Advancing Women’s employment in the Agri-food sector through Re-skilling and Empowerment is an European Social Fund Social Innovation project that runs from September 2025 to September 2028.
AWARE is a transnational initiative dedicated to empowering long-term unemployed women in the agri-food sector by strengthening their skills, improving access to quality employment, and promoting gender-inclusive rural development. Through tailored training, personalised career counselling, and structured coaching, the project equips participants with the competencies needed to enter and thrive in the agri-food labour market.
AWARE also collaborates closely with local enterprises to create at least six-month subsidised employment opportunities, addressing structural barriers and enhancing women’s economic independence. By fostering social innovation, encouraging community engagement, and supporting inclusive business practices, the project contributes to more resilient rural economies and a fairer, more equitable agri-food ecosystem across partner countries.
Objectives
- Identify and understand the needs of long-term unemployed women, while actively involving local communities and strengthening collaboration among key labour market actors.
- Modernise training opportunities and employment support services by adapting and upscaling the Rural Social Innovation (RSI) model through a gender-sensitive, personalised approach tailored specifically to women facing long-term unemployment.
- Boost women’s employability in the agri-food sector by connecting them with businesses and reinforcing community bonds, supported through continuous coaching and guidance.
- Guarantee high-quality implementation and measurable impact through a robust quality assurance system, ongoing monitoring, and structured reflection on lessons learned.
- Increase awareness and promote gender-responsive measures that support women’s reintegration into the labour market and encourage broader adoption of AWARE’s innovative model.
Results
1
Mapping disadvantaged women’s skill needs and improving connections with local communities and employers in the agri-food sector
2
Development and delivery of one-to-one counselling services and of AWARE training course
3
Employment of long-term unemployed persons
4
Handbook addressed to educators and trainers working with women in vulnerable situation
Target groups
- Long-term unemployment (LTU) among disadvantaged women (primarily migrants, victims of gender-based violence, mothers in rural areas)
- VET providers, employment agencies (PES), job centres, NGOs, policymakers, researchers, and EU networks, agri-food businesses