The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will sign on May 28, 2012 a new 18 million LE project in the aim of reducing malnutrition and household food insecurity in vulnerable governorates in Egypt with the financial support of the Italian Government.

The event, which will take place at the premises of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, mirrors a steadfast commitment between the three partners for building a food secure environment for Egyptians households.

In recent years, the surge in food prices coupled with the global economic crisis, has strongly accentuated the vulnerability of a large proportion of the world population to food insecurity and malnutrition.

Likewise, in Egypt, the prevailing economic slow-down and increases in poverty levels, that have come at the heels of the triple crisis in food, fuel and finance, have led to a progressive deterioration of household food and nutrition security at the expense of the most vulnerable groups of the social fabric, namely, women, children and youth.

Hence, the project comes at a critical time since it will tackle malnutrition and food security through a comprehensive approach addressing economic, socio-cultural, and knowledge aspects of the phenomenon. The approach that the project will promote is based on building the capacity of women and the youth in homestead food production and small livestock rearing for income generation and home consumption, while addressing the behavioral, social and cultural causes of malnutrition through adapted and community based nutrition education strategy.

By promoting the improvement of the nutrition status of targeted communities, the program, which will be implemented for the first time in Egypt, will contribute to improving the social and human capitals of individuals and communities as well as to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.