The IFA is targeting an 80:20 gender split across all its national committees before 2025 as part of its newly launched diversity strategy.

To mark UN’s International Rural Women’s Day, the organisation wants to address the under-representation of women at national level.

From 1 January 2020, the maximum term all newly elected officers can serve is six two-year terms before being required to move forward in the IFA.

Limit

There will also be a limit introduced on the term an officer can sit on national council. No person will be allow serve more than eight years consecutively or 12 years in total.

There will also be a target set that at least 20% of candidates for election are women. To develop a talent bank of women interested in holding positions, mentoring and training will be offered as part of the future leaders programme.

This strategy will ensure that we continue to grow and improve

Speaking at the launch of the IFA’s diversity strategy towards 2025, IFA president Joe Healy said: “The recommendations set out a clear statement of IFA’s commitment to improve diversity and create a culture of inclusion.

“It is only through our individual and collective actions that we can build an organisation that will deliver the best results for farmers.

“While there has been significant improvement in the level of female representation in the association in recent years, this strategy will ensure that we continue to grow and improve so that leadership better reflects our diverse membership.”

He concluded by saying the strategy was the start of the IFA’s journey to empowering and encouraging more women and younger farmers to get involved.

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