The award will be launched on 8 March to mark International Women’s Day at the inaugural Voices of Faith event in Rome.

President of Caritas Internationalis, Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, said: “The Women Sowers of Development Prize aims to recognise best practises of women in agriculture. By celebrating them, we come closer to ending global hunger.”

Women produce about half of the world’s food, but own only two percent of all land.

In every region, they have less access than men to resources. If the opportunities were level, women could raise their farm productivity by 20%-30%. Globally that would lift 100-150 million people out of hunger.

And when women do control additional income, evidence shows they spend it on food, health, clothing and education for their children.

The 2014 Women Sowers of Development Prize consists of two prizes of €10,000 each. One category is aimed at programmes supported by Caritas national organisations. The other is aimed at bodies outside the Caritas network.

The winner will be announced on 16 October, World Food Day.

At the first ever Voices of Faith storytelling event on Saturday, 11 remarkable women will share their personal stories demonstrating how their faith has positively impacted their life, greater society and the world. Voices of Faith aims for a connection of ideas from a female perspective that can build a better future.

Source: Zenit.org