On 27 February The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) delivered 161 micro and small projects in four Egyptian governorates under the framework of the project “Improving Household Food and Nutrition Security in Egypt by Targeting Women and Youth ", implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and Financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation These projects depend on the principle of revolving loans, they vary between poultry farming projects and goat and sheep rearing projects. They also provide the necessary forage, and veterinary care, along with the needed technical support for the participants in the project. Around 1500 small and micro projects are being implemented by FAO, with a total cost of 17.5 million Egyptian pounds. Such projects will be delivered before the month of Ramdan in five Egyptian governorates: Fayoum, Beni Suef, Assiut, Sohag and Aswan. Concerning the distribution of the projects and in coordination with Orman society, 50 projects related to poultry and sheep farming and milk production are being implemented in Fayoum governorate and 50 goat-rearing projects are implemented in the city of Edfo, Asswan governorate. Moreover, in coordination with Masr El Kheir Foundation, 36 sheep farming projects are being distributed in Assiut governorate, along with 25 projects related to fattening birds and egg production in Sohag governorate. It is worth noting that FAO is following up on the beneficiaries of these projects through civil organizations in order to provide them with forage and veterinary care, and help them to market their products. Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative in Egypt, led this delegation to deliver these projects in the five governorates, where he was welcomed by Dr. Gamal Samy, Fayoum Governor, Eng. Yasser Dsoky Attia, Assiut governor, Mr. Kamal Shalaby, Excetive assistant in Assiut governorate, and Colonel Ayman Mohamed Reda, president of district and city of Edfo. Hussein Gadain said: “These projects are part of FAO's efforts to eradicate malnutrition and food insecurity among the target groups of women and youth in the Egyptian governorates. They also aim at improving the economic and living conditions of these groups through the provision of revolving loans for the establishment of small food projects that generate income and contribute in improving nutrition by providing technical support and financial fund. Moreover, they offer employment opportunities for youth in order to support the inclusive and sustainable development process, as the beneficiaries of the project pay only 40% of the value of loans and without interest to be used to finance other projects”. The project is designed to improve the food and nutrition security of the vulnerable by improving the skills of women and youth in food production, small animal husbandry, and other entrepreneurial activities. It also focuses on raising awareness by increasing the beneficiaries' level of knowledge about nutrition through education and behaviour change. The project revolves around three main strategies: nutritional and healthy behaviour through education and engagement, household food production and income-generating activities and capacity building to improve household food and nutrition security. Hussein Gadain with Fayoum Goveror and other officials (Photo: courtesy of FAO Communication Office)
