On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women of Iraq who have overcome challenges and become symbols of resilience and success.

In the semi-arid lands of southwestern Morocco, the argan tree (Argania spinosa) has long provided nourishment, income, and cultural identity to rural communities.

In the village of Dalhamieh in Lebanon’s Bekaa Governorate, Mirna Soleh, a mother and active community member, faced the collapse of a promising new venture.

Gaza has long faced overlapping layers of crisis, but the conflict that escalated in late 2023 brought unprecedented devastation. 

In the West Bank, rising unrest, land seizures, settler attacks, and road closures have crippled the ability of rural communities to access their lands and markets. These pressures have severely disrupted food production, and women as caregivers, providers and farmers are among the hardest hit.

Through FAO’s support, Asrar has strengthened both her productivity and Water User Association (WUA) sustainability. She received modern irrigation system kit and two greenhouses, seeds, and an animal barn with all vital tools for climate resilient farming. 

As global health challenges grow more interconnected, the One Health (OH) approach—linking human, animal, and environmental health—is more essential than ever.

The Sudan’s conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has created one of the world’s fastest-growing humanitarian crises. In this fragile environment, women are especially vulnerable. Yet many have emerged as vital leaders, protecting their families, land and dignity.

Jumana Al-Awawda comes from the West Bank village of Dura, where limited economic opportunities often make it challenging for young people to pursue their aspirations. While studying at Al-Quds University near Jerusalem, she was introduced to hydroponics, a modern farming method that grows plants in a nutrient-rich solution instead of soil.

Anagheem is one of eight young female agricultural engineers who graduated in April 2025 as Climate Wise Women Agents, part of an FAO initiative placing women at the forefront of climate change adaptation.

For Indira Rawat and her family, farming alone could not cover their expenses. So each winter, her husband would leave their home in Nepal for India to seek temporary work.

To establish support for gardening activities, small irrigation projects and education on nutrition, FAO brought together landowners and farmers without access to irrigable land in the wadi. These efforts led to greater agricultural production, improved incomes and a dramatic decrease in malnutrition.

Women weavers in Goenpa Kabab, a remote village in Bhutan’s mountain districts, have always made exquisite silk dresses. Now they are combining this tradition and modern techniques.

Women, often the primary custodians of traditional crafts and local knowledge, play an essential role in promoting vibrant rural economies. Across Saudi Arabia, women are actively engaged in activities such as weaving, making artisanal products, and various small handicrafts, including leatherwork.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) yesterday launched The International Year of...

Iracema Da Luz Ferreyra’s community in Colonia Alegría, Argentina has seen the effects of deforestation and have awakened to the importance of trees for their lives and livelihoods.

Members of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) made history by adopting two landmark legislative frameworks: the Model Law on Sustainable Soil Management in Africa and the Model Law on Gender Equality and Equity.

For the Xukuru Indigenous Peoples, caring for the Ororubá land is their sacred duty, blending cosmogony, biocentrism, ecosystems reading and Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge with state-of-the-art technology. 

Trained by FAO as part of the GCF-funded PEARL project, Commune Agriculture Officers are teaching members of the Eco Farm cooperative climate-resilient farming techniques and business skills to tap into premium markets for their vegetables.

“For us, the forest is sacred: from it we get our medicine, firewood, everything,” says Teodora Vera, a 55-year-old member of the Avá Guaraní, Indigenous Peoples’ community of Y’aka Poty. “The forest is our life.”