Food Systems

Across Southern Africa, gender inequality and social exclusion shape daily realities, determining who eats, who leads and who survives. Solidaridad’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) work addresses these structural barriers head-on, with the conviction that systems can only be truly resilient when everyone has a seat at the table.

In coastal Bangladesh, farmers are finding ways to deal with rising soil salinity. With better soybean varieties and improved practices, families like Gias and Asma are starting to see more reliable harvests and incomes. Their experience shows how small changes can make a real difference over time.

For years, Rahinatu Lawal watched as heaps of fresh tomatoes harvested in her community went to waste due to inadequate storage facilities and a lack of processing options. Determined to tackle the problem, she began processing and preserving unsold tomatoes instead of letting them rot. She credits the Farmers Field and Business School under the Acting Now project in Nigeria for equipping her with the skills to do so.