International Forum 'Food Policy, Rural Development and Gender Equality in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia: Current Trends and the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic'

About the Forum

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Institute for Agrarian Studies of the National Research University Higher School of Economics organize an International Forum "Food Policy, Rural Development and Gender Equality in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia: current trends and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic".

During three virtual sessions, participants (policy-makers, practitioners, civil society organizations including academia and independent experts, as well as a private sector, farmers and farmer organizations) will discuss current issues in agriculture and food systems policies and their connection to gender inequalities in rural areas in the region, with focus on challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also promising practices that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and propose solutions for moving towards transformative and inclusive food systems.

The webinars are expected to contribute to a regional policy dialogue on the issues pertaining to sustainability of food systems in the region, rural youth and women, through creation of a broad expert platform, including representatives of international organizations, government bodies, academic and business communities, farmers and social organizations from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Summary of the discussions and recommendations will be published in English and Russian, and shared with the governments of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia for better informed socially inclusive and gender-responsive policies for agricultural and rural development. The outcomes of the discussions will feed into the on-going FAO-led Regional Dialogue and its concluding event to be held in May 2021, as well as will be communicated to the UN Systems Summit via the Dialogues Gateway.

Programme

March 10
March 12
March 17

13:00 – 15:00 CET

Gender Responsive Agricultural аnd Food Systems Policies: Status аnd Prospects in Europe аnd Central Asia Region

The webinar is part of the Regional Dialogue in the preparation for the UN Food Systems Summit

Moderator

Evgenia Serova

Director for Agricultural Policy of HSE

Introductory Statement

Vladimir Rakhmanin

FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia

Keynote Speakers

Susan Kaaria

Senior Gender Officer, Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equity, FAO

Topic: “Gender and food security issues: cases from global practices”

Marija Babovic

Professor, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade and SeCons Development Initiative Group

Topic "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Accessibility of Rural Women to Employment and Assets"

Anna Kanshieva

Programme Manager for Asia & Europe, Slow Food International

Topic: "The Potential of Grassroot Women's Groups to Support the Transition to Sustainable Food Systems"

Mavzuna Karimova

Head of the Department of Economic Theory and Foreign Economic Relations, Institute of Economics and Demography, Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan

Topic: "The Problems of Development of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas of Tajikistan"

Lyubov Ovchintseva

Leading Research Fellow Center for Agrarian Studies, Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

Topic: "Russian Agri-food Policy and Rural Development in Focus of Women’s Gender Interests"

Roman Romashkin

Deputy Director of the Eurasian Center for Food Security, Lomonosov Moscow State University

Topic: "Agri-food Policies and Agricultural Development in Central Asia and the South Caucasus: Gender Issues, Achievements and Prospects"

Webinar’s Reporter

Ekaterina Galaktionova

Expert, Department of Agrarian Markets

11:00-13:30 CET