UNIDO Study Reveals Path to Women's Empowerment in Ukraine's Berries and Nuts Sector
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has released a new study aiming at promoting gender equality and economic inclusion through Quality Infrastructure (QI) and standards. Conducted under the Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP) Ukraine, funded by Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the research highlights particularly the challenges and opportunities for women in Ukraine’s berries and nuts value chains.
The study’s findings show significant gender disparities in Ukraine’s berries and nuts value chains, where women play a crucial role but remain underrepresented in leadership and face persistent wage gaps. Despite their contributions, they encounter barriers to accessing technical capacitation, business development opportunities and market opportunities, limiting their ability to grow their businesses and enhance their market competitiveness.
The ongoing conflict has further intensified these challenges, increasing economic uncertainty, but it also showed the need to have women playing an active role. The study underscores that strengthening QI can be an effective way to empower women. Similarly, women’s greater involvement in QI system could drive positive change to the sector, fostering inclusive economic growth and reinforcing Ukraine’s ability to meet international trade requirements. Their participation in standardization, quality control, and certification processes can strengthen the resilience and credibility of the national QI system, ultimately benefiting the economy.
Through targeted interventions, GQSP Ukraine is advancing gender equality by strengthening women’s technical competencies and skills in quality infrastructure, to ultimately allow them contributing to Ukraine’s economic resilience and European and global market integration.
For more information, please, contact Ms. Dorina Nati (d.nati [at] unido.org)
