Government officials announce actions for the digital education of women in rural areas

Based on the results of a survey set to be completed by the end of March, digital education programs for women in rural areas will be finalized through the collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, and the Office of the Commissioner for Gender Equality.

Rural women possess unique knowledge and skills, which they will have the opportunity to develop through digital education, contributing to the growth of their communities and leaving their mark on a fairer and more equal society, said the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, in a speech during a press conference on 25 February. The event marked the launch of the National Strategy for Gender Equality initiative titled “Digital Education Programs for Rural Women.”

In her speech, read out by the Ministry's senior officer Marina Michaelidou Kadi, Panayiotou stated that supporting the Cypriot countryside and its people is a key priority for the government. “We have listened to the needs of rural women and included specific actions in the Primary Sector Strategy, which was approved by the Council of Ministers, to support female entrepreneurship in the primary sector,” she said.

As part of this effort, workshops have already been held in rural areas to develop tools and enhance the skills of women who are active or wish to become active in this sector and develop successful business initiatives. These workshops, she explained, provide the necessary resources for developing entrepreneurial skills while offering guidance from experts, through an interactive approach.

The goal, she added, is to bring new momentum for progress and prosperity to rural families. A key tool in this effort is the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027, which includes subsidies amounting to €454 million.

The initiative focuses on digital education and empowerment programs for rural women and falls under the thematic area “Gender – Research, Innovation, and Digital Transformation” of the National Strategy for Gender Equality, said Commissioner for Gender Equality, Josie Christodoulou.

Christodoulou stated that the main goal of the initiative is to empower women in rural areas by providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge to confidently and successfully engage in the digital and business sectors.

Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou, described the initiative as a particularly important one that simultaneously addresses three key government priorities: promoting a fair and inclusive digital transition, supporting rural areas and creating opportunities for residents of rural and remote areas, and enhancing gender equality in every socio-economic field.

The digital divide, he noted, has two key aspects: connectivity and skills. Regarding connectivity, he stated that Cyprus has made significant progress. “We are the first country in Europe to achieve 100% 5G population coverage, and in collaboration with Cyta, we have launched a crucial project to expand fixed fiber-optic networks to every inhabited area of the island. This project is expected to be completed by early 2026, significantly increasing access to fast internet for all Cypriots, regardless of where they live,” he added.

The second aspect, he said, is digital skills, where there is still significant progress to be made. “For this reason, €24 million has been allocated under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to initiatives for enhancing citizens' digital capabilities,” he noted.

(Source: CNA)