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From Delta to Upper Egypt: Women-Led Climate Action through Agricultural Waste Reduction

Year: 2025

Country:

Egypt

Topics:

Capacity-BuildingDecision MakingSustainable Livelihoods

Region:

Middle East and North Africa

About

Across Egypt’s Nile Delta and Upper Egypt, women are becoming leading agents of change in the national climate action movement. From Delta to Upper Egypt supports more than 200 local women activists with the tools, knowledge, and platforms to address climate change in their communities. Through local climate labs and dialogues with local authorities, this solution fosters women’s leadership in agroecology, sustainable water use, green entrepreneurship, and environmental justice. By combining grassroots mobilization, intergenerational learning, and policy advocacy, the initiative builds inclusive resilience in communities most vulnerable to water scarcity, soil degradation, and extreme heat.

Climate Impact

Over 30 tonnes of crop residues have been diverted from burning, preventing an estimated 50–60 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions.
Composting and mulching techniques increase soil fertility and water retention, improving crop yields by up to 25% and reducing irrigation needs by 20% in pilot fields.
Women-led cooperatives generate new income from recycled agri-waste products, compensating for climate-induced crop failures and building household financial resilience.

Gender Impact

200 women gain technical skills in agriwaste valorization, entrepreneurship, and climate advocacy, shifting them into roles as active environmental problem-solvers and leaders.
25 women now colead village climate committees, shaping local adaptation plans and submitting gender responsive policy briefs to municipal councils.
Three women-led cooperatives have formally registered and begun cross village collaborations.

Scalability/Replicability

Composting units, biochar stoves, and cooperative structures are designed to be affordable, accessible, and easily replicated across rural Egypt and the wider MENA region.
A training-of-trainers model and Arabic digital toolkits enable replication through peer education and WhatsApp based knowledge sharing.
By linking agricultural waste reuse with food security, women’s livelihoods, clean air, and soil health, the project offers a holistic and replicable framework for inclusive, climate-resilient development.