Rome, 07 March 2024 - Investing in gender equality and women¡¯s empowerment is not only more urgent than ever but also an incredibly smart investment to generate economic growth, food security, income opportunities and better lives, particularly in rural areas where most of the world¡¯s poorest live. That will be the message tomorrow on International Women¡¯s Day from leaders at the Rome-based United Nations agriculture and food agencies event - Invest in Women: accelerate progress.
DAKAR ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ)¡¯s efforts to build resilience to climate-related and human-made shocks and stressors have been shown to boost food security, while also strengthening social cohesion and improving the prospects for peace in Burkina Faso and Niger - a new study reveals.
DAKAR ¨C Acute food insecurity is on track to reach a 10-year high in West and Central Africa by June of this year - a new study shows - with a worrying expansion of food insecurity into coastal countries, and catastrophic levels of hunger hitting conflict-affected areas of Burkina Faso and Mali where humanitarian assistance is severely hindered by insecurity.
ANTANANARIVO ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) and the Government of Madagascar have launched an innovative project that seeks to develop rural communities in Androy and Anosy regions, in southern Madagascar.
The region has the highest cost for a healthy diet compared to the rest of the world, at USD 3.89 per person per day, while the world average is USD 3.54.
Together with the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Trade, the three UN agencies are spearheading efforts on the reform of social protection. Vulnerable families in Iraq will be supported through the social protection programmes funded by the project, aiming to build a more sustainable and inclusive system.
Baghdad ¨C A new Social Protection Programme was launched today by the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Trade of Iraq, along with the United Nations Children¡¯s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ), and the International Labour Organization (ILO), to reform the social protection system and the effectiveness of its response to ongoing socio-economic shocks. The European Union (EU) has contributed 30 million euro towards the new four-year Social Protection Programme, which aims to build a sustainable and more inclusive system for those in need.
Harare ¨C On International day of South-South Cooperation (12 September), the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) acknowledges the Global south¡¯s important contribution to alleviate food insecurity and malnutrition in Zimbabwe. The Governments of Brazil, China, India and South Africa, have provided tangible transfer of information, resources and expertise to Zimbabwe over the past years, successfully administered through Â鶹ÊÓƵ, to support food security and nutrition in Zimbabwe.
