Call for applications: Elaboration of a comparative analysis focusing on rural women - RESULTS

La propuesta ganadora fue: “Cultivating Equality: Rural Women’s Autonomy, Food Security, and Climate Resilience in EU–CELAC Cooperation” (provisional title).

Team of authors:

• Andrea Bolaños Vargas, Colombian consultant based in Panama City
• Ursula Urdillo Lorenzo, Spanish consultant based in Seville
• Teresa Fernández Paredes, Spanish consultant based in Oviedo

Summary:

This comparative analysis will explore the contributions of rural women in Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to food security and climate resilience, placing gender autonomy at the centre. Food security—understood through its four dimensions of availability, access, utilization, and stability—cannot be achieved without tackling persistent gender inequalities and recognising rural women as key actors.

Building on SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 5 (Gender Equality), 13 (Climate Action) and 15 (Life on Land), the study will reconceptualise autonomy beyond the three dimensions defined by ECLAC (physical, economic, decision-making). Drawing from feminist theory, autonomy is approached as a dynamic, multidimensional process (Kabeer; Batliwala), rooted in capabilities (Nussbaum; Sen) and expressed in relational, ecological, intersectional, and collective terms (Mohanty; Lugones; Paredes; Cabnal). This perspective values women’s ancestral knowledge, agroecological practices, and community leadership, while critically analysing barriers such as unequal land tenure, limited credit, care burdens, and underrepresentation in decision-making spaces.

The methodology applied will combine desk research with qualitative comparative case studies, covering 3–4 initiatives in each region. Selected cases include grassroots networks (e.g. RECMURIC in Central America, Marcha das Margaridas in Brazil, Polish Rural Women’s Circles Association, FADEMUR in Spain) and institutional frameworks (e.g. EU CAP Network, FLIARA). Each is analysed using a rights-based framework grounded in CEDAW and other human rights standards.

Findings will highlight common challenges, promising and innovative practices, offering lessons transferable across regions. The study will propose dissemination in accessible formats for rural women (briefs, audio/radio tools, one-pagers) and embedding results in EU–CELAC cooperation platforms. By documenting rural women’s contributions, the analysis aims to inform policies advancing equality, sustainability, and resilience, while reinforcing bi-regional dialogue and cooperation on food systems and climate action.

Elaboration of a comparative analysis focusing on rural women in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and their contributions to food security and adaptation to climate-related risks and natural disasters.

Individuals and/or teams of experts on the subject matter from both regions are invited to submit proposals for a comparative analysis that seeks to highlight, systematise and assess initiatives and good practices led by women in rural areas in Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe to increase food security and enhance the resilience of these communities to the effects of phenomena such as global warming and biodiversity loss.

The documentation to be submitted for consideration for this call must be written in English or Spanish and consists of:

• Application form

• Detailed outline of the proposal (max. 3 pages)

• Curriculum Vitae (one per applicant)

The deadline for submitting proposals is 30 September 2025 (23:59 CEST). 

Proposals should be sent to Dr Anna Barrera (EU-LAC Foundation) - Email: call@eulacfoundation.org with the subject line: EU-LAC Call for Proposals: Rural Women and Food Security

All requirements can be found in the attached Terms of Reference.