Jordan women empowered

The houbara conservation programme supported by the UAE has helped women’s empowerment in villages surrounding the protected areas in Jordan, a Jordanian official told

The conservation projects have boosted ecotourism and helped local communities make 350 organic products for tourists and earn money, said Khalid Irani of Jordan Royal Society for Conservation of Nature.

“Women paint ostrich eggs [which are very popular]. When women earn money, their social status is improved,” he said. It has helped educational development also as women are able to send their children to schools. Hundreds of villagers around two houbara protected areas have benefited from this economic development, Irani said. Jordan has nine wildlife protected areas and around 10,000 villagers in the vicinity have improved their lives, he said.