Women-led innovation in farming and rural areas is key for sustainable development and social equity. Recognising this, the FLIARA project is committed to fostering policies that support and enhance the role of women innovators in these sectors. Through comprehensive research and analysis, FLIARA aims to create more effective policies that bolster women-led innovation, ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for farming and rural communities.
The FLIARA Approach
FLIARA’s strategy involves gathering insights from diverse sources within the project, including case studies of successful women-led innovations and future foresight analysis. This multifaceted approach helps envision the role of women in driving sustainable farm and rural futures. As FLIARA enters a new phase, the focus shifts more intently to policy design and assessment, starting with two pivotal reports that lay the groundwork for the project’s policy-related endeavours.
Assessing Current Policies and Legal Frameworks
The first report, “Assessment of Rural and Farming Policy and Legal Frameworks in Relation to Women-led Innovation,” provides an overview of existing policies and laws at both the partner country and EU levels. While not exhaustive, this report offers valuable insights into key policy issues and establishes a foundational knowledge base for future tasks.
One of the core principles driving FLIARA is the recognition that women-led innovation occurs within a broader innovation ecosystem. Consequently, the assessment went beyond traditional farming and rural policies to include policies related to innovation and family support. This holistic approach uncovered various measures that support rural and farm women in areas such as networking, entrepreneurship, and farm investment, while also identifying potential weaknesses that require further attention.
Benchmarking Gender Equality in Policies
Another critical aspect of FLIARA’s policy activities involves benchmarking gender equality performance in policies. Policy benchmarking, a comparative analysis method, helps improve policies by learning from different outcomes. The report “Initial Guidelines for Policy Benchmarking” serves as a preliminary guide for FLIARA, drawing on insights from the earlier assessment report.
The guidelines pose important questions for further reflection, such as whether different tools are needed to benchmark policy effectively and what constitutes a benchmark in this context. Initial benchmark statements are presented as potential reference points for good practice, though they require further refinement. This phased approach allows FLIARA to reflect on insights, adapt, and utilise a multi-actor approach, ensuring the project’s continuous improvement and relevance.
Moving Forward
FLIARA’s commitment to supporting women-led innovation through effective policy design is evident in its thorough and inclusive approach. By assessing current policies, identifying areas for improvement, and benchmarking gender equality performance, FLIARA aims to create a supportive environment for women innovators in farming and rural areas.
As the project progresses, FLIARA will continue to produce further benchmarking reports and refine its policy recommendations, ensuring they are grounded in comprehensive research and practical insights. Through these efforts, FLIARA strives to create a policy landscape that not only supports but actively promotes women-led innovation, paving the way for a more sustainable and equitable future in farming and rural communities.