Improving household food security in Africa means focusing on the role of women because they play a critical role as food producers and income earners for their families. Unless the production and productivity of these women is increased, efforts to improve household food security in Africa will not succeed. In turn, increasing production and productivity of women farmers and entrepreneurs means removing the obstacles they face in doing their work, and improving their access to resources and information so that they can help themselves. In short, women must not be marginalized, but must be brought into the mainstream of economic and social life so that they can fully use their productive capacity and contribute more to the welfare of their families and the nation. In seeking to improve household food security in Africa, it is also important that consideration be given to increasing the benefits that women receive and improving their decision-making authority. However, care must be taken that new policies and programs do not add to women's already large burden of providing food and care for their households.