As part of its ongoing humanitarian works to empower women across the world, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has initiated a project in Liberia aimed at helping rural women achieve sustainable income, food security and nutrition opportunities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, MoFAIC, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, and the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar, have accordingly signed an AED14.7 million (US$4 million) project cooperation agreement to support 1,500 rural women in three Liberian districts.
According to UAE, the project will provide women with improved and sustainable resources for the production of poultry and vegetables, and it will also offer a variety of seeds for agriculture, building
integrated gardens and orchards, water wells and aquifers as part of a network of solar-powered irrigation systems. In addition, agricultural tools and advanced machines that suit local conditions will be introduced, according to a statement issued by the parties.
The agreement was signed at the MoFAIC headquarters in Abu Dhabi by Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister for International Development Affairs; Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar; and Dr. Roberto Ridolfi, the Assistant Director-General for Programme Support
and Technical Cooperation at the FAO.
Under the agreement, the FAO will contribute to the project by supporting intensive production of vegetables and poultry, using modern technologies and developing modern marketing plans. The project will also help the women strengthen their leadership skills and entrepreneurship.
A flexible funding will enable the women working in poultry and vegetable production to cope with possible financial crises in their lives.
Under the project, Masdar will set up a solar-powered power supply system for modern production of vegetables, poultry and rice.
Al Shamsi confirmed that the tripartite agreement for the implementation of the project in Liberia would be a promising cooperation between the UAE, FAO and Masdar.
This will empower and support women in Liberia, in addition to providing alternative energy, a strategic priority in the UAE’s foreign aid.
Al Shamsi noted that this partnership would help the women access modern renewable energy technologies and develop skills that will enable them to earn long-term income for themselves and their families.
FAO Roberto Redolvi said his organisation would support Liberia and other nations to fight hunger and poverty.
TSS/abj/APA