Kinshasa, June 18th, 2026 (CPA).- The contribution of rural women to the sustainability of households and communities in remote areas was the focus of discussions on Thursday during a meeting held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “Rural women contribute significantly to agricultural production, food security, nutrition, land and natural resource management, as well as strengthening adaptation capacities to climate change,” said Brunette Ntumba, coordinator of the NGO Women’s Solidarity and Agriculture Coalition (GDFA). Ms. Ntumba acknowledged the invaluable contribution of rural women to development, stressing that they represent a large share of both the formal and informal agricultural workforce while carrying out the majority of household chores, caregiving responsibilities and unpaid family work. The coordinator further noted that the government continues to make every effort to provide multifaceted support to rural women, although much remains to be done in terms of reducing the hardship of their work and improving access to markets. Expressing concern over their situation, she pointed out that rural women continue to face limited access to credit facilities, healthcare services, education and communication. According to her, the theme serves as an invitation to reflect deeply on the measures needed to enable them to fully play their role. “One out of every three economically active women works in agriculture, highlighting their importance in strengthening resilience against food and climate crises,” she said.
“The government and support structures must intensify field actions to improve the living conditions of these development actors,” Ms. Ntumba concluded, paying tribute to rural women who devote a large part of their lives to producing healthy food.
The meeting was held under the theme: “The Role of Rural Women in the Production of Healthy Food.”