FAO delivers 161 small enterprises in Egyptian governorates to improving household food and nutrition security

28 February 2018, Cairo, Egypt- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) delivered 161 micro and small enterprises to beneficiaries in four Egyptian governorates under the framework of “Improving Household Food and Nutrition Security in Egypt by Targeting Women and Youth " project.

This project is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and Financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation

The enterprises depend on the principle of revolving loans; they vary between poultry farming enterprises and goat and sheep rearing enterprises. They also provide the necessary forage and veterinary care, along with the needed technical support for the beneficiaries.

Around 1,500 micro and small enterprises are being implemented by FAO, rounding a total of 17.5 million Egyptian pounds, and will be delivered before the month of Ramdan in five governorates: Fayoum, Beni Suef, Assiut, Sohag and Aswan.

In collaboration with Al-Orman Association, FAO has distributed 50 enterprises related to poultry and sheep farming and milk production in Fayoum and 50 goat-rearing enterprises in Edfu, Aswan.

And in collaboration with Misr El Kheir Foundation, FAO has distributed 36 sheep farming enterprises in Assiut, along with 25 enterprises related to poultry and egg production in Sohag.

After the distribution of the enterprises, FAO follows up with the progress and needs of the beneficiaries through the civil society organizations in order to provide them with forage and veterinary care as well as marketing for their products.

Leading the delegation that delivered the enterprises in the four governorates, Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative in Egypt, was welcomed by Gamal Samy, Fayoum Governor, Yasser Dsoky Attia, Assiut Governor, Kamal Shalaby, Excetive Assistant in Assiut, and Colonel Ayman Mohamed Reda, Head of Edfu.

“These enterprises are part of FAO's efforts to eradicate malnutrition and food insecurity among women and youth in 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,” said Gadain.

The project is designed to improve the state of 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 awareness raising 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.