Gender, Rights, and Opportunities for Women – through Fungi: The GROW workshop
November 3-4, 2025
The Fungal Use Group (FUse) of the IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Group (SULi) is pleased to host a two-day workshop on fungal conservation and gender (GROW) as part of this year’s ISFC4 meeting in Cotonou, Benin.
The workshop will consist of a mix of presentations, round-table discussions, and brainstorming sessions.
Our aim is to bring together researchers and practitioners working at a range of career stages on topics including fungal resource use, ethnomycology, gender equality, public health, women’s reproductive health care, and development issues. While the focus of the workshop will be on Sub-Saharan Africa, attendees from other regions are also very welcome.
The GROW workshop is funded by a grant from Jamma Conservation and Communities, whose mission is to deliver global impact by advancing community resource management, challenge misconceptions, and inspire a shift in conservation policy. They create platforms and opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to champion their rights, fostering sustainable wildlife economies and environmental stewardship.
We have also gotten great support from the Community Economies Institute (CEI), an organization that fosters thought and practice to help communities survive well together. The CEI does this by conducting research, education and action around ethical economic practices that acknowledge and act on the interdependence of all life forms, human and nonhuman.
