Women’s leadership making a difference in rural China

In a village surrounded by hills in Longhui County, Hunan Province of southern China, there's a story of hidden potential. Women in this rural area have many talents and want to start businesses, but they lack the resources and opportunities they need. This was a daily challenge for Ms. Hongyan Li, the hard-working Vice Chairwoman of the Longhui County Women's Federation.

"We have met many talented women with great ideas and perseverance," says Hongyan, her eyes showing her determination to help. "But they struggle to get the money and training they need to make their ideas a reality."

A five-year project called the Hunan Rural Revitalization Demonstration Project came along at the perfect time. This USD 173 million project, funded by IFAD and the Chinese government, in partnership with UN Women along with local government departments, offered a great chance for Hongyan to access resources for the rural women she supports. The project aims to support at least 320,000 farmers in 10 counties across Hunan province for enhanced climate resilience and secured livelihood. It is also expected to create at least 300 new businesses by 2026. Importantly, women will make up at least half of the beneficiaries.

Read the full piece on UN Women.