Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar
Empowerment in Crisis: Gender-Responsive Solutions for Fragile Food Systems
Co-organized by IFPRI and the CGIAR Science Program on Food Frontiers and Security | Part of the Fragility to Stability Seminar Series
November 12, 2025
Crises—whether driven by conflict, climate shocks, or economic instability—rarely affect everyone equally. Women and girls often bear the heaviest burdens, facing heightened food insecurity, disrupted livelihoods, and increased risks to their health and safety. Yet, women are not only victims of crisis—they are powerful drivers of resilience and recovery. “Empowerment in Crisis: Gender-Responsive Solutions for Fragile Food Systems” brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to examine how gender inequalities are deepened by crises, and how response strategies can be designed to reverse these patterns. The discussion will highlight practical approaches that place women at the center of crisis response and recovery—strengthening their voices, protecting their rights, and harnessing their leadership to build more resilient and equitable food systems.
Introduction and Opening Remarks
Anna Okello, Director, Food Frontiers and Security Science Program, CGIAR
The State of Gender Equality in Fragile Settings
Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny, Director of Communications, Afrobarometer
Promoting Women’s Empowerment Amid Fragility: Key Findings from Nigeria and Malawi
Vivian Effem-Bassey, Project Manager, ActionAid Nigeria
Jordan Kyle, Research Fellow, IFPRI
Agnes Quisumbing, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Panel Discussion
Aletheia Amalia Donald, Senior Economist, World Bank Africa Gender Innovation Lab
Suzan Gopuk, Senior Technical Advisor – Food Security and Livelihood, GIZ Nigeria
Nkechi Ilochi-Kanny, Director Business Development and Innovation, ActionAid Nigeria
Moderator and Closing Remarks
Katrina Kosec, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/empowerment-in-crisis-gender-responsive-solutions-for-fragile-food-systems/
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Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar
Empowerment in Crisis: Gender-Responsive Solutions for Fragile Food Systems
Co-organized by IFPRI and the CGIAR Science Program on Food Frontiers and Security | Part of the Fragility to Stability Seminar Series
November 12, 2025
Crises—whether driven by conflict, climate shocks, or economic instability—rarely affect everyone equally. Women and girls often bear the heaviest burdens, facing heightened food insecurity, disrupted livelihoods, and increased risks to their health and safety. Yet, women are not only victims of crisis—they are powerful drivers of resilience and recovery. “Empowerment in Crisis: Gender-Responsive Solutions for Fragile Food Systems” brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to examine how gender inequalities are deepened by crises, and how response strategies can be designed to reverse these patterns. The discussion will highlight practical approaches that place women at the center of crisis response and recovery—strengthening their voices, protecting their rights, and harnessing their leadership to build more resilient and equitable food systems.
Introduction and Opening Remarks
Anna Okello, Director, Food Frontiers and Security Science Program, CGIAR
The State of Gender Equality in Fragile Settings
Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny, Director of Communications, Afrobarometer
Promoting Women’s Empowerment Amid Fragility: Key Findings from Nigeria and Malawi
Vivian Effem-Bassey, Project Manager, ActionAid Nigeria
Jordan Kyle, Research Fellow, IFPRI
Agnes Quisumbing, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Panel Discussion
Aletheia Amalia Donald, Senior Economist, World Bank Africa Gender Innovation Lab
Suzan Gopuk, Senior Technical Advisor – Food Security and Livelihood, GIZ Nigeria
Nkechi Ilochi-Kanny, Director Business Development and Innovation, ActionAid Nigeria
Moderator and Closing Remarks
Katrina Kosec, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/empowerment-in-crisis-gender-responsive-solutions-for-fragile-food-systems/
Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
Global Food Policy Report
IFPRI Policy Seminar
2025 Global Food Policy Report | Food Policy: Lessons and Priorities for a Changing World
May 28, 2025
Over the last 50 years, the world’s food systems have evolved tremendously amid major economic, environmental, and social changes. Throughout this period, policy research has played a critical role in providing evidence and analysis to inform decision-making that supports agricultural growth, better livelihoods, and improved food security, nutrition, and well-being for all.
IFPRI’s 2025 Global Food Policy Report—a special edition marking the Institute’s 50th anniversary. This year’s flagship report examines the evolution and impact of food policy research and assesses how it can better equip policymakers to meet future challenges and opportunities.
Despite meaningful progress over the last half-century, conflict, climate change, rising inequality, and geopolitical tensions remain major challenges to reducing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. As we approach 2050, policy research and analysis will be essential to help build sustainable healthy food systems in this changing world.
Thematic presentations from IFPRI’s leading researchers will explore the role of evidence in shaping policies over the past 50 years, as well as the potential for research to address emerging challenges and opportunities.
A keynote lecture by Michael Kremer, Chair of the Innovation Commission and joint winner of the 2019 Economics Nobel Prize, will address innovations for the future. Following these remarks, a distinguished panel of experts will discuss priorities for policy research in the decades to come.
Welcome Remarks
Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR
Unveiling of IFPRI’s flagship Global Food Policy Report
Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI
Christopher B. Barrett, Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University
Thematic GFPR presentations
James Thurlow, Director, Foresight and Policy Modeling (FPM) Unit, IFPRI
Ruth Hill, Director of Markets, Trade and Institutions (MTI) Unit, IFPRI
Steven Were Omamo, Director, Development Strategies and Governance (DSG) Unit and Director for Africa, IFPRI
Shalini Roy, Senior Research Fellow, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) Unit, IFPRI and Agnes Quisumbing, Senior Research Fellow, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) Unit, IFPRI
Stuart Gillespie, Nonresident Senior Fellow, IFPRI and Deanna Olney, Director, Nutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH), IFPRI
David Spielman, Director, Innovation Policy and Scaling (IPS) Unit, IFPRI
Keynote Address and Strategy Discussion: A Focus on Innovations for the Future
Michael Kremer, Professor in Economics; Director of Development Innovation Lab; and Faculty Director, Development Economics Center, University of Chicago; and 2019 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences
Forward Looking Panel Discussion on Food Policy Research Priorities
Moderator: Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, IFPRI
Alice Ruhweza, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Ramesh Chand, Member, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog)
Joan Matji, Global Director, Child Nutrition and Development, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Ruben Echeverria, Senior Advisor, Agriculture Development, Gates Foundation
Santiago Alba-Corral, Vice-President, Programs and Partnerships, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada
Marianne Grosclaude, Practice Manager, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, World Bank
Moderator
Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI
Links:
More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/2025-global-food-policy-report-food-policy-research-for-a-brighter-future-looking-towards-2050/
Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
IFPRI Podcast
Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar
Empowerment in Crisis: Gender-Responsive Solutions for Fragile Food Systems
Co-organized by IFPRI and the CGIAR Science Program on Food Frontiers and Security | Part of the Fragility to Stability Seminar Series
November 12, 2025
Crises—whether driven by conflict, climate shocks, or economic instability—rarely affect everyone equally. Women and girls often bear the heaviest burdens, facing heightened food insecurity, disrupted livelihoods, and increased risks to their health and safety. Yet, women are not only victims of crisis—they are powerful drivers of resilience and recovery. “Empowerment in Crisis: Gender-Responsive Solutions for Fragile Food Systems” brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to examine how gender inequalities are deepened by crises, and how response strategies can be designed to reverse these patterns. The discussion will highlight practical approaches that place women at the center of crisis response and recovery—strengthening their voices, protecting their rights, and harnessing their leadership to build more resilient and equitable food systems.
Introduction and Opening Remarks
Anna Okello, Director, Food Frontiers and Security Science Program, CGIAR
The State of Gender Equality in Fragile Settings
Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny, Director of Communications, Afrobarometer
Promoting Women’s Empowerment Amid Fragility: Key Findings from Nigeria and Malawi
Vivian Effem-Bassey, Project Manager, ActionAid Nigeria
Jordan Kyle, Research Fellow, IFPRI
Agnes Quisumbing, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Panel Discussion
Aletheia Amalia Donald, Senior Economist, World Bank Africa Gender Innovation Lab
Suzan Gopuk, Senior Technical Advisor – Food Security and Livelihood, GIZ Nigeria
Nkechi Ilochi-Kanny, Director Business Development and Innovation, ActionAid Nigeria
Moderator and Closing Remarks
Katrina Kosec, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/empowerment-in-crisis-gender-responsive-solutions-for-fragile-food-systems/
Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription