On March 13, 2025, the FLIARA project hosted its 3rd General Assembly online, bringing together all partners and members of the Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB) to discuss progress, share results, and outline the path ahead. Representatives from all Work Packages (WP1 to WP7), as well as the European Commission, reflected on how FLIARA is shaping the future of female-led sustainability innovations in rural areas.
Strong Collaboration and Ambition for Policy Impact
Opening the session, Project Coordinator Maura Farrell highlighted the collaborative nature of the project and the goal of giving visibility to women: “From the very beginning, we decided that we would spotlight the women who are doing this work. And I think we’ve done an amazing job in relation to that.” Farrell also emphasised the co-creation approach behind FLIARA’s success: “The strength of this project comes from how we’ve worked together—bringing in the knowledge, experiences, and insights of all our partners.”
Key Results from the Work Packages
WP1, presented by Aisling Murtagh, has been essential in shaping the project’s conceptual framework and feeding into other work packages: “This work package was designed with the intention that it feeds throughout all the work packages—building the concepts and approaches that we are now applying in policy and case studies.” Murtagh also explained the link to policy work: “We started our policy assessments and benchmarking in WP1. The evidence we gathered there is now a key part of the policy briefs and benchmarking guidelines that are being developed.”
WP2, led by Tuomas Kuhmonen, presented findings from 577 stakeholders and over 5,600 data points, identifying sustainability challenges and innovations led by women. Kuhmonen emphasised the diversity of measures needed: “There is no single dominant measure that can solve all the barriers. A combination of networks, education, empowerment, and tailored policies is necessary.” He also noted:“Social and soft measures—like platforms for visibility and networks—are often more effective than traditional top-down approaches.”
WP3, presented by Annie Roos, Silvia Sivini, and Irene Leonardelli, shared insights from 200 case studies of women innovators across 10 countries, focusing on challenges and pathways to success. Silvia Sivini emphasised: “Our work shows that women face many obstacles, including access to resources, bureaucracy, and work-life balance. But we also see their creativity and resilience in developing innovative solutions. Leonardelli added:“Actors that support women—such as municipalities, local governments, family, and networks—play a crucial role. This support is essential for women to innovate and succeed.”
Learning from the Communities of Practice: WP4 Insights
Anastasia Oprea, involved in WP4, reflected on the ongoing work with women innovators: “Women’s innovation journeys are not only inspiring stories—they are real examples of what can be done and what needs to be supported through policy.” She also noted:“These journeys show us where the system is failing women and where there are opportunities for change.”
Designing Effective Policies: WP5 Contributions
Willem Korthals Altes, Vitnarae Kang, and Gerdy Verschuure-Stuip presented progress on WP5, focused on developing policy recommendations. Willem highlighted:“Our task is to turn all the findings from the case studies and visions into practical policy recommendations that can make a difference in women’s lives.”
Vitnarae Kang emphasised: “Policies need to be designed in a way that responds to the real barriers women face, not just general solutions that ignore gendered challenges.”
Gerdy Verschuure-Stuip reinforced the importance of building on concrete experiences from the field:“The voices of women innovators must be central to shaping future rural and agricultural policies.”
Communicating and Connecting: WP6 and WP7 Reflections
Victor R. MartÃnez, leading WP6, underscored the project’s commitment to ensuring women’s stories are heard: “Our goal from day one has been to ensure that the voices of women innovators reach beyond this consortium—into policy circles, communities, and the public.” He also highlighted the upcoming toolkits and communication materials: “We are working on storytelling tools and guides that will help policymakers and practitioners understand and apply what women innovators are doing on the ground along with WP4.”
Louise Weir, who leads WP7 (Coordination and Management), emphasised the importance of connecting all work packages: “We need to join the dots. The policy recommendations will only be impactful if they reflect the full breadth of what has been done in the case studies, futures analysis, and communities of practice.”
Recognition from the European Commission and SAB
Sandra Heinzelmann (REA) acknowledged FLIARA’s achievements:“It’s impressive to see the progress you’ve made. I’m confident that this project will make a real contribution to gender equality and rural innovation.”
Steve Dolan, from the Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB), praised the project:“It’s one of the best-organised and coherent projects I’ve seen—both in terms of outputs and the dedication of the partners.”
Moving Forward: From Research to Action
As FLIARA enters its final phase, partners will focus on finalising policy briefs, benchmarking guidelines, and practical toolkits, ensuring that the knowledge gathered directly informs EU and national rural policies.
The next Community of Practice meeting in Sweden, along with ongoing dissemination, will be key to spreading FLIARA’s results and supporting women’s innovation journeys across Europe.
Maura Farrell closed the meeting by reminding all partners of the shared mission: “FLIARA is not just about research—it’s about making sure women’s contributions to rural sustainability are visible, valued, and supported in real policy and practice.”