UN Women launching a campaign in support of the economic empowerment of women farmers
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UN Women and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations have taken the first steps in promoting the economic empowerment of women farmers in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti.
As part of the project “Promoting the Economic Empowerment of Women Farmers through the Support of Farmer Field School (FFS) Approaches”, the representatives of the two UN agencies met with the current and potential partners in the target region and discussed future prospects for cooperation. In particular, the content and goals of the project were introduced to the organizations working on the issues of women’s empowerment in Zugdidi Municipality; a consultation meeting was held with the head of the Social Protection Department, Gogi Revia. As a result, future plans for the cooperation between UN Women and the municipality in raising awareness on one of the components of the project - women’s rights and domestic violence - have been outlined.
“This initiative of UN Women, aimed at empowering women, is an entirely new approach,” Mr. Revia remarked after the meeting. “It is very beneficial for women to have an opportunity to develop their own undertakings. I think this initiative is timely and useful.”
The project aims to establish a network of women farmers and to develop their capacities by empowering them through training and skills-building. Within the framework of the project, a training platform for farmers - comprising 20 field schools - will be created. While in the schools, participating women will take a course on business start-ups at the Academy of the Ministry of Finance with the support of UN Women to expand their leadership and management skills. The project will help participants become strengthened economically and overcome barriers that hinder the fulfilment of their potential.
It should be noted that the UN Women component also provides for raising awareness about women’s rights and domestic violence. The women farmers have already passed the first training on women’s rights in the village of Darcheli. There are also plans to conduct an information campaign on domestic violence in cooperation with the local municipalities.
The project in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti is implemented with the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.