Almotamar.net - In line with the visit of Ms. Amat Al-Alim Alsoswa, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Assistant Administrator of United Nations Development Programme and Director of its Regional Bureau for Arab States, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Yemen, represented by Hdramut Governorate, launched Tuesday the “Economic Empowerment and Gender (EEG) Project activities. The launch started with the Deputy Governor for Valley and Desert Mr. Omair Mubarak Omair signing on the project document.
After that, an interactive meeting was held. The meeting was attended by leaders of Governorate, Local Authority, UNDP, Women National Committee (WNC), Yemen Women Union (YWU), GTZ, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, NGOs, women and youth, and others.
At the beginning of the meeting, Ms. Pratibha Mehta, UNDP Resident Representative, delivered a speech to highlight the project activities. She expressed her happiness to meet the stakeholders in Sayoun, and she congratulated all for the launch. She also expressed that UNDP is committed to continue this effective partnership with the Government of Yemen, represented by Hdramut Governorate, as well as with WNC, YWU, local communities, and women and youth.
In her turn, Ms. Amat Al-Alim confirmed that UNDP gives gender the utmost importance. It is a major issue that cross-cuts all UNDP projects and programmes. “This project will support the economical and social development in the governorate. And despite of its symbolic resources, it is expected to be a model in empowering the targeted groups economically and socially.” Ms. Alsoswa said.
Throughout the launch, an interactive discussion with the project stakeholders took place. They thanked the UNDP for its continuous efforts to support gender issues in Yemen. In addition, they confirmed the importance of continuing this support towards economical and social support of women and youth.
The project is a result of several field visits and studies to the Governorate, conducted by the UNDP. The collected data and statistics, showed a high percentage of poverty and unemployment among the population in general, and women and youth in particular, the thing that led UNDP to initiate this vital project to support a targeted group of Hdramut women and youth, ages 18-25 years.
The project will be implemented in four districts of Hdramut Governorate (The Valley: AlWadi). After that, based on the experiences and results, it will expand to cover other districts and governorates.
It is worth to mention that the UNDP and the Ministry of Planning and international Cooperation signed the Project Document on Sunday 25 April 2010, in Sana’a.
According to the project document, UNDP will provide assistance of USD 2 Million to promote Gender the economic and social empowerment of disadvantaged women and youth, improving livelihoods, rights, and gender sensitive policy support in Hadramout Governorate (AlWadi). The project strategy is comprehensive, gender responsive, market driven, and community-based focuses on building capacity of women and young men to access productive resources and sustainable earning potential and will train them in market oriented technical, entrepreneurial and managerial skills.
The ceremony was attended by:
Fahd Al Ajam, Assistant Deputy Governor for Valley and Desert, Mr. Mohammad Naciri, UNDP Deputy Country Director, Ms. Rashida Al Hamadani, Chairwoman of Women National Committee, Ambassador Ramzia Al-Eryani, Chairwoman of Yemen Women Union, officials from the Government and UNDP, and others.
|