Rural transformation is central to the broader structural transformation process taking place in developing countriesfueled by the globalization of value chains, changing food systems, new technologies, conflict and displacement, and climate change, among other factors. Rural transformation refers to the process whereby rural economies diversify into nonfarm activities, agriculture becomes more capital-intensive and commercially oriented, and linkages with neighboring towns and cities grow and deepen (Berdegué, Rosada, and Bebbington 2014). It can bring about fundamental changes in the way businesses and households organize, such as the commercialization and diversification of agricultural production; increased agricultural productivity; migration; and the emergence of a broader set of rural livelihood activities. Analysis of rural transformation requires attention to gender, as men's and women's participation in rural transformation and ability to benefit from it is shaped by their different access to and control over resources, by often inequitable access to employment opportunities, and by norms that govern their access to livelihood opportunities in their communities and beyond. At the same time, rural transformation has the potential to change harmful gender norms and empower women. This brief draws on research conducted under Flagship 6 "Cross-Cutting Gender Research and Coordination" of the CGIAR's Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) led by IFPRI, including insights from Doss et al. (2020). It illustrates how the processes of rural transformation may influence women's and men's labor, access to resources, and broader gender relations and norms. PIM SYNTHESIS BRIEF OCTOBER 2020 KEY MESSAGES  Analysis of rural transformation requires attention to gender, including women's labor market opportunities, access to resources, and degree of empowerment.  Women need both resources and the ability to exercise agency to share in any benefits of rural transformation. This publication has been prepared as an output of the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) led by IFPRI and has not been independently peer reviewed. Any opinions expressed here belong to the author(s) and are not necessarily representative of or endorsed by IFPRI, PIM, or CGIAR.