News Overview

By Tamsin Zandstra, Roos Verstraeten, Ampa Dogui Diatta, Loty Diop, and Mariama Touré March 7, 2025

Gender equality has never been more important. Thirty years after the Beijing Declaration, a landmark United Nations resolution to promote gender equality, progress on women’s rights and empowerment has been uneven, and gains made toward gender equality remain fragile. Bold, imaginative and evidence-driven commitment to equitable food systems is more critical now than ever before as climate change, conflict, and

Livestock is a key sector in Uganda, contributing approximately 4.3% of the country’s gross domestic product. Nearly 60% of households depend on livestock for their livelihoods, with women and youth playing crucial roles in livestock production. However, restrictive social and gender norms limit their ability to fully benefit from business and economic opportunities in the sector. To address barriers in

2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a pivotal moment for women’s rights globally. While the Declaration has undeniably propelled women’s empowerment across numerous nations, the journey toward gender equality in agriculture remains unfinished. Empowering women in agriculture is not merely a matter of fairness; it’s a critical step toward achieving broader sustainable development

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a CGIAR Research Center, officially welcomed Dr Himanshu Pathak as Director General during an Inauguration Ceremony on 6 March 2025. The hybrid event brought together key stakeholders in agricultural research and development, with in-person gatherings in India and virtual participation across African and other locations. In his address, Dr Pathak

Before joining ICRISAT as Director General, Dr Himanshu Pathak served as Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Government of India and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), one of the world’s largest agricultural research and education organizations. Dr Pathak has over 32 years of experience in climate resilience, soil and crop

In response to growing climate change effects, smallholder bean farmers in Kenya’s Bomet and Homabay counties are using novel and sustainable agricultural techniques to boost resilience and production. By including helpful insects like bees and diversifying their fields with fruit trees (mangoes, avocados, and oranges), these farmers are mitigating the negative impacts of erratic weather patterns, fostering biodiversity, and enhancing

Climate change is becoming a driver of internal migration in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the World Bank’s Groundswell Report predicting at least 86 million climate migrants. In 2024, CGIAR FOCUS Climate Security in partnership with Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), and the Climate and Migration Network (CMARN), launched the Africa Climate Mobility Academy to promote high-quality research on climate, peace, and