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Date released
07 March 2025

International Women’s Day has a long and rich history as a day dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s rights worldwide. Celebrated annually on 8 March, it gives us the opportunity to elevate the achievements of women while also advocating for gender equality. 

This year’s UN Women's theme 'For ALL women and girls' is calling on us all to do more to achieve gender parity. ACIAR is fortunate to work with many extraordinary women leaders, researchers, scholars, alumni and partners. We are delighted to celebrate some of them here and highlight the ways we strive to embed gender equality in all our work and contribute to providing economic opportunity and food security for all.

Professor Wendy Umberger leads the way

Professor Wendy Umberger was appointed as the first female CEO of ACIAR in 2023 after a distinguished career in agricultural sciences. She had been an influential voice in sustainable agriculture for over 20 years before taking on the role. As an agricultural economist, she worked across sectors to boost food security and reduce poverty in a way that empowers women across the globe.

'Gender equality and women’s empowerment is key to our work at ACIAR. There is clear evidence that women are disproportionately affected by poverty,' she said. 'More than half the world’s farmers are women. I am proud to lead ACIAR and the work we do makes significant contributions towards ensuring women have equal access to resources and decision-making opportunities. Empowering women benefits whole communities.'

ACIAR CEO Professor Wendy Umberger visiting the Sleng Fishway in Siem Reap, Cambodia
ACIAR CEO Professor Wendy Umberger visiting the Sleng Fishway in Siem Reap, Cambodia, as part of the 2nd Lower Mekong Fish Passage Conference.

Empowering women in senior research management roles

ACIAR has made great strides since 2016 in raising the proportion of senior positions occupied by women. While underrepresentation of women in research careers is an ongoing issue in the Australian research community, ACIAR is delighted to have recently appointed women in 2 of our 3 new research director roles. Dr Suzie Newman and Dr Ingrid van Putten were both hired into these senior roles after a highly competitive recruitment process and both bring with them a wealth of experience.

Equipping the next generation of women researchers

As well as empowering women in senior roles, ACIAR is committed to developing the capacity of the next generation of female agricultural researchers. Women now comprise at least 50% of new scholars in our John Allwright Fellowship program. This competitive scholarship program offers the opportunity for partner country researchers to obtain formal postgraduate qualifications at an Australian tertiary institution, gaining skills and knowledge that they can take back to their home country.

Muntahli Timanyechi, a JAF scholar from Malawi currently studying at Monash University, recently reflected on the role that the program played equipping her for a research career. 

It’s been instrumental in equipping me with the analytical and theoretical skills crucial for my ambition to become a consultant for organisations like the World Bank or ACIAR, specialising in impact evaluation. By fostering collaborations, conferences, and expanding my network, JAF ensures I am globally adept and connected.

Muntahli Timanyechi
JAF scholar, Monash University

Nalongo Nabayaza Proscovia Bakyala Kwegaita Women’s Group
Nalongo Nabayaza Proscovia Bakyala Kwegaita Women’s Group, Nakasongola, Uganda. The women group was part of the Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) project, which has ended, financed by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
Maria Gorete plants maize with her daughters
Maria Gorete plants maize with her daughters in Angonia, Mozambique. Maria was a participating farmer in the Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) project financed by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
Professor Wendy Umberger with JDF Indonesia members
ACIAR CEO Wendy Umberger with JDF Indonesia members during ACIAR House visit
Woman holding tomatoes
Mrs Thandanani Dube, a farmer based in Zimbabwe, is transforming her homestead into a sustainable, thriving ecosystem.
Group of women standing in a row in a field
Agricultural experts from Laos, Cambodia and Australia reviewing the progress of an ACIAR-funded project, implemented by the University of Queensland, on weed management in rice production systems in Laos and Cambodia.

Valuing and enabling women smallholders across the globe

Ultimately, the ACIAR mission is to achieve more productive and sustainable agricultural systems, in our partner countries as well as Australia. This simply cannot be done without valuing and enabling the participation of women. On average, 43% of agricultural workers across the globe are women. In developing countries, that number is higher, with 2 out of 3 women working in farming. Despite this, women are often disproportionately affected by poverty and their work is undervalued.

Across 170 research projects in 33 countries throughout the Indo-Pacific, ACIAR sees daily the benefits of empowering and investing in women in agriculture. With our partners, our projects change women’s lives by helping them to realise their potential and make their farms and communities more sustainable, productive and profitable.

Capacity-building
Gender
Gender equality
Women's empowerment
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