Mashat prioritizes women, food security in Davos meetings

CAIRO - 25 January 2020: On the sidelines of Davos 2020, Minister of International Cooperation Rania al-Mashat held meetings with heads of UN organizations to discuss plans on women empowerment and food security.

Mashat conferred with UN Women Head Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka about furthering cooperation with regard to increasing women employment in the agricultural sector, promoting decent work, and accomplishing the 2019-2024 women empowerment program in Egypt.


Minister of International Cooperation Rania al-Mashat and UN Women Head Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in Davos 2020 - Press Photo

The project is aimed at contributing to “increased productivity and job opportunities generated by women entrepreneurs; increased employment of women by businesses; and reduced gender-specific barriers to women’s entrepreneurship and to women entering into and remaining in the workforce.”

Minister Mashat also met Head of World Food Program (WFP) David Beasley as the organization is working with Egypt to achieve food security, support small farmers, and accomplish the National School Feeding Programme providing 12.5 million pupils with meals that fulfill 25 percent of their daily needs of food. The programme’s annual budget is $110 million funded by the Egyptian government.


Minister of International Cooperation Rania al-Mashat and Head of World Food Program (WFP) David Beasley in Davos 2020 - Press Photo

Finally, the minister held talks with Head of International Fund For Agricultural Development (IFAD) Gilbert Houngbo in light of the recent inauguration of a regional bureau for the organization in Egypt. The IFAD new regional office covers Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.


Minister of International Cooperation Rania al-Mashat and Head of International Fund For Agricultural Development (IFAD) Gilbert Houngbo in Davos 2020 - Press Photo

IFAD and Egypt have executed 14 projects worth around $1.11 billion reaching over 7 million rural people. Those helped to promote land reclamation, improve the productivity of agricultural lands in the Nile Valley and Delta, reinforce smart strategies in face of climate change, and expand the role of private investors in the agricultural sector.