Seeing Women Behind Supply Chains: A Methodology to Strengthen Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Agrifood Systems

Jan 21, 2026 | Fernanda Soto, Marlène Elias, and Jenny Wiegel
The Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT
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A new methodology helps agrifood companies meet their gender equality and inclusion commitments by better understanding diverse actors and experiences in their supply chains.

For many agribusinesses today, the commitment to gender equality is no longer in question—the challenge is knowing how to act on it. Companies want to ensure their supply chains are more inclusive and sustainable, yet they often lack a clear picture of who actually participates in them.

Who are the women and men behind the products? What roles do they play? How do age, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status shape their experiences? Which women and men benefit, who is being left behind, and what types of interventions could meaningfully improve their wellbeing? Without answers to these questions, even well-intentioned commitments risk remaining abstract.

Limited visibility also obscures the fact that supply chains are not experienced equally. The opportunities and constraints of women—and men—vary widely across socioeconomic, age, and ethnic groups, as well as across contexts. Recognizing these intra-group differences is crucial for addressing the underlying dynamics that shape people’s participation in supply chains, and for designing interventions that respond to their realities.