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At a time when the international community is celebrating women, data from Africa's largest sub-regional research organization shows an impressive rate of technology adoption by women.

Of the approximately 9 million direct beneficiaries of the West African Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP), nearly 4.5 million were women, representing around 49% of the total number. Overall, the WAPP has indirectly benefited some 56 million people and trained a new generation of agricultural researchers. Over the past 10 years, 3 out of every 10 researchers trained by the 13 West African countries involved in the WAPP were women.

According to experts, compared with the initial baseline data, this number is significant. CORAF's Gender, Youth and Social Equity department has worked closely with gender specialists in implementing countries to design and promote gender-sensitive technologies and climate-smart varieties.

Prior to the implementation of the WAPP, CORAF led a multi-donor research project called the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF).

According to an independent evaluation by the MDTF, more women than expected have accessed, adopted and used technologies to improve agricultural productivity in West Africa over the period 2013-2016.

"Their (women's) gains in technology adoption and innovation have been impressive with women approaching parity with men in these areas," the report concluded.

Compared with baseline data from 2013, when the MDTF project began, existing data shows that the situation of women had improved considerably by the end of the project. Women have almost doubled their participation compared to the target. Specifically, nearly 44,000 women were reached compared to the baseline of 22,000, representing a 200% increase.

Overall, the project reached 100,000 people in countries and communities, against a target of 82,000.

"The 123% result, which exceeds the target, is entirely attributable to the increase in the number of women involved in innovation platforms.

According to CORAF's gender policy, women account for 70% of the active agricultural population in the West and Central Africa region.

Addressing gender issues is an important part of all CORAF interventions. Since the adoption of the policy in 2010, significant progress has been made in addressing women's concerns regarding access, adoption and use of agricultural technologies and innovations in West and Central Africa.

We need to work harder

At a ceremony held on March 08, 2019 to celebrate working women at CORAF headquarters in Dakar, the organization's executive director, Dr. Abdou Tenkouano, expressed his delight at the progress made in reaching women, young people and other marginalized groups.

"Despite this significant contribution to the socio-economic empowerment of women, they still face many challenges, and in our new strategic direction, women are at the heart of our interventions," said Dr. Abdou Tenkouano.

ECOWAS impressed

The WAPP is an initiative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It is financed by the World Bank and technically coordinated by CORAF.

The representative of the ECOWAS Center for Gender Promotion,^Ms. Aïssata Ba, was present at CORAF on March 08, 2019, for the celebration of International Women's Day.

^Ms. Ba expressed her satisfaction with the work accomplished by CORAF in implementing the PPAAO.

"CORAF is a solution to women's problems," she declared.

Read the speech by Dr Abdou TENKOUANO, Executive Director of CORAF, on the occasion of International Women's Day.