Across Africa, women farmers are the heartbeat of rural communities and the backbone of sustainable food systems. Every day, they work the land to feed their families and nations, often using traditional and sustainable farming methods that protect the environment. Yet, their hard work extends far beyond the fields into homes and communities  where they carry the heavy load of unpaid care work that often goes unseen and unrecognized.

The Invisible Load

In many parts of Africa, women spend long hours not only tending crops but also caring for children, cooking, cleaning, collecting water, and supporting community activities. This unpaid care work is essential for family and community well-being, but it is rarely valued or reflected in national statistics.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), in 2023, 748 million people worldwide were not part of the labour force because of care responsibilities  and 708 million of them were women. In Zambia, as in most African countries, the majority of unpaid care work is carried out by women and girls for free.

“Unpaid Care Work is not reflected in national statistics or economic analyses, despite its centrality to our day-to-day well-being,” explains Revival NGO Programme Coordinator, Bernard Ngoma.

This invisible labour limits women’s opportunities to engage in income-generating activities or access markets, affecting their economic empowerment and participation in sustainable agriculture.

The Impact of Unpaid Care Work

Unpaid care responsibilities restrict women’s ability to earn an income, pursue education, or take part in leadership roles. Girls are often pulled out of school to help with household duties, reinforcing cycles of poverty and inequality.

“These disproportionate labour burdens create time poverty, leaving women with little or no free time for paid work, learning, or rest,” says ILO Director Sukti Dasgupta. “The intensity and seasonality of this work can also lead to exhaustion and stress, especially for rural women farmers”.

Breaking the Cycle

To change this reality, governments and organizations across Africa are working to recognize, reduce, and redistribute unpaid care work.

• Recognise: By collecting data and including unpaid care in national statistics, its economic value can be appreciated.

• Reduce: Access to clean water, energy-saving technologies, and childcare services can ease the daily workload.

• Redistribute: Encouraging shared responsibility between men and women, families, and communities helps balance the burden.

Agroecology also offers solutions — it promotes sustainable, resource-efficient farming practices that save time, restore ecosystems, and boost incomes.

“Increasing women’s land ownership and tenure security can further increase their productive capacity and enable them to access finance for climate-smart innovations,” notes Ester Chirwa, a woman farmer and gender activist from Zambia.

A Brighter Future

Empowering women agroecology farmers starts with acknowledging the hidden weight they carry. When their unpaid care work is recogniesd and supported, women can thrive as leaders in building sustainable food systems.

By valuing their contributions both in the fields and at home , Africa can create a more equitable, resilient and food-secure future for all.