Surita Sandosham

As we continue to celebrate #IYWF2026, I want to share some examples of how @Heifer has worked to understand the evolving needs of #women #farmers and the results we've seen: media-refresh.heifer.org/wp-content/upl… .

𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - At last year’s @CGIARgender Conference, @HeiferCEO shared this message: if we want real inclusion, we must include young people. Watch - youtube.com/watch?v=kiKJEK…

Thanks to everyone who attended this celebration of Jo Luck. Her contributions to @Heifer will never be forgotten. We’re proud to keep building on the strong foundation she created.

Hon. Minister of State @solangeuwituze of @RwandaAgri today hosted Verena Ruzibuka, Country Director of @HeiferRwanda, and her team at MINAGRI. Discussions focused on strengthening partnerships and advancing collaboration in dairy, small livestock & horticulture. #AgriUpdatesRw

“This will give hope to those who have lost hope, especially women.” For Omoba Christabel, unreliable electricity once meant spoiled poultry products, lost income, and the constant risk of losing her stock. This changed when she joined @HeiferNigeria In-Power Her Initiative, which supports women entrepreneurs. Today, reliable solar power has allowed Christabel to grow her business, increase her household income, and take on a visible leadership role in her community, offering real hope to other women who face the same challenges.

In case you missed the "She Feeds the World: Women Smallholders Driving Food Systems Change" webinar, watch it here: youtube.com/watch?v=zMBrcx… #IYWF2026 #Women #Farmers

21 March is #ForestDay! 🌳 Forests create jobs, support food systems, provide raw materials and energy, and offer spaces for nature. This year we highlight their vital role in sustaining economies. Here are 5️⃣ things to know: desapublications.un.org/un-desa-voice/…

Heifer International unveiled its 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑭𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓 campaign, '𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒆𝒍𝒍',” with a public webinar that created a platform for two of our women farmer partners to share their inspiring journeys. It was powerful to hear directly from women farmers and global leaders reflecting on how policies, partnerships, and investments can better support women smallholder farmers. Surita Sandosham, President and CEO of Heifer International, opened the session, noting that when women tap into their innate strengths, they have shown that they can become leaders in positive food systems transformation. She emphasised, “We strongly believe in the power of women who act collectively… where progress is driven by mutual trust, accountability, support, strength, and innovation.” She added that when women harness their potential, they are not just participants in food systems; they are shaping them. We also heard compelling reflections from the farmers themselves. Julian Simiyu shared how partnering with Heifer expanded training opportunities in her community, increasing poultry units from five to eight. She highlighted how gender trainings became foundational to their production and mindset shift. 'Because in Bungoma, they believe women cannot do anything. And the men were in the meeting, and they saw also that it is workable… right now, the empowerment that the women and the girls and the other entrepreneurs have in my community is that they can also sell the poultry.' Josselyn Vega from Ecuador reflected on how access to learning opportunities transformed participation within her community. “At first, it was a challenge to participate in the school because it was ingrained that the training was for men. Now most of our colleagues participate in training processes, and for us, that was happiness.” Additional takeaways from the conversation highlighted the power of collective action among women farmers, noting that when they organise and work together, they unlock new opportunities for income, leadership, and community growth. Access to training, markets, and strong partnerships enables women farmers to expand their enterprises and challenge long-standing barriers that have limited their participation in agricultural value chains. Speakers emphasised that listening to farmers’ voices is essential to designing policies and programmes that genuinely support resilient and inclusive food systems. On a lighter note, after the webinar, our Kenyan team could not resist the chance to grab a photo opp moment with Julian — celebrating her and all the incredible women farmers around the world. We will continue to host virtual events throughout the 𝑆ℎ𝑒 𝐻𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑇𝑒𝑙𝑙 campaign through October. Please visit the campaign’s public digital hub at heifer.org/IYWF to learn more. #SheHasAStoryToTell #IYWF2026 #WomenInAgriculture #FoodSystems @HeiferCEO @Heifer

Healthy plants are key to biodiversity, food diversity & sustainable agrifood systems for #FoodSecurity. At #CPM20, efforts must focus on stopping pests before they spread across borders through science, tech & collaboration, protecting #PlantHealth, farms & forests. #4Betters

These dairy training materials are designed to be used directly on farms, during trainings, farm visits or demonstration days. Flexible, visual and practical. 🔗openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.…

Thanks @Forbes' @daphneewingchow for moderating @Heifer's She Feeds the World: Women Smallholders Driving Food Systems Change event. #iywf2026

This conversation amongst these #women who are trailblazers in their communities and organizations has been inspiring. #IYWF

"For me, I think one of the very important part, and I think Jocelyn and Julian also mentioned that quite a bit, is how the structure is so important." — @ncdehaan @CGIARGender #IYWF2026

"...what you 2 women have done and many other women cooperative leaders is to start first by elevating your consciousness that, yes, you are economic engines. You are rural leaders. You are working together. You can supply that food..." — @Harvest2050_MZ @IICAnoticias'

"...right now, the empowerment that the women and the girls and the other entrepreneurs have in my community is that they can also sell the poultry." — Julian Simiyu, a farmer from #Kenya, supported by @HeiferKenya #IYWF2026 events.zoom.us/ev/AoOQuK_7O-C…

@daphneewingchow digs deep with thought-provoking questions: "For you as women, and Julian, you were talking about these conceptions about women can't do anything without men. I was wondering if each of you could talk to me about these challenges and overcoming stereotypes."

"So, with everyone involved, we have grown more, we have seen many opportunities, now most of our colleagues participate in training processes, and for us that was happiness." — Josselyn Vega, a farmer from #Ecuador supported by @HeiferEcuador #IYWF

"We participated in an agroecology training school that supported us again. So, first it was a challenge to participate in the school. Because normally it was very ingrained that the training was for the men." — Josselyn Vega, a farmer from #Ecuador supported by @HeiferEcuador

“…now when @Heifer came on board, now they asked us to expand so that other people can also have the same. So now we expanded from one poultry unit to 5...and slowly, in 2024, we reached 8.” — Julian Simiyu, a farmer from #Kenya, supported by @HeiferKenya #IYWF2026

"We started with the training on gender. Because in Bungoma, they believe women cannot do anything. And the men were in the meeting, and they saw also it is, uh… it is workable." — Julian Simiyu, a farmer from #Kenya, supported by @HeiferKenya #IYWF2026