Iraqi Parliament honored FAO and Pioneering Rural Women

Key attendees included Dr.  Safwan Bashir al-Jarjari, Parliament General Secretary; MP Donia Al-Shamri, Head of the Women, Family, and Childhood Committee; MP Faleh al-Khazali, Head of the Agriculture, Water, and Marshes Committee; Dr. Mithaq Al Khafaji, MoA's Technical Deputy; Dr. Salah El Hajj Hassan, FAO Representative; various parliamentarians; project partners; and representatives from NGOs.

"Today, we honor distinguished Iraqi women engaged in small-scale agricultural and livestock production projects. We acknowledge the efforts of FAO, MoA, and the EU in supporting rural women and look forward to further cooperation to empower more women across Iraqi governorates," said MP Donia Al-Shamri, Head of the Women, Family, and Childhood Committee.

FAO Iraq representative, Dr. Salah El Hajj Hassan, provided an overview of the organization’s interventions in supporting the dairy value chain and empowering rural women. He highlighted the profound impact on their livelihoods and communities and shared updates on other ongoing projects. 

He stated : “We thank the Presidency of the Parliament and the Women, Family, and Childhood Committee for this acknowledgment of FAO’s efforts and those of these remarkable women. We also, greatly value our partnership with national and international partners. The dedication and efforts of these women are truly commendable, and the necessity to scale up these projects to reach more women across more governorates cannot be overstated.  Together, we can build a brighter future for all, and we look forward to more cooperation with the Iraqi parliament and government to further advance the agricultural sector and empower women in Iraq.”

Project partners shared their success stories, underscoring the invaluable support received from FAO, the EU, and the MoA. Their testimonies highlighted the project's positive impact on their lives and communities. The participated women also called for granting Iraqi women in this field opportunities equal to those in other professions.

The celebration also showcased a variety of high-quality dairy products crafted by women groups benefited from the support of FAO through the EU funded project in collaboration with MoA. 

Shields of Excellence and Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to the EU delegation in Iraq, MoA, FAO team, and the rural women by the members of the Women, Family and Childhood committee. 

During a bilateral meeting, that followed the ceremony, the Parliament’s General Secretary, Dr. Safwan Bashir al-Jarjari, appreciated the organization’s efforts in supporting the agricultural sector in Iraq and empowering rural women. He presented recognition certificates to the FAO representative and team, as well as the EU Delegation in Iraq, reaffirming Parliament's commitment to supporting FAO’s projects in Iraq.

FAO remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing the agricultural sector and empowering rural women across Iraq, in collaboration with national and international partners. 

This initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), and Goal 5 (Gender Equality), by enhancing livelihoods, ensuring food security, and promoting gender equality.