equipping women entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools they needed—including financial and digital literacy expertise, business management skills, and strategies for addressing cultural barriers—over 2,500 women were able to grow their small retail businesses and increase their incomes.

"This access opens many doors that we hadn’t knocked on before, because we’d managed our finances mostly internally and never received credit for our business, and we love this opportunity to grow.” – Leidy Gomez

"Thousands of women have received crucial support [since the Ennakhil Association] was founded [to] reinforce equal human rights in laws and public policies." – Maggie Sullivan

"Showcasing how employers and unions work together can help us meet our [objectives] by encouraging other sectors in the region to adopt similar practices." - Bama Athreya