Beekeepers on island receive $70,000 in funding as part of FAO program
A new FAO project focuses on building effective resilience for human security in Caribbean countries, emphasizing the critical importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment, within a strengthened agriculture and related agri-fisheries small business sector.
Funded by the United Nations Human Security Trust Fund (UNHSTF), the initiative will be implemented across five Caribbean nations: Dominica, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda, and Barbados.
The Dominica National Beekeepers Cooperative received 70k worth of equipment, namely:
The aim is to enhance human security in the Caribbean by addressing critical issues of lost opportunities and unfulfilled potential, which stem from entrenched gender inequality and inadequate economic empowerment for women and marginalized youth. Recognizing that sustainable development cannot be achieved without tackling these challenges, the project seeks to bolster the recently established Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework (MSDF) and support the One United Nations Initiative. A particular emphasis is placed on the agricultural sector, including fisheries, due to its vital contribution to the region’s GDP and food security, as well as its vulnerability to climate change and disasters.
The project is designed to provide a multifaceted approach that includes policy reform advocacy, technical assistance, and various support services aimed at improving human security for farmers and small business owners in agriculture and fisheries, with a major focus on women. Approximately 2,500 farmers, fishers, and small business entrepreneurs will benefit from small grants aimed at livelihood development, ensuring that at least half of the recipients are women and a quarter are under the age of 40. Additionally, pilot programs will be implemented in 50 community groups to enhance disaster preparedness, climate change adaptation, and value chain development, ultimately reaching around 30,000 individuals.
The overarching goal of the project is to foster enhanced human security through gender equality and the economic empowerment of women within a resilient agricultural and fisheries sector. To achieve this, the project outlines five key outcomes: the availability of gender-responsive and disaster-resilient agricultural and fisheries services; access to social protection and financial products for marginalized groups; improved market readiness for smallholder farmers; strengthened community resilience through advocacy and engagement; and the integration of a human security approach across all activities.
By focusing on these areas, the project aims to create a more equitable and secure environment, particularly for those who have historically been marginalized in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
In 2022, the Cooperative received support from this initiative, with several members participating in the Beekeepers Regional Congress held in Grenada that year.
