Women have a very important but under-recognised role in various parts of many agricultural value chains. They work in production, processing and trading but lack ownership of land and other means of production. They often benefit less from the gains. Addressing these gender gaps in the value chain will help building more robust and efficient chains, fighting poverty and social injustice.

Therefore, Agri-ProFocus (in cooperation with Hivos, ICCO Cooperation and KIT) has developed a short film that gives the arguments for gender inclusive value chains. This is illustrated with an animated cartoon on gender inclusive dairy value chain development in Nicaragua. The film also shows the practical approach developed by Agri-ProFocus to coach practitioners to support gender inclusive value chains.

Since 2008, Agri-ProFocus has been working to improve gender equity in agricultural value chain development. We do not do this alone, but in close cooperation with our members: HIVOS, ICCO Cooperation, the Royal Tropical Institute and our local Agri-Hubs. The gender in value chain network and the online-platform are well known sources for sharing experiences, concepts and tools. Cooperation within the network has resulted in important sources like the book Challenging Chains to Change, and a toolkit. Additionally, it was felt that professionals need guidance to put gender sensitive ways of working into practice.

Coaching track
Amongst network members an approach was developed to provide on-the-job coaching to professionals working in an agricultural value chain. This systematized approach combines tailor made coaching based on own cases with joint events, including training and exchange of experiences.

Agri-ProFocus currently is developing a pool of coaches who combine gender ánd value chain expertise. National coaches are being trained, receive backstopping from experts and find assistance amongst peers. Coaching experiences and resources are systematized and shared.

With this approach experience has been gained in four East-African countries. It is now gradually being unrolled into other countries, first in Africa, with a view on developing a global network of professionals in gender in value chains.

Are you interested in participating in a gender in value chain coaching track? Then contact the Agri-Hub coordination in your country or visit the Gender in Value Chains platform: http://genderinvaluechains.ning.com/