In a compelling virtual address delivered from Egypt, Sarah Ahmed Hamza El Batoutty — a prominent international climate diplomat and women’s rights advocate — shared her vision for empowering rural women and localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during a high-level Arab regional seminar marking the International Day of Rural Women on October 15.
El Batoutty, who serves as a UNFCCC Climate Champion, board member of Egypt’s National Council for Women, and Chairwoman of ECOnsult, a leading environmental and engineering consultancy, emphasized the vital role of women in sustainable development, especially in rural communities.
Her intervention was part of the Arab Regional Seminar on the Economic Development of Women and Girls in Rural Areas, organized by the Ministry of Family, Women, Children, and Seniors of Tunisia, in partnership with UN Women Tunisia and the Arab Women Organization.
“The localization of sustainable development goals must begin with women,” El Batoutty said during her remarks. “Women in rural areas are not just recipients of aid — they are agents of climate resilience, agricultural innovation, and community leadership.”
Drawing from her experience in both national policymaking and grassroots environmental work, El Batoutty underlined the intersection between climate action and gender equity. She stressed the need for inclusive economic policies, access to education and clean energy, and greater representation of rural women in governance and climate planning.
Her message resonated strongly with the forum’s theme: economic empowerment and resilience of women and girls in rural environments, a priority that takes on greater urgency in the face of climate change, conflict, and economic disparity across the MENA region.
Participants from across the Arab world attended the seminar, sharing national strategies and success stories to promote rural women’s entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, and financial independence.
El Batoutty’s participation underscored Egypt’s growing regional leadership in sustainability and gender inclusion. In addition to her environmental work, she also serves on the Presidency’s Community Development Advisory Council, where she advises on national strategies for inclusive growth.
The event forms part of the ongoing effort by UN agencies and Arab governments to recognize and support rural women, who form the backbone of agricultural economies but often face disproportionate challenges, including limited land ownership, lower education levels, and heightened vulnerability to climate disruptions.
The International Day of Rural Women, observed annually on October 15, aims to spotlight the critical contributions of women in rural development and food security globally.
