From the fertile lands of Esmeraldas province on Ecuador’s Pacific coast to the ancestral forests of the Amazon, over 100 women have been cultivating not only cocoa, coffee, guayusa, and organic plantain, but also hope, empowerment and equality, shaping their own futures through Gender Agendas.
To strengthen women’s empowerment and advance gender equality in agri-food systems, in 2024 we brought together five producer organisations to develop Gender Agendas for five different value chains – cocoa, coffee, guayusa, plantain, and quinoa. These agendas place women farmers at the heart of decision-making and solutions in their communities, recognising them as key actors in identifying challenges and shaping a more inclusive future.
"We have pushed forward and achieved important milestones. As Amazonian women, we will keep fighting", say representatives of the RUKU KAWSAY association, capturing the spirit behind this initiative.
This work is part of the CREA project, led by Rikolto in partnership with ANFAB, ESPOL, COSPE and the KU Leuven, with funding from the European Union. Through CREA, we are expanding market opportunities for fresh and processed products from Ecuadorian MSMEs and producer organisations in Europe. At the same time, we support the social and economic empowerment of women by promoting sustainable, inclusive production models that strengthen their autonomy and leadership. COSPE leads and implements the project’s gender initiatives.
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"We work to empower women by bringing together different sectors of society, including academia and the business sector, to achieve our shared goals. We also promote initiatives that strengthen the economic autonomy of women as a key tool for expanding their socio-economic opportunities."
Over nine months, women from 5 producer organisations across the Morona Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe, Esmeraldas, Orellana, and Chimborazo provinces have worked collectively to shape their Gender Agendas. A Gender Agenda is a strategic framework co-created by communities—especially by women—that identifies and addresses the specific challenges and opportunities they face. It outlines priorities and actions for their empowerment but also serves as a roadmap for integrating their perspectives into public policies.
Indeed, this collaborative effort brought together grassroots organisations and local authorities to align women’s priorities with public policies at district and provincial levels. The result? A stronger voice in decision-making and greater recognition of their role in shaping the future of food systems.
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"What inspired me most was realising that women in other organisations share the same challenges. Through the Gender Agendas, we have identified these issues, found solutions, and built connections with local authorities so they understand our reality, our work, and our ambitions. Now, more people—local and provincial authorities—know who we are, what we do, and what we stand for."
The Gender Agendas were developed in collaboration with the following organisations:
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Last December, over 35 women from the organisations ACRIM, APEOSAE, ASOMURCHOQ, and RUKU KAWSAY came together in the city of Cuenca to share their achievements and challenges in developing their Gender Agendas. This meeting provided a platform to highlight common issues, strengthen collective capacities, and foster collaboration networks between the different territories in which the women live.
The exchange of experiences in developing and socialising their agendas revealed a profound truth: despite the geographic, cultural, and social distances between them, the challenges women face are remarkably similar. The women’s presentations touched on key issues such as gender-based violence, the burden of domestic labour, the often-invisible role of women in organisational spaces, limited opportunities for young people, and the effects of climate change. More importantly, they shared the solutions and actions emerging from their own communities.
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APEOSAE’s women spoke out about domestic workload and gender-based violence, and emphasised the need to tackle environmental pollution, improve public health and transportation services, and promote a more equitable distribution of care tasks. Through their Gender Agenda, they are determined to raise awareness and drive changes within their communities.
The women of ASOMURCHOQ, in turn, addressed the pressing issue of silenced gender-based violence in their territories, alongside teenage pregnancies and the lack of opportunities for youth. One of their key proposals was the creation of a seed bank for ancestral crops, underscoring the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and ensuring sustainability in chocolate production.
The women from RUKU KAWSAY shared their journey of exporting guayusa and their plans to train community gender promoters. Their hard work has already paid off, securing over $5,000 in funding for a pilot project focused on training advocates to prevent gender-based violence.
Meanwhile, the women from ACRIM emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to gender-based violence, as they work to establish community brigades in Chinchipe to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence in each parish. “Even though we face criticism, we keep moving forward because we know our voices deserve to be heard,” stated one of their leaders.
“I feel our voice is growing louder; we are becoming more visible, and this helps each of us in our organisations. We’ve built a network of support that strengthens us all,” Laura shares with a broad smile.
In many rural communities, women are the heart of production and the backbone of their families' livelihoods. They play an essential but often overlooked role as guardians of the land and agents of change who contribute to both economic and social development.
Listen to Laura Pincay, Patricia Uchuari, Liliana Sozoranga, Luciana Valdez, Sara Zhunio, Estela Guzmán, and Aurora Tunay as they share about their daily work, the journey they have undertaken in developing their Gender Agendas, and their leadership in advancing their communities.
As these women continue to shape and lead the change in Ecuador's food systems, their efforts not only empower themselves but also drive a more sustainable, inclusive future for all. By centring women in agri-food systems, we unlock their full potential and ensure that food systems thrive and grow with equity at their core.
(Visuals by Pietro Paolini (TerraProject) for COSPE)
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