A social initiative aimed at promoting family products in Bahrain has won the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (Agfund) Award.

The Social Development Ministry launched the scheme ‘Khutwa’, or ‘STEP’, in January last year aimed at promoting the concept of ‘productive families’ which suits all age categories, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Award committee member Dr Ahmed Mohammed chaired a meeting of the panel in Rabat, on behalf of Agfund chairman Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, and announced four winners out of 59 projects in the fray.

First category: ($200,000) - The role of UN and international organisations in supporting the developing countries' programmes through marketing of homemade products (for projects implemented by UN, international or regional organisations). Winner: Nepalese project "Women empowerment for sustainable environment-friendly housing".

Second category: ($150,000) - The role of NGOs in marketing of homemade products (for projects implemented by national NGOs). Winner: Palestinian project "Heritage".

Third category: ($100,000) - The role of governmental and public institutions in setting up policies and programmes that are supportive to homemade products (for projects implemented by ministries and public institutions). Winner: Bahraini project "Khutwa".

Fourth category: ($50,000) - Individual-led initiatives for empowerment of women through marketing of homemade products (for projects initiated, sponsored and/or implemented by individuals). Winner: Saudi project "Handicraft Family Products". - TradeArabia News Service