ABOUT US

MountainHER wants to put rural women front and center as the true drivers for social and economic progress in remote mountain communities of Algeria, Croatia, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia. Barley and durum wheat are the target crops, and traditional foods and malt products the target value chains. The project will promote sustainable business models that better distribute profits along super-short value chains - and involve women’s associations. Existing governance system of the women’s associations will be revised to unlock their full economic potential, and to offer equal and advantageous conditions for all their members.

OUR IMPACT

The role of women’s associations in converting farm harvests into high-value food and malt products will be supported to generate 10 to 100 times more income than the simple harvest. Adequate connection with physical retailers and digital markets will be ensured, while in parallel, preliminary consumer appreciation studies will be conducted to assess the potential for gaining market shares.

MountainHER provides training and tools to favor the purchase of local harvests at higher prices by the women associations. In exchange, farmers are prompted to produce following agro-ecological practices, which are on one hand more respectful of the environment, and on the other, can generate higher prices for the food produced.

Period of Implementation

Jul 1, 2022 - Jun 30, 2025
Total Budget

USD 2,750,000.00

Project team

OUR IMPACT

Goals

MountainHER aims at taking advantage of nascent marketing opportunities in the agroecological food system approach ‘from farm to fork’ to empower rural women associations to become true drivers for social and economic change.

Objectives

In addition to the impacts and goals, the project objectives include utilizing living labs to pilot and assess the validity of the projects new technologies and practices together with mountain farming communities; include these communities in participatory research to identify the best durum wheat and barley varieties derived from ancient grains adapted to agroecological production; establish community-based seed enterprises to create employment for women and youth; promote circular economy opportunities for local businesses to produce non-synthetic organic fertilizers starting from farm waste; and generate road maps for scaling MountainHER interventions across countries and communities.

Problems and Needs Analysis

Rural communities in mountainous areas of the Mediterranean region are relatively isolated from markets and services and endure harsh climatic conditions. Farming practices have not evolved at the same pace as lowland agriculture and productivity levels remain extremely low. Furthermore, soil erosion is a major threat. The low productivity is further exacerbated by the escalating effects of climate change. Agricultural products from these zones are typically sold in distant urban areas, preventing the farmers from accessing the full profit margins. Consequently, the mountain communities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are often characterized by a strong male out-migration to urban centers, which has led to an increased feminization of both labor and management in agriculture in this communities. Yet these women face constraints in accessing knowledge, inputs as well as marketing opportunities. These gender biases continue to hinder the chances for success of women in agriculture even in Europe (see: The professional status of rural women in the EU, PE608.868 May 2019). The establishment of associations (mostly in the form of cooperatives) for the local production of traditional foods and malt products represent opportunities for employment and integration of women and other vulnerable people to access productive resources and job opportunities. While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a halt to local eco-tourism, it has also shifted the mindset of many consumers, generating a stronger demand for locally grown and traditional food products, which could represent an ideal market opportunity for mountain communities. The pandemic has also led to job losses in the city and return migration of men to rural areas. MountainHER aims at taking advantage of these nascent marketing opportunities in an agroecological food system approach “from farm to fork” to empower rural women associations to become true drivers for social and economic change.

Intervention Strategy(ies)

Participatory research on varieties Participatory research on management practices Participatory research: how to get “uninfluenced” data from farmers and other stakeholders Approach to revise governance and identify hindering policies: gender mainstreaming Malting and brewing Digital sensorial panels

Impact Pathway

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Supporting documents D3.4.1. Engage women- and youth-driven community enterprises in selecting the best practices

Author(s): Antonio Rossetti

Date: 2024-02-29 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

D3.4.1 Engage women- and youth-driven community enterprises in selecting the best practices

Author(s): Antonio Rossetti

Date: 2024-02-29 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

D5.3.1 List the dietary and nutritional value of traditional food and malt products for inclusion in the label

Author(s): Josipa Liker

Date: 2024-02-29 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

L'Orsaro- Il Progetto MountainHER

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2024-01-31 | Type: News Item/Press Item

D2.1.1 Analyze field performances across farmers locations

Author(s): Mouna Meziani

Date: 2024-01-24 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

D3.2.1 Analyze field performances across research station locations for management practices

Author(s): Rajae Kallida

Date: 2024-01-22 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Dare Forza Al Femminile

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2024-01-17 | Type: News Item/Press Item

Coop Corte di Rigoso: il progetto della birra “d’alta quota”

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2024-01-17 | Type: News Item/Press Item

Il progetto PRIMA MountainHER - una presentazione

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2024-01-17 | Type: Video

MS04 - Digital Consumers Platform up and running

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2024-01-12 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

D3.1.1 Analyze field performances across locations for management

Author(s): Nawel Boukhobza

Date: 2024-01-10 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

D1.1.1 Project portal established on MEL and BMS and kept updated: Pilot on Open Research Data (FAIR) - UPDATE 18M

Author(s): Zakaria Nidkazza

Date: 2023-12-31 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

D7.1.2. The project web front on MEL is promoted via newsletters to key stakeholders

Author(s): Andrea Visioni | Andrea Visioni

Date: 2023-12-31 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Questionnaires to Workers and Founders and Members

Author(s): Zakaria Nidkazza

Date: 2023-12-29 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Milestone 3: Survey of female cooperatives

Author(s): Zakaria Nidkazza

Date: 2023-12-29 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Supporting documents Annexe 4.1.1 Governance survey table

Author(s): Zakaria Nidkazza

Date: 2023-12-29 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Analysis of governance documents of the partner cooperatives

Author(s): Zakaria Nidkazza

Date: 2023-12-29 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Supporting document Annexe 4.1.1 Governance survey table

Author(s): Dina Najjar

Date: 2023-12-29 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

D4.2.1 - Analysis of survey of status of cooperatives concerning policies and possible gender barriers

Author(s): Dina Najjar

Date: 2023-12-29 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

D3.3.1 Analyze grazing solutions across locations

Author(s): Rola El Amil

Date: 2023-12-27 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

D7.2.1. The digital image of the cooperatives is revamped to become more visible

Author(s): Natalija Mamula

Date: 2023-12-27 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

D2.1.2 Analyze field performances across research station locations

Author(s): Hajer Ben Ghanem

Date: 2023-12-22 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

A joint workshop to support gender mainstreaming with a particular focus on rural women collectives

Author(s): Dorsaf Ouesalti Ouesalti | Dina Najjar | Hajer Ben Ghanem | neila chafri

Date: 2023-12-06 | Type: Presentation

Sowing of seeds on October 13th for the validation test in Croatia

Author(s): Natalija Mamula

Date: 2023-10-17 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Sowing of seeds for the validation test in Lebanon

Author(s): Rola Geryes El Amil

Date: 2023-10-17 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Introduction to seed increase training - Guigou

Author(s): Nada Oussoulous

Date: 2023-09-01 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Conducting surveys on varietal preferences and agro-ecological practices- Guigou

Author(s): Nada Oussoulous

Date: 2023-09-01 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Supporting document D5.1.1. : A Stone Miller

Author(s): Nada Oussoulous

Date: 2023-09-01 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Supporting documents D5.1.1.: Testing different milling equipment and suppliers in North Africa

Author(s): Nada Oussoulous

Date: 2023-09-01 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Supporting document D5.1.1.: Questionnaire to identify the existing processing milling and its capacity in the cooperatives

Author(s): Nada Oussoulous

Date: 2023-09-01 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Participatory selection of wheat and barley varieties

Author(s): Nada Oussoulous

Date: 2023-09-01 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Participants to the field day in Guigou Morocco

Author(s): Nada Oussoulous

Date: 2023-09-01 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Presentation of Al Amal Cooperative

Author(s): Nada Oussoulous

Date: 2023-07-10 | Type: Video

List of attendees for the MountainHER annual meeting

Author(s): Nada Oussoulous

Date: 2023-07-04 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Photos from the MountainHER annual meeting in Lebanon between June 12th and 17th, 2023

Author(s): Nada Oussoulous

Date: 2023-07-04 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

A Diagnostic mission of the Al Amal cooperative located in Aït Yahya Oualla village, Azrou -Morocco

Author(s): Noureddine Bahri

Date: 2023-06-02 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Supporting documents for Deliverable 1.3.1

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2023-05-31 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

D6.1.1. Establish a virtual platform to gather consumers appreciation

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2023-05-31 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Supporting documents for Deliverable 6.1.1.

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2023-05-31 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Deliverable 1.3.1 Reports on other projects’s “good practices”

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2023-05-31 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Terms of References: Community-based seed enterprise pioneer

Author(s): Miguel Sanchez-Garcia

Date: 2023-05-17 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Report on Field Activity in Rigoso - Italy – Spring 2023

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2023-05-10 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Seeding of Italian varieties

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2023-05-10 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Rolling immediately after sowing, Italy

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2023-05-10 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Planting of intercropping: broadcast by hand, Italy

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2023-05-10 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

The inception meeting in Bologna-Italy

Author(s): Filippo Maria Bassi

Date: 2023-05-10 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Near the plants grown from the planting in Italy

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2023-05-09 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Local varieties planted in Italy

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2023-05-09 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Field preparation in Italy sites

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2023-05-09 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Deliverable report: D.1.1.1 Project portal established on MEL and BMS and kept updated: Pilot on Open Research Data

Author(s): Nada Oussoulous

Date: 2023-04-03 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Inception meeting of the MountainHER project

Author(s): Filippo Maria Bassi

Date: 2023-04-03 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Tunisia on-farm planting both barley and durum wheat

Author(s): Filippo Maria Bassi

Date: 2023-03-31 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Morocco on farm planting both barley and durum wheat

Author(s): Filippo Maria Bassi

Date: 2023-03-31 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

D5.1.1 Define and distribute best small-scale equipment to cooperatives

Author(s): Dorra Sfayhi

Date: 2023-03-31 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

MS1 report- Project kick-off meeting

Author(s): Filippo Maria Bassi

Date: 2023-03-31 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Algeria on farm planting both barley and durum wheat

Author(s): Filippo Maria Bassi

Date: 2023-03-31 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

MS02. Milestone 2: Farmers growing cereals (2022-12-31)

Author(s): Filippo Maria Bassi

Date: 2022-12-31 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

D7.1.1. The project graphic identity is defined

Author(s): Andrea Visioni

Date: 2022-12-31 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Internal Report

Women in wheat field

Author(s): Filippo Maria Bassi

Date: 2022-10-24 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Photo

Logo of the MountainHER project

Author(s): Filippo Maria Bassi

Date: 2022-10-19 | Type: Image - Sub-type(s): Logo

MountainHer Kick-off Meeting agenda

Author(s): Rachid Mrabet

Date: 2022-07-18 | Type: Other (Agenda)

Communication and outreach

Author(s): Hajer Ben Ghanem

Date: 2022-07-18 | Type: Presentation

The “forks”: meeting consumers appreciation

Author(s): Ilaria Mazzoli

Date: 2022-07-18 | Type: Presentation

Food business for radical transformation and employment generation

Author(s): Dubravka Kolarić Zatezalo

Date: 2022-07-18 | Type: Presentation

Rural female cooperatives to generate income: “farms” to “forks”

Author(s): Hiba El Khamal | Dina Najjar

Date: 2022-07-18 | Type: Presentation

Resilient agroecological solutions for circular economy

Author(s): Rola Geryes El Amil | Nasreddine Louahdi

Date: 2022-07-18 | Type: Presentation

Productivity and biodiversity boost via participatory variety selection

Author(s): Filippo Maria Bassi

Date: 2022-07-18 | Type: Presentation

Project management and scientific coordination

Author(s): Rachid Mrabet

Date: 2022-07-18 | Type: Presentation

MountainHER kick off meeting Minutes

Author(s): Rachid Mrabet | Filippo Maria Bassi

Date: 2022-07-18 | Type: Report - Sub-type(s): Conference/Workshop Report

General overview of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Platform

Author(s): Enrico Bonaiuti

Date: 2022-07-18 | Type: Presentation

NEWS & EVENTS

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