The Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP) on October 27 joined the world celebrating the crucial role of rural women and girls in socio-cultural, economic and environmental achievements. A quarter of the global population are rural women, who are leaders in agricultural production, food security and nutrition, land and natural resources management as well as climate change.
On this day EU IRDP called for action to enhance the role of women and claim for equal opportunities for women and girls in rural areas. A workshop was held marking International Day of Rural Women together with public-private partners, says GIZ Office in Tajikistan.
EU Head of Cooperation, Mr. Marc Buchmann stated: “In Tajikistan in particular, women play a vital role in the rural economy making up 50% roughly of the agricultural work force. Yet Tajik rural women face challenges when it comes to land ownership, equal pay, participation in decision-making entities, irrigation. The European Union has committed total of 97 million euros to rural development sector since 2016 up to 2027. The objective of the current Rural Development Program II is to boost added value of agricultural production in Tajikistan, to contribute to more effective governance and assist the Government of Tajikistan in implementing the National Strategy for enhancing the role of women.”
The project also promotes female entrepreneurship and business activities (start-ups) through strengthening capacities and competencies of local partners and target groups at different levels.
GIZ Country Director, Ms. Sabine Olthof, in the light of GIZ experiences declared: “From the production of crops, processing, preparing and distributing foods, rural women’s labor paid and unpaid feeds their families, communities and the world. Gender is really important topic for GIZ worldwide and we promote gender equality and the elimination of gender specific disadvantages and discrimination.”
The Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP)/GIZ “Towards Rural Inclusive Growth and Economic Resilience (TRIGGER)” is a joint project of the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to boost the added value of agricultural production in Tajikistan.
