Boosting decent rural employment through the implementation of the Integrated Country Approach and Dimitra Clubs

Major results

Thanks to its Flexible Multi Partner Mechanism (FMM), FAO has successfully implemented a number of projects in recent years in two crucial work streams that contribute to rural poverty reduction and gender equality: decent rural employment (DRE) and community engagement. In the first case, through the Integrated Country Approach (ICA), FAO has supported countries in developing more youth inclusive and employment centered policies and strategies, with a strong emphasis on job creation and job quality.

In the second, in its efforts to promote the use of community led and participatory models for facilitating the empowerment of rural populations and gender equality, the Dimitra Club (DC) approach has been developed and implemented by FAO in several countries of sub Saharan Africa. DCs have a bottom up, community led approach to development that enhances the capacities of rural populations, particularly women and youth, to participate in local decision making, organize for collective action and engage in dialogue and networking. They amplify the voices of rural women, so that they are heard at national and international levels.

In order to maintain and expand upon the significant achievements of previous programmes and activities and to promote impact at scale, this project was implemented to ensure continued coordination and technical support to both work streams, to mobilize further resources and to create partnerships for subsequent projects in these areas.

Both DRE and community engagement represent key drivers for poverty reduction and improved livelihoods. Enhancing youth employment rates and working conditions in rural areas through improved access to productive resources and skills development have significant potential to reduce rural poverty. In addition, ending child labour in agriculture is crucial for future decent youth employment opportunities, the reduction of poverty and the achievement of food security. Through the DRE Team, FAO supports countries in the development of policies and programmes to generate more decent farm and non-farm employment opportunities, promoting employment enhancement in agri-food systems with a focus on disadvantaged groups of workers. Through community mobilization, the DCs facilitate rural women and men’s empowerment by improving their participation in decision-making processes, promote collective action and intra- and intercommunity dialogue, and enhance women and youth’s voices and leadership.

Click here for the project document.