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Home » Issues » Human rights » Gender equality

Gender equality

Harriet Gimono, Busulani agronomist, at Mt. Elgon.

Photo credit: Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd.

A sustainable future is only possible if women and men, girls and boys can thrive. In agriculture, addressing gender inequality and promoting women’s rights is an essential part of advancing human rights and sustainable economic development of families and communities. It’s also an often overlooked climate solution and an effective way to increase farm productivity.

This page features information about the Rainforest Alliance's work to promote gender equality and women’s rights and links to all our related content and resources.

Working together with rural communities, companies, governments, and local civil society organizations, we promote a gender transformative approach through our certification program, inclusive landscape management, tailored supply chain services, and advocacy. We address root causes of gender inequality and help women and girls forge their own paths through improved access to education, leadership training, and increased representation in local decision-making bodies. This doesn’t just benefit women; it benefits everyone, regardless of their gender.

Quick Links


WHAT’S IN OUR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM? GENDER EQUALITY

Our certification program promotes gender equality and women’s rights by giving farms and companies tools to understand the gender gaps and issues in their operations, their root causes and how to address those.

GENDER EQUALITY POSITION PAPER

Download this paper for an in-depth look at the Rainforest Alliance’s position and approach to advancing gender equality and promotion of women’s rights.

PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS ACROSS SECTORS AND REGIONS

Download this sell sheet to learn how we help companies to address gender inequality and other human rights risks in their supply chains and sourcing landscapes.

Elevating the Position of Women in Three of the World’s Key Biodiversity Landscapes

Learn about our projects supporting women to take a lead in community-based landscape management and restoration in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Our Work


Article

What’s A Certain Path to Sustainability? Advancing Gender Equality 

Gender equality is essential for sustainability. It will take steady collective action to transform oppressive systems and advance the rights of women and girls. Here’s what we’re doing to get there.... Continue Reading

Learn More
Article

In Cameroon, Women Are Ideal Sustainability Leaders

Studies show that climate change disproportionately affects women and girls. Yet their intrinsic bond with the natural landscape is what makes women ideal sustainability leaders.... Continue Reading

Learn More
Partner Update

How A Two-Year Project Used Climate-Smart Agriculture to Uplift Women’s Leadership in Coffee

After two years, ‘Project Guatemala’ helped create a better future for Guatemalan women coffee farmers by focusing on gender inclusiveness and women’s empowerment to set an example for the industry. ... Continue Reading

Learn More
Article

The Future is Female: Inspiring Women in Sustainability

Meet 5 incredible women in sustainability who have successfully transformed their communities and the landscapes around them.... Continue Reading

Learn More

All resources for Gender equality


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a woman stands with a sign in Indonesian
Project Profiles

Project Profile: Building a More Inclusive Coffee Sector in Central Sulawesi

The Rainforest Alliance, in collaboration with GIZ, is launching a project in Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province to address social and environmental challenges in the coffee industry by providing training to 1,000 smallholder farmers, with a focus on sustainability and inclusivity.

Published on December 20, 2023

Annual Report

2022 Annual Report: We’re all in.

Dive into our 2022 Annual Report—and discover the extraordinary people and places at the heart of our global mission. We’re all in. Are you?... View more

Published on June 27, 2023
Available in: English, Spanish, German, French, Japanese

Article

An Entrepreneur Championing Women Cocoa Farmers in Côte d’Ivoire 

Meet Kpomin Minrienne Kole Edi, a successful farmer and entrepreneur who has spent her life breaking barriers—from helping other women farmers in her community to advocating for global policy reform. This is her story.

Published on April 4, 2023

Article

The Roots of Sexual Violence on Tea Farms 

Elizabeth Kiende, gender expert for the Rainforest Alliance in Kenya, sheds light on the roots of sexual violence on tea farms.

Published on March 2, 2023

tea leaves in a field
Organizational Updates

The Rainforest Alliance Response to Gender Based Violence in the Kenyan Tea Sector

We stand with the thousands of women working in the Kenya tea sector and commit to doing our part to help stop violence against women in agricultural supply chains.

Published on February 20, 2023

Videos

Advancing Women’s Rights in Cameroon’s Western Highlands

In this video, participants and colleagues in Cameroon’s Western Highlands talk about the impact this work has had in their lives and their hopes for the future.

Published on November 30, 2022

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