Winnie Byanyima
Winnie Byanyima is Executive Director of Oxfam International. She is a leader on women’s rights, democratic governance and peace building.
Development Programmes16 OCT 2014
By Winnie Byanyima — Executive Director of Oxfam International
Across South Asia and Southeast Asia, millions of small family farms are the bedrock of national food security. But the pressure on these farmers is increasing. Population growth is not slowing, demand for land for development is accelerating, and agricultural productivity seems to be reaching a plateau.
When we talk to farmers, they tell us about changes they’re seeing in the climate. Planting season rains are erratic and drought is more common. In 2010, the Mekong River charted its lowest level in two decades; 60 million people living along the river were affected. Vietnam, one of the world’s largest rice producers, is in danger of losing huge swathes of productive land due to rising sea levels.
Development Programmes18 JUN 2013
During a meeting with women from Nasapir Village, Uganda, who have gathered to plant tree seedlings, Savio Carvalho, Oxfam's climate change advisor for the south, said the hard part was looking after the saplings to make sure they would grow. He asked the women if they were willing to put in the effort. They all put up their hands. Photo: Caroline Gluck / Oxfam
by Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, Oxfam International
I feel very privileged to have joined Oxfam International just as we adopt our new strategic plan, called “The Power of People against Poverty”. To me, that is the right way to think about the work of Oxfam and its partners around the world.