On March 8th every year, women are celebrated across the world. On this day, the world comes together to exalt the vital role that women play in economic, social, cultural and political development for themselves, their families and communities at large. In this celebration, there is also a reflection on the plight women face on this path to development.
Food Rights Alliance a coalition of members advocating for the Right to adequate food, recognizes most importantly that women are indeed a linchpin in regional development. This is evidenced by the fact that women are the core actors on the frontlines of food production in Uganda. On this basis therefore, FRA views empowering women not only as the precise thing to do but also the smart thing to do. The empowerment of women should be seen as a poverty reduction strategy anywhere in the world and thus the need to heavily invest in women as potential resources in the war to eradicate hunger and malnutrition.
While envisioning a world free from hunger and malnutrition, FRA in partnership with her members recognizes and works towards highlighting the need to enhance women’s resilience to shocks of exclusion and poverty in relation to the roles they play in strengthening economic security in Uganda. FRA calls for much greater attention to women in promoting development, ensuring food security and food sovereignty in the country. The task of elevating women from the bottom of the power pyramid and live up to their potential calls for an all hands on deck mentality and thus, we each have a role to play, but we can make even more progress together.
Regina Kabasomi
FRA Secretariat
