Fanny Jackson, 29, a member of Tiwale VSL Group talks about the link between household economic independence and climate shocks in Phalombe district, one of 15 districts declared a disaster area by President Peter Mutharika in early 2015.

Across hundreds of rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa, the Dimitra project is making a difference in the lives of rural women and men. This week, in honor of International Women's Day, we spotlight two such communities.

The new ASTF funded project is going to focus on the next mostly affected malnutrition districts in Rwanda, which are Bugesera, Gisagara, Gakenke and Ruhango.

'Me Maphoka Thaba is a rural farmer in the village of Ha Khojane, Mahobong, in the district of Leribe, in northern Lesotho. Still active and energetic at 72, she has faced many problems that are all too common to rural farmers in Lesotho.

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.

Give women access to information and the possibility to communicate and they will change the world.

How Junior Farmer Field and Life Schools are nurturing leaders for today and tomorrow.

A project in Lesotho's Mafeteng district shows HIV-affected families how to unlock the potential of keyhole gardens for greater food and nutrition security.

How a woman in rural Kenya is reaping the benefits of growing tomatoes using innovative irrigation technology.

FAO and its partners are helping women in Burkina Faso to better understand the nutritional value of forest products and to run effective community-based enterprises in order to boost their incomes and become self-sufficient.

In Haiti's Grand'Anse Department, FAO is promoting nutrition awareness among women through education initiatives and community gardens.

Urban aquaponic systems have proven to be successful in providing an environmentally sustainable solution to ensure food and nutrition security and to protect the livelihoods of the most vulnerable.

FAO and its partners are actively strengthening the role of women in the beach clam fisheries subsector.

FAO is working with the Government of Sierra Leone to make sure farmers have better access to quality seeds, fertilizers, machinery and training.

Following two decades of conflict, violence against women remains a challenge to recovery in Uganda.

Instructors trained by FAO have helped women to grow more food through improved techniques for producing, processing and storing rice.

Developing job opportunities and decent employment for youth are major challenges in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The challenges are even greater for girls. FAO and its partners responded with a community-based initiative.

Women and land, the role of gender in disaster risk management, HIV-related challenges facing women in Kenya, and women's networking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

Syrian forests are important sources of wood, edible fruits, medicinal plants and other products.

Drip irrigation networks and "grey water" treatment units ensure fruit and vegetable production even during water scarcities of the hot summer months.