International Year of the Woman Farmer: When Women Thrive, Communities Rise

When we talk about poverty and food security, we are really talking about people — families working hard to provide and build better lives. And if we want solutions that are both effective and lasting, we must look beyond the symptoms of poverty and address the deeper barriers that keep people from moving forward.

Around the world, women are disproportionately represented at the bottom of the economic pyramid. They work hard, contribute significantly to their households and communities, and yet are routinely excluded from traditional financial systems. For women farmers in particular, this exclusion is one of the greatest barriers to economic progress.

This is why supporting women is not a matter of preference, but of impact. The UN has dedicated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. It is a timely reminder of what evidence has long shown: when women are included, the benefits extend far beyond individuals. They strengthen families, food systems, and entire communities.

Women are central, yet excluded

Today, three quarters of the world’s poorest people live in rural areas and depend on farming for their livelihoods. Women make up about 40% of the world’s agricultural workforce, yet they face significant barriers including limited access to finance, land, markets, training, and education. These constraints limit their productivity and economic opportunity.

For many women, especially those living at the base of the economic pyramid, traditional financial systems remain out of reach. When access to finance is limited, so too is the ability to invest in productivity, manage risk, and build a more secure future.

This is why financial inclusion matters not as an add-on, but as a foundation for lasting economic progress.

What the evidence shows

Across Opportunity International’s global network, which serves millions of people each year, the evidence is clear and consistent.

• The vast majority of Opportunity clients are women, reflecting both need and demand.
• Women demonstrate strong repayment rates, even in challenging economic conditions.
• When women increase their income, they are more likely to reinvest it in their families, improving children’s education, nutrition, health, and housing.
• Programs that prioritize women show stronger household resiliencein the face of shocks, whether economic, health-related, or climate-driven.

These outcomes are not accidental. They are the result of intentionally designing financial services that meet women where they are, programs that recognize their realities and build on their strengths.

Why this matters for agriculture

Agriculture is increasingly affected by climate shock, market volatility, and rising input costs. For smallholder farmers, these pressures can threaten entire livelihoods. For women farmers who are already operating at the margins, the risks are even greater.

Without access to credit, savings, insurance, and training it is nearly impossible to adapt to adverse weather events or invest in improved practices. But when women farmers are included, the results can be transformative.

This is what we see through Opportunity International Canada’s programs.

CLIMB Ghana: Unlocking opportunity for women farmers

Through the CLIMB program in Ghana, Opportunity International Canada in partnership with Global Affairs Canada, is supporting women farmers and entrepreneurs to move beyond subsistence to build sustainable livelihoods. By combining access to finance with training, coaching, and market linkages, CLIMB addresses both economic and social barriers that keep women at the bottom of the pyramid.

Women participating in CLIMB are not just accessing loans; they are gaining confidence, skills, and a greater voice in household and community decision-making. As incomes stabilize and grow, families are better able to withstand climate shocks and plan for the future.

Programs like CLIMB in Ghana illustrate what inclusion can look like in practice. Not charity, but partnership. Not short-term relief, but long-term opportunity.

Malawi: Building climate resilience for women at the base of the pyramid

In Malawi, where climate shocks increasingly threaten food security and livelihoods, Opportunity International Canada is supporting climate-resilient agriculture programs that place women at the centre.

Women farmers are receiving access to financial tools, climate-smart agricultural training, and support to adopt practices that improve yields while protecting natural resources. These programs recognize a simple truth: resilience is not possible without inclusion.

When women farmers are equipped to adapt through diversified crops, improved inputs, and better access to markets, the benefits extend beyond individual households. Entire communities become more food secure and resilient in the face of climate uncertainty.

Inclusion is not optional

At Opportunity International, we do not focus on women because it is popular or symbolic. We focus on women because exclusion from financial systems is one of the root causes of poverty and women have borne the cost of that exclusion for generations.

This year invites us to look differently at women farmers — not as recipients of support, but as economic leaders whose inclusion strengthens families, communities, and food systems. Supporting women farmers is not a side issue. It is central to building a more just and resilient future.

When women farmers are included, families thrive. Communities grow stronger. And progress lasts far beyond a single season or harvest.

Progress toward ending poverty and strengthening food security mean women are fully included, not at the margins, but at the centre of our efforts.