What does it truly mean to put women at the center of climate resilience and agricultural development in Africa? Edna Kalima, Program Officer at African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, takes us behind the scenes of groundbreaking work happening across five African nations.

The conversation delves intoAfrican Union Development Agency-NEPAD's Gender, Climate Change and Agriculture Support Program, which takes a comprehensive four-pronged approach to empowering women smallholder farmers in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Malawi, Niger, and Rwanda. Edna walks us through exactly how they're closing policy gaps, building women's capacity, creating dedicated platforms, and scaling successful innovations. This isn't theoretical work—it's tangible action changing lives across the continent.

Perhaps most fascinating is the deep dive into how gender considerations are being woven into forest restoration through the AFR 100 initiative. From the entrepreneurial Land Accelerator Program centered on women and youth to the development of gender indicators for monitoring restoration progress, Edna shares practical examples of gender mainstreaming in action. Her passionate reminder that gender integration "should not be an afterthought or just ticking a checkbox" challenges us to rethink how we approach development work.

Whether you're involved in climate action, agriculture, development policy, or simply care about equitable solutions to some of Africa's most pressing challenges, this conversation offers valuable insights into how gender-responsive approaches are reshaping the continent's future. Subscribe to Conversations on Africa's Development for more illuminating discussions with those driving positive change across Africa.