NAFI Photo Stories

Women, Agroecology, & Food Sovereignty
A Photo Exhibition Showcasing African Women’s Knowledge, Strength, and the Power of Local Foods
  • English
  • Français

Introduction

Funded by the 11th Hour Project and the Agroecology Fund, the African Women’s Collaborative for Healthy Food Systems (the Collaborative) is implementing the Nutritional African Foods Initiative (NAFI)—an initiative designed to build knowledge and increase the consumption of nutritious foods produced by African rural women using agroecological methods and local resources. At its core, NAFI is about recognizing and amplifying the role of African women farmers in sustaining local food systems and ensuring community nutrition through agroecology. Across five African countries—Burkina Faso, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—NAFI is documenting and studying the nutritional and cultural values of 10 key local food plants grown agroecologically and marketed by women. These food plants, selected by the Collaborative, include orphan crops such as cowpeas, millet, okra, and Bambara nuts; green leafy vegetables like amaranth and pumpkin; fruits including local varieties of mango and banana; as well as local rice and sweet potato. These crops are not only nutritionally rich but also deeply embedded in the cultural and agricultural heritage of the communities that cultivate them.

To bring this initiative to life, the Collaborative engaged 30 rural women farmers (six from each country) who are active members of its partner organizations. These women have played a central role in the research, working alongside in-country teams of NAFI Leads (Collaborative Steering Committee members), nutritionists, and journalists to document their knowledge and experiences. Through a participatory, community-based research approach—including in-person interviews and focus groups—the project has explored the multifaceted importance of these food plants across eight thematic areas: Land access, control, and ownership; Crop production and wild collection; Nutritional and cultural values; Food production, processing, and marketing; Climate resilience, mitigation, and adaptation; Agroecological approaches and practices; Food security; and Support from women farmers’ organizations, government, and other institutions. In addition to qualitative research, the Collaborative has begun laboratory food composition analysis to provide scientific evidence of the nutritional value of these local crops. This data will further validate the importance of traditional foods in ensuring food security and community health.

Introduction

Funded by the 11th Hour Project and the Agroecology Fund, the African Women’s Collaborative for Healthy Food Systems (the Collaborative) is implementing the Nutritional African Foods Initiative (NAFI)—an initiative designed to build knowledge and increase the consumption of nutritious foods produced by African rural women using agroecological methods and local resources. At its core, NAFI is about recognizing and amplifying the role of African women farmers in sustaining local food systems and ensuring community nutrition through agroecology. Across five African countries—Burkina Faso, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—NAFI is documenting and studying the nutritional and cultural values of 10 key local food plants grown agroecologically and marketed by women. These food plants, selected by the Collaborative, include orphan crops such as cowpeas, millet, okra, and Bambara nuts; green leafy vegetables like amaranth and pumpkin; fruits including local varieties of mango and banana; as well as local rice and sweet potato. These crops are not only nutritionally rich but also deeply embedded in the cultural and agricultural heritage of the communities that cultivate them.

To bring this initiative to life, the Collaborative engaged 30 rural women farmers (six from each country) who are active members of its partner organizations. These women have played a central role in the research, working alongside in-country teams of NAFI Leads (Collaborative Steering Committee members), nutritionists, and journalists to document their knowledge and experiences. Through a participatory, community-based research approach—including in-person interviews and focus groups—the project has explored the multifaceted importance of these food plants across eight thematic areas: Land access, control, and ownership; Crop production and wild collection; Nutritional and cultural values; Food production, processing, and marketing; Climate resilience, mitigation, and adaptation; Agroecological approaches and practices; Food security; and Support from women farmers’ organizations, government, and other institutions. In addition to qualitative research, the Collaborative has begun laboratory food composition analysis to provide scientific evidence of the nutritional value of these local crops. This data will further validate the importance of traditional foods in ensuring food security and community health.

Empowering Women Through Visual Storytelling

Recognizing the power of visuals in advocacy and knowledge-sharing, the African Women’s Collaborative for Healthy Food Systems provided easy-to-use smartphones to 30 participating farmers, enabling them to document their experiences first-hand. With support from in-country journalists and nutritionists, the women farmers received training on photography and videography—a skill set that has strengthened their communication abilities and technical confidence. This process has not only enabled them to document their farming practices but has also created a powerful visual archive of agroecological solutions, traditional knowledge, and community resilience. Through their photos and videos, the women have captured:
  • The decisions they make in response to climate challenges and threats to their crops.
  • The relationship between rural women and their communities, showcasing collaboration and shared knowledge.
  • The value of indigenous food plants in nutrition, sustainability, and food sovereignty.
  • The impact of agroecology in improving livelihoods, reducing dependence on external inputs, and fostering economic empowerment.

Why This Photo Exhibition Matters

This virtual exhibition is more than just a collection of images—it is a powerful advocacy tool, a historical record, and a testament to the resilience of African women farmers. It gives visibility to the work of rural women, who are often the backbone of food production but remain underrepresented in policy discussions and decision-making. For the women farmers themselves, this documentation has been transformative. By seeing their own experiences reflected in images and sharing their stories on wider platforms, they have gained greater confidence, agency, and recognition as knowledge holders and leaders in their communities. Their participation has strengthened their ability to engage in discussions on food sovereignty, climate adaptation, and sustainable agriculture at local, national, and regional levels. Together, they are creating bold horizons for themselves, their communities, and their countries.

For the broader food sovereignty movement, these images serve as evidence of the effectiveness of agroecology in ensuring food security, preserving biodiversity, and reducing dependence on industrialized farming systems. They challenge dominant narratives that prioritize imported, industrialized food systems over locally adapted, sustainable food production.

A Celebration of Local Knowledge, Innovation, & Sustainability

As you browse through the stories, you will witness the ingenuity, perseverance, and expertise of African women farmers in Burkina Faso, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Their hands sow the seeds of resilience, their communities flourish through cooperation, and their knowledge sustains generations. This is not just their story—it is the story of food sovereignty, of climate resilience, and of a future built on the wisdom of those who have nurtured the land for centuries.

Women’s Seeds & Local Food Systems

These photo stories are part of the Collaborative’s Nutritional African Foods Initiative (NAFI) with funding from the Agroecology Fund and The 11th Hour Project. NAFI is documenting and studying the nutritional and cultural values of 10 key local food plants grown agroecologically from local seed and marketed by women. These food plants include orphan crops such as cowpeas, millet, okra, and Bambara nuts; green leafy vegetables like amaranth and pumpkin; fruits including local varieties of mango and banana; as well as local rice and sweet potato. These crops are not only nutritionally rich but also deeply embedded in the cultural and agricultural heritage of the communities that cultivate them.

To bring this initiative to life, the Collaborative engaged 30 rural women farmers (six from each country) who have played a central role in the research, working alongside nutritionists and journalists to document their knowledge and experiences.
Learn More

NAFI Photo Stories

Photo Report on the NAFI Project

Burkina Faso, English
In the heart of the warm lands of Burkina Faso, women farmers work daily to feed their families and communities. This report highlights their efforts in agricultural production and processing.

Reportage Photos sur le Projet NAFI

Burkina Faso, Français
Au cœur des terres chaleureuses du Burkina Faso, des agricultrices s'activent quotidiennement pour nourrir leurs familles et leurs communautés. Ce reportage met en lumière leurs efforts dans la production et transformation agricole.

Peasant Rice and Climate Change

English, Senegal
Climate change is a reality in Casamance, the modification of the rainfall patterns, the decline in soil fertility, the salinisation and silting up of arable land—particularly rice-farming areas and underwater springs.

Riz Paysan et Changement Climatique

Français, Senegal
Le changement climatique est une réalité en Casamance : modification du régime des précipitations, baisse de la fertilité des sols, salinisation et envasement des terres arables, notamment des rizières et des sources sous-marines.

Agroecology: The Zimbabwean Story of Resilience

English, Zimbabwe
In Shashe District, located in the dry Masvingo Province of Zimbabwe, women have shown remarkable resilience in the face of challenging climatic conditions. They have adopted agroecology practices to combat the adverse effects of climate change and ensure food security for their families and communities.