Statement by H. E. Sahle-work Zewde, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Officially Declare Open African Union Commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women under the Theme: “Strengthening Rural Women’s Contribution to Sustainable Food Systems through The African Continental Free Trade Area’’.

                                      15 October, 2021

•  Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission.
• Amb. Josefa Lionel Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, And Sustainable Environment of the African Union.
• Hon. Angela Thokozile Didiza, Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, South Africa.
• AUC Commissioners.
• African Union Permanent Representatives and Ambassadors accredited to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the African Union.
• Distinguished Speakers and Guests.
• Great African Rural Women.
• Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am deeply honored to be the Special Guest at this year’s commemoration of International Day of the Rural Women celebrated globally under the theme “Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All” with the African Union tailoring it to the Theme: “Strengthening Rural Women’s Contribution to Sustainable Food Systems through the African Continental Free Trade Area’’ a true reflection of the realities in our continent. The African Union deserves my commendation for the theme which is very topical.

Your Excellences, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentleman

It is a known fact that women constitute the majority in Africa accounting for 51 percent of the population. Rural women in Africa, whether in Ethiopia as it is the case in several other African countries are at the heart of the food supply chain – production, handling and storage, processing and packaging, distribution and marketing, and consumption. Despite the vital role that rural women play in the agricultural sector, they do not enjoy the fruits of their labor and suffer from deep-rooted marginalization. As unsung heroes, they are silent doers, not fishing or hunting for compliment of their achievements.

The COVID-19 pandemic, along with climate change is compounding the situation and reversing the few hard won gains on women empowerment in Africa after Beijing. Giving priority and more opportunities to women is not an option but a necessity. Besides being a matter of rights, it is also a manifestation of good economics. You cannot thrive when you ignore the majority of your population. 

Your Excellences, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentleman 

Ethiopia is still predominantly rural with as many as 78 per cent of the population residing in rural areas as at 2020. We are surpassed only by Malawi (83 per cent) and South Sudan (80 per cent) in Africa. The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has expressed its firm resolve to achieve gender equality and promote women’s empowerment especially rural women. The initiatives of the Government on gender mainstreaming are to further accelerate progress towards realizing Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063 and Goal 5 of the SDGs that aims to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women in the public and private spheres and to undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources and access to ownership of property. As such, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) has formulated several laws and policies to promote gender equality. In particularly, Article 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia clearly stipulates the rights of women. The government has also been promoting the mainstreaming of gender in all its development policies and strategies to address gender inequality. My position as President of the Republic is an eloquent testimony that Ethiopia is not doing badly in the realm of implementation of these policies and programmes.

Your Excellences, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentleman 

As we commemorate this day, we all know that African Rural Women are confronting several challenges including poor access to credit and limited market access. I make the clarion call today to our governments to implement more policies and programmes targeted at assisting rural women

 to create more businesses and secure their own livelihoods.

I support the proposals on the table today that will benefit African rural women including setting up an innovative financing mechanism that will enable them to participate and reap the benefits from the newly minted African Continental Free Trade Area. Following the principle of “leaving no one behind” as enshrined in Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, we also need a Policy on Women in Agriculture that will prioritize and shape laws on access to and control over productive resources, services, income, markets and decent employment; and the reduction of women’s work burden.

I also call upon the member states of the African Union to domesticate the Sustainable Agriculture Mechanization Framework developed by the African Union and implement the continental agenda of ‘’Confining the Hoe which has been used since the medieval times to the Museum’’ to promote agriculture mechanization among women across the agricultural value chain. This would boost productivity, reduce the drudgery faced by women farmers and encourage young women to embrace agriculture.

Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now my singular honour to formally declare open this Event.

I thank you all for your attention.