The WFO President joined a CSocD64 side event, highlighting how stronger cooperatives advance gender equality and inclusive social and economic development.

On Thursday, 5 February, the President of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), Arnold Puech d’Alissac, together with WFO Secretary General Andrea Porro, participated in the 64th Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD64) virtual side event, “Strengthening Grassroots Cooperative Institutions as Catalysts for Social Justice, Economic Resilience and Gender Equality,” organised by WFO Member Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW).

ICNW supports nearly 600,000 rural women across four southern Indian states, strengthening their leadership and economic independence—particularly in agriculture—through small-scale loans.

The event featured remarks from ICNW President Dr Nandini Azad, followed by interventions from high-level speakers and contributions by women leaders from local communities.

During the WFO intervention, the Secretary General highlighted the importance of creating a platform for dialogue on cooperatives, social justice, and gender equality, particularly meaningful in the context of the Commission for Social Development and timely as the global community transitions from the International Year of Cooperatives in 2025 towards the International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026.

Screenshot from the event “Strengthening Grassroots Cooperative Institutions as Catalysts for Social Justice, Economic Resilience and Gender Equality″; Image courtesy of the Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW)

Building on this perspective, the WFO President reflected on the critical role of cooperative institutions in bridging the gap between policy objectives and everyday realities faced by farmers, particularly women.

Agricultural cooperatives, present in almost every country, play a key role in supporting food security, economic stability and poverty reduction. By working collectively and sharing resources, they help farmers increase their income and strengthen their position in food systems.

Through access to knowledge, training, services, markets and capacity-building opportunities, cooperatives foster both economic growth and social development within rural communities.

As the WFO President noted, “Cooperatives are not only economic organisations. They are about people. And they are especially important for women.”

Women Farmers, Gender Equality and Social Justice

Women farmers play a central role in agriculture and rural development, accounting for nearly half of the global agricultural workforce. Despite this, many women continue to face barriers in accessing land, finance, inputs, and leadership roles, and are often excluded from decision-making processes that affect their lives and livelihoods.

In this context, women-led and women-only cooperatives help address these challenges by creating spaces where women can organise, lead, and succeed. The WFO President stressed that strengthening cooperative institutions at the community level remains essential to advance gender equality and social justice. With the right support and fair policies, cooperatives can ensure that women’s voices are heard and their leadership recognised.

“Investing in women farmers and in women’s cooperative leadership is not only fair. It is also smart,” the WFO President stated. “It contributes to stronger communities, more inclusive economies and more resilient food systems.”

Looking ahead, the WFO President recalled that the United Nations International Year of Women Farmers 2026 marks a critical opportunity to move to concrete action, encouraging stronger support for women farmers’ leadership, greater recognition of their essential contributions, and continued efforts to remove the barriers they face.

Cover photo: Screenshot from the event “Strengthening Grassroots Cooperative Institutions as Catalysts for Social Justice, Economic Resilience and Gender Equality″; Image courtesy of the Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW)