Find out how 500 women in #Yemen are establishing themselves in the dairy business #CSW60 UNDP

A bazar was held on Sunday at Al-Torbah University of Taizz to support homemade dairy products developed by 500 women entrepreneurs from the districts of Ash Shamayateen, Al Ma’afer and Al-Mawasit in Taizz Governorate as part of UNDP’s Women Economic Empowerment Programme launched in August 2015 and supported by Government of Japan.
More than 300 people attended the bazar, including representatives from the local authorities, Health Office, private sector and university. 110 businesswomen supported by UNDP through training and grants presented their products to the local consumers. Within an hour, 70% of the presented Laban bottles were sold, and over two-thirds of cheese were purchased.
“I would like to thank UNDP for organizing this bazar and for giving me the opportunity to present my product ‘Al-Qimah Laban’. I am extremely happy that I have sold all quantities that I produced and for attracting new customers. The bazar was a good opportunity to promote our products,” said Fathi Mohammed, a 28-year old women entrepreneur from Ash Shamayateen.
Since August 2015, two women from 250 families received business management trainings to develop their administrative and financial management skills to design business plans focusing on laban production and cheese-making. A ten-day technical training was also devised to further strengthen the quality, handling and hygiene of dairy products in order to improve product value.
“I came from a family that produces local cheese. We did not know best practices to produce cheese and our returns were very low. The training we received has made our product ‘Al-Afayih Cheese’ among the top products in the bazar. I cannot express enough my happiness to have a successful business now,” said Hanadi Aqail, another businesswoman who participated in the bazar.
The selected women received both cash grants and equipment to establish microbusinesses in laban and cheese production. The project enhances women’s economic self-reliance to build their resilience during the crisis.  “We are very happy that the project has supported efforts of women in Taizz, and I believe it has contributed to self-resilience and food security of local communities in Yemen,” said Katsuyoshi Hayashi, Japanese Ambassador to Yemen.