Project to improve food security in Egypt

FAO announces US$3m project to improve food security in Egypt - The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Monday announced a US$3 million project aimed at improving food security and nutrition of women and young people in Egypt.

Unemployment rates for young people and women in Egypt are estimated at around 25 %, much higher than the national average of 10 %.

As well, health surveys in Egypt have shown that malnutrition is the root cause of over third of sicknesses affecting children under the age of.

FAO said the project aims to improve food and nutrition security through higher food production, nutrition education for women and young people and capacity building to strengthen national and decentralized institutions.

It said the project would establish Junior Farmer Field and Life Schools and Community Model Gardens to give women and young people the opportunity to manage their own microfood production enterprises, to learn how to grow food and to raise small animals, and to improve household incomes through the sale of food products.

Training on how to produce organic fertilizers will as well allow households to avoid purchasing expensive fertilizers.

The project will as well have a nutrition education component. Nutrition education and behaviour change communication plans will be developed together with local communities.