#RuralWomenVoice: ICONS brings together women’s perspectives from rural communities

Starting on 15 October, women connected to European research and innovation initiatives will share their stories, reflecting on their role in rural life, the challenges they encounter and the changes they would like to see. Through #RuralWomenVoice, ICONS will also invite other organisations and rural communities to join and contribute with their own experiences. SMART ERA, RootLinks, GUARDIANS and COREnet will take part in the campaign.

The International Day of Rural Women offers an opportunity to recognise the essential role women play in the social, economic and environmental development of rural areas.
In 2026, this conversation takes on additional significance. The United Nations has declared this year the International Year of the Woman Farmer, highlighting women’s role across agrifood systems and persistent challenges related to land tenure, financial and technical resources, access to services and education.

While women’s contribution to rural communities extends far beyond agriculture, the International Year reinforces a broader need to recognise the many ways in which women support local economies, strengthen community life and help drive territorial transformation.

Across the European Union, in 2023, women led about 31% of farms. Yet farms managed by women remain considerably smaller on average: around 9 hectares, compared with 21 hectares for farms managed by men. Women in rural areas may also face barriers in accessing employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, services, infrastructure, as well as representation and participation in decision-making processes.

Sharing experiences from across Europe

#RuralWomenVoice will give participants an opportunity to reflect on their role in their communities, the challenges they face and the opportunities they see for the future.
The initiative aims to connect perspectives emerging from different territories and contribute to a broader conversation on the future of rural areas.

Building on ICONS’ expertise

Over the years, ICONS has contributed to a range of EU-funded initiatives addressing rural communities, agriculture and primary production.

These include dRural, which ran from 2021 to 2024 and explored how digital services could create new opportunities and improve quality of life in rural areas, as well as more recent initiatives such as TERRAE, SMART ERA, RootLinks, GUARDIANS and COREnet. These projects address different dimensions of rural and agricultural development, from community-led innovation and digitalisation to resilient farming and the involvement of primary producers.

#RuralWomenVoice also builds on ICONS’ experience in developing communication initiatives that connect European research and innovation with wider societal conversations.

Previous campaigns have included #CircularWasteEU, launched around the International Day of Zero Waste to highlight European research on circularity and waste reduction; Dear Little Scientist, which brought together reflections and messages around science and its future; and a joint campaign for International Women in Engineering Day 2026, connecting European innovation projects to amplify the voices and experiences of women in engineering.

Follow #RuralWomenVoice to learn more about the women contributing every day to the present and future of rural communities.

Feauture image by Zoe Richardson from Unsplash