Through the initiative “Greening the Future of Rural Communities in Vulnerable Areas of Upper Egypt”, implemented by CIHEAM Bari, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) supports the strengthening of resilience and food security in Egypt’s rural areas. In line with the Productive Villages model, the project promotes the aggregation of smallholder farmers around the shared use of resources. Its objective is to encourage coordinated agricultural practices while developing complementary high-potential activities—such as beekeeping and biogas production—that diversify income sources and enhance the economic sustainability of rural communities.
Within this framework, the project promotes sustainable agricultural practices and the efficient management of natural resources to improve farmers’ productivity. It supports the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), the modernization of irrigation systems to increase water-use efficiency, and the establishment of farmer groups for the collective management of shared resources. At the same time, to foster circular production systems and reduce environmental impacts, the project encourages the use of renewable energy and the adoption of sustainable biomass management and valorization solutions.
The initiative also places particular emphasis on the economic empowerment of young people and women by providing technical assistance and business development services for micro- and small-scale enterprises operating in agriculture, livestock production, and rural handicrafts. In addition, the project facilitates access to financial services and in-kind credit schemes, strengthening entrepreneurial capacities and expanding income-generating opportunities for beneficiaries.