A synthesis report of the Near East Region - Women, agriculture and rural development

Annex V: NGO support to rural women in selected countries

Country

NGO Support to Rural Women in Selected Countries

Cyprus

NGOs have not been active in rural Cyprus.

Egypt

Egypt had over 4,000 Community Development Associations, and over 10,000 Private Volunteer Organizations (PVOS). About 200 NGOs are headed by women.

Iran

Imam Khomeini Relief Committee provides assistance to rural areas, and women constitute 55% of the beneficiaries. Approximately 10,000 female-headed households are provided with employment and self-sufficiency training programmes in carpet-weaving, needlework, knitting, pottery, crop and livestock production and small-scale manufacturing.

Women's Islamic Institute, established in 1979, seeks to promote women's status in society in general. The Institute has sponsored a number of rural activities.

Jordan

Jordan had 290 local voluntary societies in 1993 working in rural areas. Most of their work has been in health and nutrition, and more recently in implementing small-scale income-generating projects. Compared to NGO work with urban women, their impact in rural areas has been limited.

Queen Alia Fund is a national NGO with community centres spread throughout the country. The Fund offers vocational training for women and is involved in small income-generating projects. Specific agricultural projects have included training women in sheep husbandry, milk and cheese production and processing, domestic bird-rearing, and home-gardening.

Noor Al-Hussein Foundation is also a national NGO. It's "Women and Development Programme" and "Improving the Quality of Life Project" target rural women in various parts of the country with educational and income-generating projects. Projects realized have been in sheep, rabbit and bee husbandry, and dairy products.

Lebanon

In 1985, Lebanon had 23 foreign NGOs Of the 1,300 institutions working on family planning, health care and the environment, 77 were women's institutions of which almost half were located in Beirut.

Mauritania

There are approximately 30 NGOs working in Mauritania.

Morocco

In 1993, there were 20 NGOs working in rural areas. The scope of their work has not yet been quantified, and their resources appear to be limited.

Oman

Omani Women's Association, established in 1970, aims to improve the social, cultural and health standards of Omani women, and to promote income-generating activities such as weaving, needle craft and pottery.

Country

NGO Support to Rural Women in Selected Countries

Somalia

A few local NGOs were established to assist women farmers following the civil war in 1993. However, these NGOs lack financial support.

Sudan

There are 92 NGOs working in agriculture, implementing 23 projects which target women in the areas of food production and processing, and 21 projects that target women in livestock production. Another 48 social service projects are being implemented for women to combat illiteracy, and in health, education, training and income generation activities. There are about 6 NGOs working in the area of environmental conservation and forestry.

The total number of local NGOs has increased over time as has the number of women beneficiaries. There appears to be widespread agreement from people working with NGOs of the need to encourage women in rural areas to enter the market economy by establishing small-scale production units and rural industries.

Turkey

There are several NGOs working on behalf of rural women.

The Development Foundation of Turkey implements income-generating activities in areas such as carpet-weaving.

The Foundation for the Advancement and Recognition of Turkish Women promotes non-traditional income-generating activities such as beekeeping.

The Committee for Women Farmers, established by The Union of Farmers Chambers in 1993, seeks to: improve the socio-economic conditions of women in agriculture, provide extension and training in a wide variety of subjects, organize women farmers, supply women with information on health and nutrition, and protect women's rights.

Yemen

Yemen Women General Union, which consists of nine branches with over 4,000 members, and the Yemen Women Voluntary Society, established in 1993.

Country	NGO Support to Rural Women in Selected Countries
Cyprus	NGOs have not been active in rural Cyprus.
Egypt	Egypt had over 4,000 Community Development Associations, and over 10,000 Private Volunteer Organizations (PVOS). About 200 NGOs are headed by women.
Iran	Imam Khomeini Relief Committee provides assistance to rural areas, and women constitute 55% of the beneficiaries. Approximately 10,000 female-headed households are provided with employment and self-sufficiency training programmes in carpet-weaving, needlework, knitting, pottery, crop and livestock production and small-scale manufacturing. Women's Islamic Institute, established in 1979, seeks to promote women's status in society in general. The Institute has sponsored a number of rural activities.
Jordan	Jordan had 290 local voluntary societies in 1993 working in rural areas. Most of their work has been in health and nutrition, and more recently in implementing small-scale income-generating projects. Compared to NGO work with urban women, their impact in rural areas has been limited. Queen Alia Fund is a national NGO with community centres spread throughout the country. The Fund offers vocational training for women and is involved in small income-generating projects. Specific agricultural projects have included training women in sheep husbandry, milk and cheese production and processing, domestic bird-rearing, and home-gardening. Noor Al-Hussein Foundation is also a national NGO. It's "Women and Development Programme" and "Improving the Quality of Life Project" target rural women in various parts of the country with educational and income-generating projects. Projects realized have been in sheep, rabbit and bee husbandry, and dairy products.
Lebanon	In 1985, Lebanon had 23 foreign NGOs Of the 1,300 institutions working on family planning, health care and the environment, 77 were women's institutions of which almost half were located in Beirut.
Mauritania	There are approximately 30 NGOs working in Mauritania.
Morocco	In 1993, there were 20 NGOs working in rural areas. The scope of their work has not yet been quantified, and their resources appear to be limited.
Oman	Omani Women's Association, established in 1970, aims to improve the social, cultural and health standards of Omani women, and to promote income-generating activities such as weaving, needle craft and pottery.

Country	NGO Support to Rural Women in Selected Countries
Somalia	A few local NGOs were established to assist women farmers following the civil war in 1993. However, these NGOs lack financial support.
Sudan	There are 92 NGOs working in agriculture, implementing 23 projects which target women in the areas of food production and processing, and 21 projects that target women in livestock production. Another 48 social service projects are being implemented for women to combat illiteracy, and in health, education, training and income generation activities. There are about 6 NGOs working in the area of environmental conservation and forestry.
	The total number of local NGOs has increased over time as has the number of women beneficiaries. There appears to be widespread agreement from people working with NGOs of the need to encourage women in rural areas to enter the market economy by establishing small-scale production units and rural industries.
Turkey	There are several NGOs working on behalf of rural women. The Development Foundation of Turkey implements income-generating activities in areas such as carpet-weaving. The Foundation for the Advancement and Recognition of Turkish Women promotes non-traditional income-generating activities such as beekeeping. The Committee for Women Farmers, established by The Union of Farmers Chambers in 1993, seeks to: improve the socio-economic conditions of women in agriculture, provide extension and training in a wide variety of subjects, organize women farmers, supply women with information on health and nutrition, and protect women's rights.
Yemen	Yemen Women General Union, which consists of nine branches with over 4,000 members, and the Yemen Women Voluntary Society, established in 1993.