Under the spotlight this week is SDG #5 – Gender Equality. Despite what we may think, gender equality isn’t just important for women, but is important for men and society as a whole as well. We take a look at what SDG #5 is all about, why it is important for agriculture, and how progressing opportunities for women in our sector is being achieved.
What is SDG #5 about?
SDG #5 seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Targets under SDG #5 cover a range of areas including:
- Ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls,
- Eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, including trafficking and sexual exploitation,
- Recognising and valuing unpaid care and domestic work,
- Ensuring women’s full and effective participation, and equal opportunities, in leadership at all decision-making levels in public, political and economic life.
While SDG #5 itself is about achieving gender equality, the work we do towards other SDG’s has a big impact on our progress towards SDG #5. The SDG’s don’t occur in isolation – they are part of bigger systems, therefore working towards one often has benefits for another.
Some of the other SDG’s that link with SDG #5 include:
- SDG #3 – Good Health and Wellbeing,
- SDG #4 – Quality Education,
- SDG #8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth,
- SDG #10 – Reduced Inequalities, and
- SDG #17 – Partnerships for the Goals
The benefits of working on these goals and progressing gender equality is profound, whether it be to achieve better outcomes in health, education, employment, poverty, and so much more. This doesn’t only benefit women, but benefits society as a whole.
Why is SDG #5 important for agriculture?
Women have a fundamental role in our agricultural sector and they often wear many hats. Whether it is being a mum, a farmer, a rural professional, all of the above or anything in between, women are a key cog in what drives the agricultural sector in New Zealand. While the work of our women in the sector is amazing, gender quality still has a way to go. We must ask ourselves, are we doing all that we can to ensure the advancement of women in our sector and our communities?
There are many opportunities for ensuring that women are able to add their value to our sector in different ways. These could include:
- Holding events during school hours so that parents can attend,
- Providing online opportunities for conferences and events to enable inclusion,
- Prioritising development of female leaders,
- Challenging the status quo and gender bias present in the industry,
- Looking to create new opportunities for rural women to remain engaged in the sector with decent work opportunities,
- Further understanding the unique challenges of rural women and female rural professionals, and targeting ways to create positive progress in these areas, and
- Further prioritising health initiatives that target rural women.
Progressing opportunities for Women in Agriculture
There are many initiatives and people who are advancing opportunities for women in our sector – unfortunately we can’t cover them all! We highlight the work of the Agri-Womens Development Trust, the Fairlight Foundation, and what we can gain by rising by lifting others.
Agri-Womens Development Trust
AWDT are big believers in what women have to offer the primary sector. With women making up half of the population, AWDT saw that women weren’t being involved in decision-making, whether it be on the farm or in the boardroom. Driven by a purpose to empower women to accelerate progress and change in the primary sector and rural communities, AWDT is having a big impact on progressing the leadership of women in our sector.
AWDT provides opportunities for women to take part in leadership, governance and personal development programmes that seek to equip women with skills, connections, and the mindset to be able to create change in the sector. Their programmes come highly recommended by women who have been through them, and they are also key in creating connections for life. You can find out more about their programmes at https://www.awdt.org.nz/
The Fairlight Foundation
Fairlight Station in Kingston, Northern Southland, is home to an on-farm training programme like no other. Under the Fairlight Foundation, this training programme is on a mission to foster and support the career advancement of women in the agriculture industry in New Zealand. Station owners, Doug and Mari Harpur, and station managers, Simon and Lou Wright, held a vision for many years that sought to see more women as leaders in New Zealand’s agricultural industry. In 2020 this vision came to life with Laura Koot, Executive Director at the Fairlight Foundation, being tasked with establishing the Fairlight Foundation on-farm training programme.
The Fairlight Foundation internship programme is focused on providing a well-rounded farming education for the interns, as well as developing their personal and professional skills. The rationale for this is not only to produce capable and well-rounded rural professionals, but also that these women can inspire other women and become mentors themselves. Fairlight Foundations’s aspirations are that their graduates can take on any role and advance their career in the agricultural sector, both with confidence and capability, in whichever part of the sector they choose to pursue.
The stories of the graduates of the Fairlight Foundation internship programme are inspiring and well worth reading. One thing that is clear is that the Fairlight Foundation, and its internship programme, is founded on strong core values that set interns up for success well beyond the intern year, with skills, confidence and a work ethic that sets them up for life.
You can read more about the Fairlight Foundation and internship programme at https://www.thefairlightfoundation.org/
We rise by lifting others
As well as the initiatives that seek to enhance opportunity for women in the sector, a key component of gender equality and progress for women comes through the work that is done to lift each other up. Communities and networks, both social and professional, have a huge impact on allowing women to be valued in our sector and communities. There is immense power in the opportunity that comes from women lifting each other up, supporting each other, and helping each other to progress in our sector, personally and professionally. Of course, lifting women up in our sector isn’t something that is done by women alone, but is supported by a range of men who also see value in women in our sector. A rising tide lifts all boats, and continuing to move forward with community, connection, support, and championing each other will also continue to strengthen our efforts towards gender equality and the advancement of women in our sector and communities.