Theme: Empowered to Grow: Women Leading Change in Agriculture through Cooperation

Organized by ICA-AP, ICA-AP Committee on Women under the ICA-EU FFPA and supported by ICA-JCCU Gender Project in collaboration with the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) and All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives (ACFSMC)
Hanoi, Vietnam
May 7-9 2026

Background

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers to recognize, celebrate, and strengthen the contributions of women in agriculture across the globe. Women farmers play a critical role in ensuring food security, conserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, yet they continue to face systemic barriers including limited access to land, credit, training, and markets.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), welcomes the declaration “as an opportunity to highlight the importance of social protection in reducing gender inequalities and empowering rural women in agrifood systems”.

In Asia and Pacific region, cooperatives have a prominent presence in the agriculture sector covering farming, dairy, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, forestry and consumer verticals with a large membership base. These sectors have large composition of women members who are key actors in the production, distribution, and consumption value chains. ICA-AP and its regional thematic Committee on Women and Committee on Agriculture and Environment have extensively worked with women from agricultural cooperatives in rural areas on diverse programs. These programs have been to promote knowledge-exchange and build capacities of women cooperative farmers on digital financial inclusion, climate change, sustainable and climate-smart agriculture, family farming, leadership development and agri-marketing.

The year 2026 presents a strategic opportunity for ICA-AP to amplify the voices of women cooperative farmers, address prevailing gender-based disparities in agriculture sector, recognize their contribution and impact, drive inclusive policies and innovations within the cooperative sector.

To mark this milestone year, ICA-AP under the ICA-EU Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) and its Gender Project supported by the Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU) in collaboration with its member the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) plans to organize a regional conference in Hanoi, Vietnam in May 2026 to commemorate the International Year of Women Farmers. The initiative will celebrate women cooperative farmers’ contribution and impact in the agricultural sector, give visibility to women cooperative farmer leaders, showcase cooperative solutions for gender equity, and facilitate policy dialogue across Asia and Pacific.

The theme, “ Empowered to Grow: Women Leading Change in Agriculture through Cooperation” positions women cooperators in agriculture and allied sectors (such as fisheries, horticulture, dairy, poultry, etc.) not only as beneficiaries but also as integral and active drivers of local economic development. Women cooperative farmers are primary agents of change in local development; and agricultural sector serves both as a critical livelihood source and vehicle for gender-responsive development in rural areas. Through this theme, ICA-AP re-affirms that cooperative action is a proven model for gender equity, inclusion and shared prosperity in the rural sector. It also underlines our gratitude towards women cooperative farmers who relentlessly contribute towards agricultural growth and food security by demonstrating their entrepreneurial and decision-making capabilities.

Objectives:

• Recognize and amplify the contributions and impact of women cooperative farmers
• Identify and strengthen gender-responsive policies and practices within agricultural cooperatives
• Provide a platform for knowledge exchange and networking for women cooperative farmers and related stakeholders such as management, policy makers and Government representatives involved in the promotion and development of agricultural cooperatives
• Promote inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable agricultural systems

Tentative Programme Overview

6 May 2026

• Arrival of participants in Hanoi and check-in at the conference hotel.

7 May 2026

• Opening Ceremony (60 minutes) – Welcome and inaugural remarks, keynote address, and a symbolic “Ceremony of Roots and Renewal” representing unity and shared commitment of women farmers.
• Story-Sharing Session (90 minutes) – “Harvesting Voices – Women Sharing Their Journeys from the Field”(90 minutes)
  Women cooperative farmers from across the Asia-Pacific region share their experiences, challenges, and successes in agriculture and cooperative development, followed by a short interactive exchange.
• Cultural Segment (30 minutes) – Celebrating Women’s Agricultural Heritage (30 minutes) Cultural performances highlighting women’s traditional role in agriculture.
• Panel Discussion (90 minutes) –Challenges of Women Cooperative Farmers in a Changing World”(90 minutes) Discussion on key challenges including access to land, finance, technology, markets, leadership opportunities, and climate change.
• Presentations on Sustainable Practices and Innovation in Agri-Food Systems(30 minutes) Women farmers share practical initiatives and innovations from their work.

8 May 2026

• Capacity Building Session: Environmental Sustainability and Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Systems(120 minutes)
  Interactive learning session on sustainable practices, new technologies, and
• Gender Profile of Agriculture in Viet Nam: Implications for Cooperative Policy & Comparative Reflections: Drawing on the FAO (2025) National Gender Profile of Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods – Viet Nam & & ICA-AP Gender study (45 mins)
• Policy Dialogue: “Policy Pathways for Women in Agricultural Cooperatives”(90 minutes) Farmer-led thematic group discussions to identify and prioritise policy recommendations.
• Closing Ceremony & Signing of the “Asia-Pacific Declaration on Women Farmers in Cooperatives 2026”(60 minutes) 
  Presentation of key recommendations and collective commitment by participants.

9 May 2026

• Learning Visit to Women-led Agricultural Cooperatives(Half Day)
  Field visit organised by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance.
• Departure of Participants(Evening/Night)

Target Participants

1. Local women cooperative farmers
2. International women cooperative farmers
3. Cooperative leaders from ICA-AP member organizations in Vietnam and other countries in Asia and Pacific
4. Representatives from key stakeholders such as ICAO, FAO, IDACA, EU, Government Organizations (Agricultural Ministries), international organizations such as Agriterra, etc.
5. Others – Researchers/research institutions on agricultural cooperatives, media, etc.

The conference is expected to have at least 50 participants (15 national and 25 international)

Profile and Participation of Women Cooperative Farmers

The conference will engage women cooperative farmers, including national participants from the host country and international women cooperative farmers nominated by selected ICA member organisations from Asia–Pacific countries. Participants will be active members of agricultural cooperatives, preferably at the primary or secondary cooperative level, including elected leaders, office bearers, and active farmer members involved in production, processing, or marketing. This profile is intended to support practical, experience-based participation and farmer-to-farmer exchange, with women farmers actively contributing through case sharing, thematic discussions, peer-learning sessions, field visits, and reflection processes, and their inputs informing the conference outcomes and recommendations.

Expected Outcomes:

• Greater visibility and recognition of women’s contributions to the agri-food systems
• Increased support for women farmers-led agricultural initiatives and innovations
• Strengthened leadership and decision-making roles for women cooperative farmers
• Policy recommendations to support gender-equitable access to resources and services for women cooperative farmers

At the end of the conference, a formal joint Declaration is expected to be released by ICA-AP and its programmatic partners. The Declaration will be in support of women cooperative farmers, recognizing their contribution to the agri-food systems, and calling for an enhanced enabling environment with effective gender responsive policies and practices within agricultural cooperatives in the Asia and Pacific region.