WFP And Japan Boost Partnership To Empower Rural Women In The Kyrgyz Republic

WFP will use this contribution to provide vocational training in 2017 to rural women in Naryn, Osh, Jalal-Abad, Batken and Talas provinces. The courses focus on improved agricultural techniques, food processing and commercial activities such as baking, sewing and handicraft production. Women will also receive training on business management skills, enabling them to create small businesses and develop income-generating assets.

“Empowering rural women through access to knowledge, resources and equal opportunities brings immediate benefits to families and entire communities while consolidating efforts to create resilience, build stronger businesses, and advance food security in the long-term,” said Japan’s Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Yoshihiro Yamamura. “We are honoured to join forces with WFP to invest in women to boost national prosperity in the Kyrgyz Republic.”

Japan’s contribution will also provide continued support to vulnerable smallholder farmers, particularly women, to develop their land resources through improving rural infrastructure and increasing agricultural productivity through agricultural inputs, equipment and training.

“This support from the people of Japan will encourage women’s economic empowerment and local development while opening up opportunities for entire communities to strengthen their food and nutrition security and improve their social and economic well-being," said WFP Kyrgyz Republic Country Director Ram Saravanamuttu.

WFP will also use the funds to introduce new practices to boost the skills of vulnerable rural women. WFP will work closely with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to provide women with training on high-yield seed production.

This donation follows the success of women’s empowerment activities implemented by WFP last year with the Kyrgyz Ministry of Labour and Social Development. The project supported more than 3,200 rural households – mainly headed by women.  

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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.

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For more information, please contact:

Elizabeth Zalkind, WFP/Bishkek, email: elizabeth.zalkind@wfp.org, Tel. +996 312 660033, Mob. +996 555 940 420