A timely dialogue at the Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia in Pretoria brought together policymakers, business leaders, and development actors to promote a shared agenda for empowering women in agriculture. The event, hosted by Tunisian Ambassador Karima Bardaoui, highlighted both the opportunities and structural barriers that women face across agricultural value chains, while also underscoring the importance of cooperation between Tunisia and the Republic of South Africa.

The program combined high-level panel discussions with practical engagement, as women farmers and artisans showcased their products. The exhibition underscored that women are not just participants in the agricultural economy, but active drivers of innovation and local business development.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Bardaoui described the meeting as an example of "practical diplomacy" and stated: "We are not only exchanging ideas, but building bridges between policy and practice, between vision and concrete results." She emphasized that empowering women, particularly in rural economies, is both a social and economic priority, and that it is "a strong area of convergence between Tunisia and the Republic of South Africa, and across the African continent."

The keynote address was delivered by Deputy Minister of Small Business Development Jane Sithole, who placed the discussion within a broader continental and global context. In connection with the upcoming International Year of Women Farmers in 2026, she highlighted the crucial, yet often underappreciated, role of women in agricultural and food systems.

“Women farmers are essential for food security, nutrition, and economic resilience,” Sithole stated, emphasizing that the development of Africa cannot be achieved without their full participation. She pointed to persistent structural barriers, including limited access to finance, restricted market access, and a lack of technical training, and added: "If we are serious about inclusive growth, we must move beyond simply acknowledging these barriers to systematically addressing them."

Sithole also drew attention to regulatory and administrative constraints at the local level. She emphasized the need to reduce excessive bureaucracy and cited instances where long-standing businesses have been hampered by requirements for changes in land zoning. She also called for development frameworks to better reflect local realities, including taking into account traditional leadership structures, which play a key role in economic activities, particularly in rural areas.

The discussions at the embassy built upon the themes of the recent National Summit on Local Economic Development 2026, where government and other stakeholders committed to a more coordinated approach to economic development. The summit's concluding statement outlined a program focused on translating policies into measurable results at the local level and addressing persistent challenges such as unemployment, inequality, regional disparities, inadequate infrastructure, and limited institutional capacity.

Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni emphasized at the summit that this statement represents a shift towards a more integrated and results-oriented model of local economic development. The alignment between the dialogue at the embassy and the summit's conclusions was evident, particularly in the emphasis on implementation, collaboration, and inclusive growth.

Sithole further supported this approach, emphasizing that empowering women in agribusiness is not a marginal issue, but an economic necessity. "Empowering women in agribusiness is not a social obligation, but an economic imperative," she stated, and called for stronger partnerships between governments, the private sector, development finance institutions, and regional organizations, such as the African Union. The event also provided a space for direct interaction between female entrepreneurs and potential partners and customers. This practical dimension reflected Ambassador Bardaoui's emphasis on networking and collaboration, encouraging participants to build connections and explore opportunities for cross-border cooperation. As both countries continue to develop their approaches to inclusive agricultural development, the dialogue in Pretoria demonstrated that shared challenges can be addressed through collaborative solutions. The combination of policy, practice, and partnerships suggests a growing recognition that women are at the center of the future of African agriculture, and that unlocking their full potential is crucial for sustainable economic transformation. Thediplomaticsociety/gnews.cz - GH