The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is also initiating a participatory rural energy development programme, to identify and develop potential alternative energy resources in rural communities.

Programme Component E.2 Rural and Women's Entrepreneurship Development

Programme Component E.2 Rural and Women's Entrepreneurship Development 66

The UNDP programme for rural and economic development involved investments of some 5 million in new projects for land reclamation and integrated rural development.

Through the rural development and extension services component of the National Agricultural Services Programme

During the initial phases of the Industry Leadership programme, individual women were targeted for leadership development opportunities through sponsorships to the Australian Rural Leadership Programme.

In order to solve problems that hindered rural development, Estonia used the financing from the SAPARD programme toward improving agricultural competitiveness and developing rural life environment, entrepreneurship and infrastructure.

Some examples of such initiatives are as follows Support to establish Rural Support Programmes (RSPs) The government provided seed capital for the formation of National Rural Support Programme, Punjab Rural Support Programme and Sind Rural Support Organization (SRSO). It also supported the Sarhad Rural Support Programme through project funding.

Both rural men and women are equal beneficiaries of the rural electrification programme.

Rural and agricultural development

Rural development and agriculture

Kerala Rural Development Agency

These programmes comprised the business partnership programme, information services, SME cluster and network development, export consortia, rural and women's entrepreneurship development, and SME enabling framework and institutional support.

Programme Component C.1 Rural and Renewable Energy

Thus, the agricultural institutions working in rural development, in an attempt to facilitate rural funding, has been creating alternative sources of funding such as Agricultural and Rural Development Fund (FFADR), Fisheries Development Fund (FFP), Small Industry Development Fund (FFPI), Fund for Agricultural Credit and Rural Development (CCADR), etc.

Rural and women's entrepreneurship development.

CONDRAF Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Rural the National Council for Rural Development

Programme Component C.1 Rural and Renewable Energy 41

Programme Component E.5 Rural Energy for Productive Use

A notable initiative in that regard was a programme to train young women from rural areas as community educators who would be responsible for addressing the needs of rural children in all aspects of their development.

ADRI Action for Integrated Rural Development

The rural energy programme aims at providing modern energy services to the rural poor using renewable energy technologies.

As indicated in the World Programme of Action for Youth, the development of basic education and skills training for rural youth needs to be strengthened.

In Slovenia, FAO supported the planning and formulation of a national action plan for integrating gender issues into the national rural and agricultural development programme.

Programme Component E.5 Rural Energy for Productive Use 69

The rural village electrification programme is an integral part of the total power sector development in Pakistan in order to increase the productive capacity and socio economic standard of 70 percent of population living in the rural areas.

Particularly, with a view to improving gender equality and position of women in rural areas, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) adopted a Gender Strategy in Agriculture and Rural Development to 2010 and Gender Plan of Action in Agriculture and Rural Development to 2005.

In accordance with the strategic orientation outlined above, this Major Programme is composed of the following programme components E.1 SME Enabling Framework and Institutional Support E.2 Rural and Women's Entrepreneurship Development E.3 SME Cluster Development E.4 Development of Agro Industries E.5 Rural Energy for Productive Use E.6 Mitigating Industrial Water Pollution for Poor Communities and E.7 Regional Priorities, Funds Mobilization and Partnerships.

(c) Strengthening of domestic rural agricultural economies by actively contributing to integrated rural development planning.

Rural development increasing food output and incomes

Recognizing the critical role and contribution of rural women in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty,

Goal 1 Poverty Eradication Rural Development Engage and empower people living in poverty and rural areas.

Although the integrated programme had undoubtedly proved effective, there were some inadequately funded and unfunded activities and projects that had great potential to give impetus to rural development, including hydropower projects and skills development.

United Nations Public Private Alliance for Rural Development

United Nations Public Private Alliance for Rural Development

In October 2004, UN Habitat, together with the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Institute for Environment and Development, hosted an interregional conference on rural urban linkages.

In addition, funding has been obtained from the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) for a programme aimed at promoting cottage industries in rural and urban areas of Iraq.

The rural fishery centres, established in recognition of that fact, are part of an ongoing development programme that aims to facilitate better market access for our local fishermen.

Rural development should be an integral part of national and international development policies.

In Mali, the WFP food for work programme on rural development supports agriculture, the creation of rural infrastructures and vocational training, with the aim of improving food security in the vulnerable communities, preventing soil erosion, promoting disaster mitigation and developing food self sufficiency.

Recognizing the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty,

FAO, in providing field programme assistance to the least developed countries, met a wide range of needs, from emergency assistance and agricultural rehabilitation to policy assistance and programme support for food security, sustainable agricultural growth and rural development.

Since 2002, in cooperation with UNICEF, a programme on basic social services had been implemented in rural areas to promote child and maternal health and nutrition and child development.

We call this our School Based Integrated Rural Development.

The Government considered that boosting the rural sector was a priority and was conducting a programme to guarantee equal opportunities for rural women.