The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Egypt obtained, in 2020, a financial contribution of €15m from the Egyptian-German Debt Swap Programme to help the government meet food and educational needs of some families
The contribution came within the framework of the WFP’s project “Investment in human resources in rural areas in Upper Egypt”.
This project aims to create job opportunities for women, so that they can achieve self-sufficiency and enhance the resilience of families.
Now, a year after the implementation of the project, tangible results have emerged of this fruitful partnership between the United Nations WFP, the German state-owned development bank KfW, and Egyptian partners.
The WFP extended its support to women in some rural and marginalised communities and provided them with access to microcredit, opportunities for training, counselling, and engagement in relevant networks. Thanks to this support, many of them were able to start setting up their own projects – a step that constituted a fundamental change in their lives.
Zainab is one of the women who actively exploited the opportunities provided by the WFP, and as a skilled craftsperson in the manufacture of small replicas of Ancient Egyptian statues. She was able to make her own project more effective and buy new equipment that also allows many of her family members to find job opportunities in her growing project.
There is another success story of a heroine, called Aya, who, thanks to the support provided by the WFP, was able to fulfil her dream of opening a hairdressing salon. She was also able to expand recently her project.
Such stories do not only show that the WFP’s support has actually reached its deserving people, but also reflect that women like Zainab and Aya have gained new experience, and succeeded in developing their projects and helping others to find opportunities to work as well. This would have an impact on the lives of future generations. Germany, together with the Egyptian government, the KfW, and the WFP, is determined to continue on the path of fruitful cooperation and making a difference in human life.
