This Action Aid paper finds that rural women are not only among those most vulnerable to food shortages, but more importantly, they are the driving force behind African agriculture. Traditional forms of food aid have largely failed to recognise and enhance the productive capacity of women, and this in turn means that food aid has been ineffective in contributing to lasting solutions to hunger. While short-term emergency food aid is often essential, it must be balanced with longer-term assistance and more comprehensive programs for agricultural development that are designed to support women’s crucial contributions to agricultural production and their commitment to feed their families.
