Outcome SDN_D_2.1

Women secure access to productive resources and engage in sustainable resources creation activities in rural, peri-urban, conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian settings.

Women's productive capacities and productivity are enhanced: The project that targeted women in Ashatt community in Red Sea with provision of goat has proven to be successfull in securing women' access to productive resources and in increasing milk production depite the short period of the provison of the goat (goats were distributed to women in October 2022). Most of the women who have been targetd by the project are heading households. The selected goats are highly productive and adaptive to the environment of the Red Sea, The average daily milk production stands at ten-pound per goat and is of a good quality, compared to the goats that are previously owned by households and are producing daily milk on average at two-pound per goat, which in most cases barely cover the internal family need. Women's productivity in value chain transformation is increased Women's benificaries of the project on enhancing women enterpreneurial capacities in agribusiness and fishery value chains transformations have engagaed in the fish drying and food processing. They stated that, they have produced variety of processed foods that include dried fish, onion, tomatoes, okra, green leaves and other variety of high quality dried vegetables. The training on the products quality management has supported women to supply their products in innvative way that fulfill the standards. With this result, women continued producing and their prodcutivity is getting increased regulary.

Women secure access to productive resources and engage in sustainable resources creation activities in rural, peri-urban, conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian settings.

Through UN Women's support, 180 women and young women’s farmers (representing four women’s agricultural associations from the communities of Kassala and Red Sea) have secured access to agricultural land. UN Women has supported the rent of agricultural lands for 5 years to support women’s engagement in planting of crops, vegetables, and fruits. UN Women is also supporting the process of constructing 4 women’s agricultural associations, purchasing equipment to support the value chain transformation of the goods women produce, and construction of water collection centers to mitigate the risk of rain scarcity and avail a sustainable source for irrigating women’s-collective farms. The above progress UN Women has made, combined with the enhanced capacities of women’s farmers in the value chain and entrepreneurship, will do much to maintain women’s farmers' engagement in sustainable resource creation. A woman farmer from Gedarif state in Eastern Sudan mentioned that before the distribution of seeds, she was worried about how to secure the money to avail the seeds due to the conflict, the humanitarian crisis the country p is going through, the general inflation of prices, and the imminent rainy season. “When I received the seeds, I felt that my family was secure. Most women farmers engage in subsistence farming to secure basic family needs from the farm and exchange any surplus to meet other basic needs”. After the harvest, the women farmers mentioned that the farm yields had increased, and productivity had shown a noticeable increase compared to the previous years.

Women secure access to productive resources and engage in sustainable resources creation activities in rural, peri-urban, conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian settings.

Enhancing Women’s Productive Capacities in Farming (2024) In 2024, significant strides were made in enhancing women’s productive capacities in farming across Kassala and the Red Sea regions. This initiative, supported exclusively by UN Women, has empowered women farmers through strategic crop planting and improved land management practices. Key Achievements: Land Cultivation: The five-year rental of the land marks a significant turning point for women, offering substantial economic opportunities concerning land access. As a result, a total of 180 women farmers from Kassala and the Red Sea, representing four women’s agricultural associations established with UN Women’s support, successfully planted 47 acres out of a total of 57 acres. In Kassala, 90 women farmers cultivated 37 acres using an integrated irrigation system, dividing the area into 13 groups to facilitate effective land management. In Delta Tokar, Red Sea, women managed to plant 10 out of the 20 acres provided to them with various crops including okra, peas, maize, and sorghum. Challenges and Resilience: Severe flooding during the reporting period disrupted the planting of the remaining acres as water was not adequately absorbed by the land. However, farmers are optimistic that the unfarmed land will yield high production next year due to its current over-saturation with water. Economic Empowerment: Women farmers in Red Sea have begun planting fodder in response to high market demand, aiming for increased income. Land Ownership and Social Norms: Out of the 180 women farmers in Kassala and Red Sea, three own lands, ten rent land, while the remaining work as agricultural labourers on others’ farms. Social norms in Red Sea and Kassala remain restrictive, as few women are permitted to work or own land, leaving limited options for extremely vulnerable women who rely on agricultural labor. UN Women’s intervention made a significant change and shift in the situation of women agricultural laborers as they now have access and control of land for 5 years. Gedarif State Progress: The process of land rental for women farmers in Gedarif is yet to commence; however, the cultural context is different due to the various ethnic groups residing there. Among the targeted farmers, 30 women own land, 30 work in the family farms, and 30 rent land. Throughout the reporting period, the 90 women farmers cultivated, on average, 10 acres of crops such as sorghum, millet, peanuts, okra, sesame, hibiscus, and beans. They expressed high expectations for their production and yield in March and April, attributed to the large areas planted and the quality of seeds received, along with enhanced capacities and skills. A challenge remains for women in Gedarif, as sorghum and millet crops have suffered from pest invasions, which may hinder productivity. Livestock Management in Barmet, Red Sea: Women from Barmet in the Red Sea have taken charge of managing 600 goats distributed to them, with average milk production ranging from 4 to 6 pounds twice a day. They also welcomed the birth of 30 new goats, further bolstering their resources. This milk production has played a role in improving families' health and nutritional status, as reported by both women and men. Marketing efforts have yet to be implemented, pending milk processing training and connections with traders in February. Cultural barriers continue to impede women’s access to the market, coupled with the remoteness of the area, making direct marketing by women less feasible. Chamber of Commerce Membership in Gedarif: 9 women members of the association in Gedarif state became members of the chamber of commerce. This has been the result of building the capacity of the 13 members of the chamber of commerce on mainstreaming gender in trade policies and structure, where after the training, the chamber accepted women membership in the chamber.