Empowering women, changing lives: ACIAR celebrates International Women’s Day with the launch of the next issue of Partners magazine

Today ACIAR launched its International Women’s Day edition of Partners magazine during a morning tea to mark this important day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

ACIAR's Dr Jayne Curnow, Research Program Manager for Agricultural Systems Management, launches Partners magazine at a morning tea to celebrate International Women's Day. Photo: ACIAR

This edition of Partners, which includes forewords by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, and the High Commissioner for Pakistan, Ms Naela Chohan, celebrates the key role women play in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries, and also recognises the importance of economically empowering women and girls around the world so they may become leaders, influencers and agents of change.



The stories in this issue range far and wide. Included is an agriculture systems management project that is working to build women farmers’ learning and address gender equity issues in remote regions of Papua New Guinea (PNG) through adult education programs. These programs are helping to break down gender barriers and acquire new skills to manage farm productivity and marketing.

Susan Trapu, Kwinkya project leader, working with women farmers in the Western Highlands of PNG.
Photo: Barbara Pamphilon, University of Canberra.

In Pakistan’s dairy sector, women and children proved instrumental in the adoption of productivity-improving know-how, both as farmers and extension officers.
A horticulture project is helping women in Lao PDR villages produce and jointly market a surplus of organic vegetables, thereby increasing family income while improving consumer health and environmental sustainability.

Ms Buachanh leads efforts to expand the number of farmers in the northern Lao province of Xieng Khouang that benefit from growing and selling organic vegetables. Photo: Michael Jones

Finally, an inland aquaculture research program in PNG is creating profound social impacts on the lives of women and children in rural communities through vocational training in fish farming.


Check out all of these amazing stories and more on our website.

International Women’s Day is celebrated globally on 8 March each year.

Happy International Women’s Day!

By Laura Carew, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, ACIAR