$2.5m for Economic Development of Rural Women

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will work jointly with relevant ministries of the government including the Ministries of Women’s Affairs, Agriculture, Education, and Health as well as with partners from civil society and women NGOs to support women’s socio-economic needs.

The importance of the programme lies in the fact that the UN organizations will jointly provide rural women in selected governorates with a wide range of services such as: educational services, leadership skills, vocational trainings, legal services, psycho-social support and awareness raising about their rights and reproductive health, among others, towards responding to women’s needs and achieving social and economic security. The programme is in line with the National Development Plan 2014-2017 and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).

State Minister Baiyan Nouri expressed appreciation to the Government of Iraq and the United Nations for their partnership in empowering rural women and communities. “Rural women have great potential and enhancing their skills and access to resources and services will contribute tremendously in national development”, she highlighted.

“Rural women are key agents for achieving the transformational economic and social changes required for sustainable development and promoting gender equality. Empowering rural women is timely in achieving these goals”, emphasized Dr Sadiq Syed.

(Source: UN)