Strengthening Women’s Economic Empowerment in Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training

This AUDA-NEPAD policy brief presents evidence and lessons from the ATVET for Women (ATVET4W) project, which applies a gender-transformative approach (GTA) and the pro-WEAI index to strengthen women’s empowerment in agriculture-focused TVET. It outlines continental and national gender policy commitments, highlights systemic socio-cultural and institutional barriers affecting rural women’s access to skills, and demonstrates how GTA-based training, curriculum reform, entrepreneurship modules, and community sensitisation can shift gender norms. Drawing on pilots in six countries, the brief provides policy recommendations for the AU, RECs, Member States, TVET institutions and the private sector to embed GTA and improve women’s agency, productivity and income.