UAE invests $4m to lift women out of poverty in Liberia

Project aims to empower 1,500 rural women to improve food security and nutrition

The agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi by Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister for International Development Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation; Mohamed Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar; and Dr Roberto Ridolfi, assistant director general for programme support and technical cooperation at FAO. Wam

The UAE will invest $4 million (Dh14.6 million) in a project to lift  rural women in Liberia out of poverty

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Abu Dhabi green energy company Masdar and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation signed the agreement on Monday.

The project will help 1,500 rural Liberian women to improve food security and nutrition.

Sustainable living will also be central to improving the women's environmental and economic opportunities.

The project will provide advanced machinery and seeds for agricultural use, as well as dig wells and plant gardens and orchards.

The project will also help them strengthen their leadership and entrepreneurship skills.

Women working in poultry and vegetable production to sustain themselves will also be provided with funds, Wam reported.

Masdar will set up a solar-powered system for the production of vegetables, poultry and rice.

The company has been involved in  humanitarian projects around the world, from the Pacific Islands to north Africa and the Caribbean.