Press Release: The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy and UN Women Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Equal Opportunities of Women and Men in Agriculture

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The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy and UN Women Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Equal Opportunities of Women and Men in Agriculture. Photo: UN Women/Kristian Hristov
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy and UN Women Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Equal Opportunities of Women and Men in Agriculture. Photo: UN Women/Kristian Hristov

Skopje, North Macedonia — 17 October 2024 — The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy and UN Women have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to continue the ongoing partnership and empower women in rural communities and the agricultural sector. This collaboration marks a significant advancement within policies and programmes, ensuring that women in these areas receive the necessary support to thrive. 

The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation, whereby both partners will work closely to enhance equal opportunities, facilitate capacity building, and improve the collection of data within the Ministry’s scope. These efforts align with relevant laws and national strategies. 

“We, as the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy, will work diligently through various measures and programmes to provide the necessary conditions for enhancing the role of rural women in daily life and enabling financial independence and land ownership, because women are the pillars of Macedonian society,” stated Cvetan Tripunovski, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy. 

“Global commitments to gender equality, the advance of rights and empowerment of women and girls call for action in every sector, including agriculture and rural development. National and local implementation impacts lives. Women in rural areas are vital to global food security and economic stability. This Memorandum of Understanding demonstrates our commitment to fulfilling these promises by ensuring their contributions are recognized, and their needs met through targeted partnerships and actions at the community level,” underlined Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination, and Programme Results.  

This partnership underscores a shared commitment to empowering women in agriculture and rural areas. Through their collaborative efforts, both parties aim to foster an inclusive environment where these women can access resources, participate in decision-making processes, and contribute to the sustainable development of the country’s rural and agricultural sector. 

Media enquiries should be directed to: 

Dimitar Dimitrovski, Communications and Knowledge Management Officer, UN Women, Email: dimitar.dimitrovski@unwomen.org.