The Women and Gender in International Development team at the Center for International Research, Education, and Development (CIRED) of Virginia Tech invites students, faculty, practitioners, extension professionals, and all interested individuals to an intensive learning and networking opportunity engaging renowned experts in gender and development—both international and domestic—with particular emphasis on inclusive rural development. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this 4-day event will be virtual, using Zoom and Whova, with two days of asynchronous, pre-event material and networking and an optional workshop, and two half days of synchronous programming. See our website for details and follow us on Twitter (@wgdconf) for more information. If you have any questions please write us at [email protected] and use 2021 WGD Conf in your subject heading.

Fees are under $50, and only $20 for students. Scholarships are available but limited. Apply here.

Check out the workshop options before you register. Register soon, especially to get into your favorite workshop. Topics range from teaching to youth, to monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), to qualitative research methods.

Submit your abstracts now for posters  and for the 4 Minute Student Flashtalks. Students may enter into competitions for both. All are welcome to submit posters within the topics of the conference. Deadline for abstracts is November 9. Cash prizes for student competitions!

Join the careers conversation and learn about the unique trajectories of some of our featured professionals.

Keynote speakers and panelists will address feminist food justice, gender equality, empowerment, masculinities and intersectionality, women’s land ownership and decision-making, the impacts of COVID-19 on rural development, and gender, race and class impacts of colonial development in the Caribbean.

Keynote speakers:

Dr. Jemimah Njuki, Senior Program Specialist and Coordinator-Growth and Economic Opportunities for Women (GrOW) at Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Chair of the Steering Committee of the African Women in Agriculture Research and Development (AWARD). Soon to be IFPRI’s Africa Director.

and

Dr. Carolyn Sachs, Professor Emerita of Rural Sociology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Pennsylvania State University

Panelists:

Dr. Hazel Malapit, Senior Research Coordinator, The Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Dr. Mary Peabody, Community Economic Development Specialist, University of Vermont (UVM) Extension, and founding director of Women's Ag Network (WAgN) and the UVM Extension New Farmer project

Dr. Gary Baker, President and CEO, Promundo U.S.

Laxman Belbase, Global Co-Director, MenEngage

Dr. Tami Navarro, Associate Director, Barnard Center for Research on Women

Dr. Halimah Deshong, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to the United Nations, and Head of the Institute for Gender & Development Studies: Nita Barrow Unit, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus

Dr. Angie Carter, Assistant Professor,  Environmental/Energy Justice, Michigan Tech

Dr. Gabrielle McNally, Women for the Land Initiative Director, American Farmland Trust