The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE University showcase research solutions to empower rural women within the Sheikha Fatima Initiative
ABU DHABI, 16 JANUARY / WAM / The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Arab Emirates University, in cooperation with the General Women’s Union and the Green University of Uzbekistan, organized a specialized workshop within the initiative of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak to empower rural women in the agricultural field, under the supervision of Dr. Sheikha Moza bint Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Ali Al-Raisi, Director of the United Arab Emirates University, along with an elite group of academics, researchers and international partners.
The workshop reviewed research and projects related to food security, climate change, and environmental sustainability.
Sheikha Dr. Moza bint Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that empowering rural women in Africa is a real investment in humanity and the future of the continent, and providing food security and sustainable development, which is the core focus of “Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak’s initiative to empower rural women in Africa in the field of agriculture.”
She added that giving women the necessary tools and knowledge to advance the agricultural sector makes them partners in development, and contributes to making change and achieving self-sufficiency in societies. We extend our sincere thanks to the UAE University, the General Women’s Union, and all partners for their distinguished efforts in achieving this initiative, and to the researchers and trainers who dedicated their expertise to serving this achievement.
For his part, His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Ali Al-Raisi indicated that the university’s participation in this initiative reflects its commitment to its scientific and societal role in supporting issues of sustainability and empowering rural women, stressing that the university places applied scientific research at the heart of its contribution to enhancing food security and adapting to climate change.
He said: The UAE University seeks to employ its research capabilities and international academic networks to support initiatives that serve rural communities and achieve sustainable development goals, thus enhancing the UAE’s position as a regional center for innovation and scientific research related to sustainability.
The session was opened with a presentation by Dr. Khawla Al Kaabi from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences entitled “Exploring Food Waste Reduction in the Commercial Sector: A Structural Modeling and Spatial Analysis Approach,” in which she discussed the use of analytical tools to measure patterns of food waste and identify points of failure in supply chains to support sustainable food policies.
Nayaa Al Mansouri, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the General Women’s Union, gave a detailed presentation on the initiative to empower rural women in Africa in the field of agriculture.
Dr. Ghada Al Morshedy from the College of Education also presented a presentation entitled “Smart Gardens Supported by Artificial Intelligence and Storytelling to Teach Food Systems and Climate,” in which she reviewed an applied educational framework to enhance students’ awareness of issues of sustainable agriculture and climate change in schools in the UAE and Uzbekistan.
In the environment and climate resilience theme, Dr. Muhammad Farisha from the College of Engineering reviewed his research entitled “Environmental Rights and Climate Resilience: Integrating Digital Elevation Models, Drone Aerial Photography, and Terrain Analysis to Implement Sustainable Development Goals,” explaining the role of these technologies in supporting environmental planning and decision-making in agricultural environments.
Engineer Rahma Hassan Haji from the College of Engineering gave a presentation entitled “Developing improved guidelines for the thermal performance of residential buildings and a thermal imaging test kit,” in which she focused on measuring energy efficiency and its role in supporting urban sustainability.
The session concluded with scientific discussions presented by Dr. Mohammed Abdul Mohsen Al Yafei, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, which discussed ways to employ the outcomes of this research to support rural women and enhance the sustainability of agricultural systems, in line with the goals of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak’s initiative to empower rural women in the field of agriculture.
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