SEPA Champions Women’s Entrepreneurship in Forestry to Combat Poverty
Save the Environment and People’s Agency (SEPA) has taken a significant stride towards combating poverty through the promotion of women’s participation in the forestry industry.
The agency recently participated in a pivotal event hosted at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, from February 20th to 22nd, 2024.
Under the leadership of Mailes Muke, the Chief Executive Officer of SEPA, the event titled “Women’s Entrepreneurship in Forestry” delved into the challenges and opportunities faced by women in the forestry sector.
Ms. Muke emphasized the critical role of women in forestry and highlighted the potential of the forest business to significantly contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of nations.
During the gathering, stakeholders engaged in a collective reflection on the socio-economic empowerment of women in the forest sector. Discussions revolved around identifying factors that can either enable or hinder women’s participation and collecting suggestions from women themselves.
Ms. Muke underscored the importance of supporting women in the industry with financial resources to enhance the value of their products.
“The forest business has the potential to alleviate poverty in communities by providing valuable resources such as wild foods, medicinal plants, and other forest products,” stated Ms. Muke. “By empowering women in this sector, we can unlock their entrepreneurial potential and create sustainable economic opportunities.”
The outcome of the event is a comprehensive roadmap for policymakers and practitioners, containing concrete proposals and recommendations aimed at promoting women’s entrepreneurship in forestry. SEPA is committed to implementing these strategies to foster gender equality and economic empowerment in the forestry industry.
