15 on October 2016, the global community celebrates the International Day of Rural Women.

Rural women, the main source of livelihood which is natural resources and agriculture, make up more than a quarter of the world's population. In developing countries, rural women constitute approximately 43 per cent of the agricultural labor force, and their primary responsibility for ensuring food safety, as they are produced, processed and prepared most of the food. Given the fact that 76 per cent of the world's poorest people live in rural areas, access of rural women to productive agricultural resources contributes to the reduction of hunger and poverty in the world and gives the critical role of rural women in the successful implementation of a new agenda for sustainable development up to 2030 of the year.

Rural women play a key role in the achievement of qualitatively new economic, environmental and social changes needed for sustainable development. However, they face many challenges, including limited access to credit, health and education, which is also compounded by the global food and economic crises and climate change. The empowerment of rural women is crucial not only for the well-being of individuals, families and rural communities, but also for the overall performance of the economy, given the significant presence of women among the migrant farmers around the world.

In rural areas in Kazakhstan, unemployment among women is higher than in the city. However, many of the rural women in Kazakhstan have great potential. For example, there are women involved in the manufacture of accessories in traditional style and other products using traditional Kazakh crafts.

United Nations Development Programme is working with craftswomen women since 2014 in Mangystau, Kyzylorda and East Kazakhstan oblasts. In support of the women were held seminars to enhance their professionalism, were granted interest-free loans for business development, consultations and special events, such as fairs and product shows orders made craftswomen.

Ulmeken Mautova is native of Atyrau region, but she met her husband while studying, and she decided to move to a distant Zhanakorgan region of Kyzylorda oblast. Now she has four children and six grandchildren. Ulmeken teaches art students, and drawing. But her real passion is felt and wool work. She felt products fascinate with its uniqueness, it seems that every piece has its own character and personal history. The paintings, which Ulmeken embroider of felt - the whole works of art. Three of them were purchased to decorate the UN building in Astana.

On the advice of the master during the training organized by UNDP in Bishkek on the basis of "Tumar" factory Ulmeken started using ancient Kazakh motifs for their works. Thus, she was able to bring to the felt ancient artifacts of gold, found on the territory of Kazakhstan.

Altogether during the work of UNDP craftswomen were trained more than 100 women, 30 of them became professionals. Eight out of this number was taught the craft by teaching other women and men.

"Agenda for sustainable development for the period till 2030 provides a promise not to ignore a single person. And in order to carry it out, we need to help rural women achieve success and gain access to the necessary assistance and information, through which they could realize their potential without having to leave their communities, "- said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message on the occasion of the International rural women's day.

UNDP is working with representatives of all sectors of society, assisting in nation-building countries in order to enable them to withstand the crisis, and encouraging and supporting growth, leading to an improvement in the quality of life of every person. Working on the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local solutions to promote a full-fledged life and enhance the vitality of nations.

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