Women farmers in Africa will be able to access information and messaging services to help them with their work after an agreement between the UN and Airtel.

The Farmers Information System will help its users find real-time weather and farming policy updates, as well as offering IP messaging, in order to support the development of women entrepreneurs. The UN Women body will identify the farmers to be covered, while Airtel will deliver the appropriate mobile solutions during the two-year partnership. Airtel will also co-finance projects promoting the empowerment of women and girls.

Women provide approximately 70 per cent of agricultural labour and produce 90 per cent of all food, yet do not share equally in the economic benefits of the industry. The scheme will operate in the East and Horn of Africa, including Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Andre Beyers, the Chief Marketing Officer of Airtel Africa said: “The empowerment of women is essential to economic development, especially in rural and agricultural economies. We are pleased to partner with UN Women and contribute to their agenda of gender equality and empowerment of women by leveraging the possibilities mobile telephony has to offer.”