32 min
Helping Create Gender Equality in Agriculture with Frédérine Derlot, Susan Mugure and Liz Becerra of the International Trade Centre’s SheTrades Initiative The Produce Moms Podcast
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- Health & Fitness
“Empowering women to trade benefits everyone.”
Liz Becerra (5:19-5:22)
The SheTrades Initiative is on a mission to help connect three million women entrepreneurs in Agriculture by 2021.
The United Nations and World Trade Organization have come together to create the SheTrades initiative in order to create a sustainable economic impact globally. By helping women entrepreneurs, buyers and partners connect, collaborate and develop lasting relationships, SheTrade can empower women with the resources they need to overcome gender inequality in our food supply market.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with three powerful women who are helping spearhead this Initiative, Susan Mugure Wambugu, Frederine Derlot, and Lizbeth Becerra.
Susan is the Agriculture Sector Specialist for SheTrades in the Commonwealth at the International Trade Centre in Kenya where she helps small and medium sized enterprises owned by women in Kenya connect with international buyers and markets.
Frédérine is the fresh fruits and vegetables expert for the International Trade Centre in Geneva, Switzerland and specializes in market linkages, coaching and connecting exporters from developing countries to international buyers and markets. She’s worked for 15 years as an international buyer for the European food industry and is very involved with trade related technical assistance projects.
Lizbeth is an Associate Programme Officer at the International Trade Centre in Geneva, Switzerland and helps monitor and evaluate the project implementation with SheTrades Initiative.
“[Women] are 50% of the agriculture workforce and it’s even higher in Africa, for example, where 70% of food production is done by women, and 80-90% of processing and storage is done by women .” - Frédérine Derlot (9:20)
Clearly, women are a critical part in farming around the world, but the agricultural ecosystem is suffering in developing countries because women aren’t given the same opportunities as men. With SheTrades, women are able to connect virtually with other women owned businesses, mentors, and women in the supply chain so they can have the knowledge and support necessary to grow their businesses.
Women entrepreneurs from all over the world are welcome to join and they’ll gain access to quality data, help gaining government contracts, networking opportunities to create business deals and assistance starting and growing their business. This is the fostering women need to exchange new ideas, and get support with important decisions like handling difficult customers, production issues and specific transactions.
Why focus on women?
Women are key components and agents of change in food production and farming. Gender equality is more than essential for the security, production, nutrition and supply of our food globally. The United Nations has 17 sustainable goals, one of them being gender equality, which act as a blueprint for our collective sustainable future. Women and children are at the center of this agenda, not only because children are our future, but many countries are not reaching key performance metrics primarily because women don’t have equal access there.
Gender equality isn’t the only UN Sustainable Goal SheTrades helps achieve. Other goals include:
No poverty Zero hunger Good health and wellbeing Quality education Gender equality Clean water and sanitization Affordable and clean energy Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Reduced inequalities Sustainable cities and communities Responsible consumption and production Climate action Life below water Life on land Peace, justice and strong institutions Partnerships
Because of COVID-19, the global, regional and local demand completely collapsed for food service.
Not only has the safety and quality been at risk for our health, planting and harvesting haven’t been happening properly because
“Empowering women to trade benefits everyone.”
Liz Becerra (5:19-5:22)
The SheTrades Initiative is on a mission to help connect three million women entrepreneurs in Agriculture by 2021.
The United Nations and World Trade Organization have come together to create the SheTrades initiative in order to create a sustainable economic impact globally. By helping women entrepreneurs, buyers and partners connect, collaborate and develop lasting relationships, SheTrade can empower women with the resources they need to overcome gender inequality in our food supply market.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with three powerful women who are helping spearhead this Initiative, Susan Mugure Wambugu, Frederine Derlot, and Lizbeth Becerra.
Susan is the Agriculture Sector Specialist for SheTrades in the Commonwealth at the International Trade Centre in Kenya where she helps small and medium sized enterprises owned by women in Kenya connect with international buyers and markets.
Frédérine is the fresh fruits and vegetables expert for the International Trade Centre in Geneva, Switzerland and specializes in market linkages, coaching and connecting exporters from developing countries to international buyers and markets. She’s worked for 15 years as an international buyer for the European food industry and is very involved with trade related technical assistance projects.
Lizbeth is an Associate Programme Officer at the International Trade Centre in Geneva, Switzerland and helps monitor and evaluate the project implementation with SheTrades Initiative.
“[Women] are 50% of the agriculture workforce and it’s even higher in Africa, for example, where 70% of food production is done by women, and 80-90% of processing and storage is done by women .” - Frédérine Derlot (9:20)
Clearly, women are a critical part in farming around the world, but the agricultural ecosystem is suffering in developing countries because women aren’t given the same opportunities as men. With SheTrades, women are able to connect virtually with other women owned businesses, mentors, and women in the supply chain so they can have the knowledge and support necessary to grow their businesses.
Women entrepreneurs from all over the world are welcome to join and they’ll gain access to quality data, help gaining government contracts, networking opportunities to create business deals and assistance starting and growing their business. This is the fostering women need to exchange new ideas, and get support with important decisions like handling difficult customers, production issues and specific transactions.
Why focus on women?
Women are key components and agents of change in food production and farming. Gender equality is more than essential for the security, production, nutrition and supply of our food globally. The United Nations has 17 sustainable goals, one of them being gender equality, which act as a blueprint for our collective sustainable future. Women and children are at the center of this agenda, not only because children are our future, but many countries are not reaching key performance metrics primarily because women don’t have equal access there.
Gender equality isn’t the only UN Sustainable Goal SheTrades helps achieve. Other goals include:
No poverty Zero hunger Good health and wellbeing Quality education Gender equality Clean water and sanitization Affordable and clean energy Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Reduced inequalities Sustainable cities and communities Responsible consumption and production Climate action Life below water Life on land Peace, justice and strong institutions Partnerships
Because of COVID-19, the global, regional and local demand completely collapsed for food service.
Not only has the safety and quality been at risk for our health, planting and harvesting haven’t been happening properly because
32 min