1. A Woman scientist at CIAT and partners received the Best Poster Award during the World Water Week 2009 in Stockholm

The poster "Improving the Efficiency of Rain Water Use on Hillsides in the Sub-Humid Tropics: Agricultural & Environmental Benefits of Quesungual System" presented by Dr. Aracely Castro, on behalf of CIAT and its partners, won the best poster award at the Word Water Week 2009 in Stockholm, August 16-22, 2009. A total of 70 posters were presented at the conference and thoroughly evaluated by a scientific review panel. This event is annually organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and it brings together practitioners, policy makers and leaders from around the globe to exchange ideas, while fostering new thinking and developing solutions for the planet's most urgent water-related issues. This year the event was attended by around 2500 participants from more than 100 countries. The award was presented by Dr. Akissa Bahri (Africa Director of IWMI) at the closing session of the conference on August 21, 2009.

Aracely Castro was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. She earned her degree in Agriculture at University of Zamorano, Honduras. She also holds a M.S. in Agriculture from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and is about to defend her Ph.D. in Soil Science at the National University of Colombia - Palmira.

Ms. Castro is a visiting researcher at CIAT since August 2005. She has conducted extensive research work in nutrient cycling and also represented the Quesunqual Project in events at Lao PDR, Vietnam, Ghana, Ethiopia and Sweden.

PRGA Program wants to recognize Dr. Aracely Castro, a woman from Latin America, who has demonstrated remarkable leadership in her area of expertise.

Photo Credit: Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Sweden.

2. Organic Agriculture and Women's Empowerment

It is IFOAM’s goal to facilitate equal participation of women in the Organic Agriculture (OA) movement. In this context, a new IFOAM study investigates the ways in which OA can contribute to the empowerment of rural women, and identifies lessons learned for future work on the basis of a collection of analytical case studies from around the world.

3. Gender and Climate Change in the Hindu Kush Himalayas of Nepal

The link between gender issues and climate change is an emerging topic for research and policymaking in Nepal, and documentation so far is quite limited. Climate change is affecting the soil's moisture and the availability of water, which is likely to have a negative impact on food production and increase food insecurity, particularly in poor and marginalized households. Longer periods of drought will also deplete natural resources in terms of quantity and quality. As a result, the collection of water, fuel wood, and fodder - which are typically women's responsibility - will take more time, increasing women's labor.

4. Women Can Be More Than Small-Scale Farmers

"Government must lead in breaking down the stereotypes of women as tuck-shop owners, candle-makers, peasant farmers, teachers and nurses and create the reality in which they become hoteliers, large-scale commercial farmers, miners and proprietors of retail chains."

These were the words of Zimbabwe's vice president Joyce Mujuru addressing a women's investment conference held in Harare on Sep 4. The conference was attended by South African and Zimbabwean businesswomen.

5. Resource Guide on Gender and Climate Change

This resource guide aims to inform practitioners and policy makers of the linkages between gender equality and climate change and their importance in relation to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. UNDP, 2009

6. Departure Announcement (Juliana Aristizabal)

We would like to share with you the departure of our webmaster and dear colleague Juliana Aristizabal. Juliana has been the PRGA Program Communication Assistant for the last four years. Her role was central in the dissemination of relevant information through our monthly bulletin. We will miss her dearly but we are happy that she has accepted a relevant opportunity to complete a MS in Digital Media Design at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain. Good luck Juliana!

Juliana’s new contact information: juli.aristizabal@gmail.com