Photo: Xhosa Culture. Offended by one-sided coverage of wars, disasters and disease, the founders of Africa.com created a website that provides a balanced view of Africa – current events, business, arts & culture, travel, fashion, sports, information, development, and more. In Kenya, the bee farming sector has attracted approximately 50% of women. When female policy makers have influence, they positively impact the lives and well-being of women, girls, and society in general. Her goal was to ensure that children go back to school to get educated, as well as minimize abuse and health risks associated with early child marriage. This index is an aggregate of these four sub-indexes: gender discrimination in the family code, restricted physical integrity, civil rights, and access to financial resources. One impact is human rights violations- young girls are disempowered and often abused. It is important for women to have the necessary social and family support to overcome this. The bee farming sector in Africa has been one of many prime examples on how small businesses can empower women. Maty Konte is interested in policy-relevant research that addresses different issues on economic development and growth, institutions and governance, and women's empowerment. In this article we discuss the level of influence female politicians in Africa hold, and explore how beyond representation, female politicians’ access to political influence and leadership in social institutions reduces gender discrimination with respect to the rights of women in the family code, physical integrity, access to financial resources, and civil rights. AN AGENDA FOR ACTION ON EMPOWERING AFRICAN WOMEN. However, for the women […] Access to these opportunities will help women lift themselves sustainably out of poverty. Ntobedzi has not only been an innovator in the energy sector, but has also employed women electrical engineers to support the development of projects in Botswana. It had been conceived on the 1950s model of resistance and it was doomed to flounder in the 1960s. In return, she buys eggs from these farmers and sells them at markets. Issues such as marriage, gender discrimination, and domestic abuse are just some of the experiences shared by women in the group. As a result of these benefits, as well as the importance of ensuring that the rights of women are upheld, the UN has made women empowerment an important part of sustainable development goals. When women contribute to household income and spending changes, it has many benefits for the children. Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams set a fine example of the important role women have in the social and economic development of South Africa. The Executive Director for the NGO Women Africa Solidarity, Oley Dibba-Wadda ironically commented that “…when everything gets messed up, the women are asked to come in and clean up.”. The second index is the Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) taken from the OECD Gender, Institutions and Development Database. Malalai Mobariz, 30, is a women’s rights activist and owner of a women’s café in Sheberghan, capital, In this article, we shall see how two women coming from different parts of the world met, Evidence from around the world shows that women are disproportionately affected by economic shocks and crises. We test how an increase in female political leadership and influence would affect the different forms of gender discrimination in social institutions. 4 Projects aim to empower women in agriculture. If you are interested in telling stories in an impactful way to shine a spotlight on a particular issue, please email us. Child marriage henders both the personal development and economic empowerment of women, which is why eradicating this practice is included as part of the UN’s sustainable development goals to uphold the human rights of women and girls by 2030. Through this, communities that are often unreachable now have reliable and affordable access to power, while increasing the sharing of renewable energy in the Southern African Development Community. The practice poses many risks for girls, including contracting HIV/AIDS, falling pregnant and being forced to drop out of school, and developing health complications associated with early pregnancy. By doing so, children are ensured to have a better chance of living a healthy life. In Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy, 62% of women participate in the labor force, many in the informal sector. However, women across the continent are more likely to be in informal employment relative to men. Women’s participation in the political party structures in Africa is also mainly limited to their reserved women’s wing position, tokenistic and ineffective at large — men remain dominant in terms of numbers at the highest level of decision-making. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. South Africa’s 30 wonder women. women’s empowerment. “When you grow up in a place where a woman’s voice is not even valid, everything reinforces the idea that we’re not good enough,” she claimed as the reason of motivation for starting the group. Here’s a TED Talk that Memory Banda gave about her life and advocacy: Social media has evolved from merely being a space for friends to share their lives with each other, to being a space for advocacy and inclusion. The figure shows that countries with a higher level of female political influence, record lower levels of gender discrimination in social institutions. One important factor that restricts the rights of women in parts of Africa is the entrenched nature of gender discrimination in social institutions. He has broad expertise in political science, development economics, and public policy with a special focus on urban governance and development. Female policy makers are in better positions to understand the hurdles associated with gender discrimination in social institutions and may be better able to fight against them. x South Africa’s macro economic strategies must sufficiently address the economic empowerment of women to counter the continued underemployment and unemployment of women. In the Photo: Women in Somalia practicing self defense. The sector is open to women entrepreneurs who are empowered through business and being able to access affordable energy and technology. Here’s a video of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg explaining the significant impact that groups like FIN have on society: Small businesses can go a long way in empowering not only women, but all members of the community through providing jobs and opportunities for franchises. A Wits University graduate, Lebo enjoys writing lifestyle and entertainment stories. The factors that had, for example, traditionally been used to explain rates of female legislative representation included the type of electoral system, with proportional representation being more favor… Countries would benefit enormously from increasing the influence and decision-making power of female politicians. Design for Change Founder - Kiran Bir Sethi. Empowering women and equitable relations between men and women at national, local and household levels are urgently required to contain and reverse the AIDS epidemic. The advocacy also led traditional authorities to increase the legal marriage age from 18 to 21. Because many drop out of school and are unable to find employment, lack of education and poverty are other impacts. The advocacy work of Banda and the Girls Empowerment Network led to an alliance with community leaders in the Chiradzulu district of southern Malawi to develop bylaws that penalise men who engage in the practices of kusasa fumbi and child marriage. Oley Dibba-Wadda ironically commented that, DFID – UK Department for International Development, COVID-19, Opioid and Substance Use Disorders: What To Do, Women’s Right Activist Malalai Mobariz Speaks With UN Women, COVID-19 – Pre-Existing Gender Discrimination Provides Fertile Ground for Increased Inequality, Tackling Climate Change and COVID-19 at the Local Level in Africa, What Millennials Think of Defund the Police. With American rapper Akon powering over 14 countries across the continent with affordable solar power and Morocco leading the way in solar power with the Ouarzazate Solar Power Station, innovations in technology and energy are gaining momentum across Africa. News Opinion. Gender empowerment has been gaining traction internationally, with an increase of 75% of women representation in 2017 with at least “one woman in senior management” as compared to 66% in 2016. Victor Osei Kwadwo is a PhD fellow in Economics and Governance at UNU-MERIT and Maastricht University. The three weeks training in Computer Science, Robotics, and Design/Art/Culture brought together a diverse group of 30 female U.S. high school students in Africa for an opportunity to study alongside 90 African students from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. For example, faster economic growth occurs when more women enter into the labour force and earn as much as men. In my research I was encouraged to learn that the highest share of women in the workforce globally are found in Africa, Zimbabwe being the highest with 52.8% and a Sub-Saharan average of 40%. He is recently engaged in research on pertinent developmental issues in Africa and specifically on education and gender. Similarly, when there is more political influence for women, it decreases restricted civil rights and enhances access to assets and financial services. Economic opportunities for the empowerment of women in Africa and the LDCs: Access to credit, land, and markets , United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, AKM Glitter Company specializes in poultry farming and has a number of hatcheries that provide day-old chicks and fresh eggs to market. According to statistics by the World Bank, approximately 15 million girls worldwide are married off before the age of 18. women still occupy traditional female occupations. Facts show that whereas political representation continues to increase in Africa, equal representation is not achieved in most African countries. This is the purpose of the popular secret Facebook group, Female in Nigeria (FIN), which was started by Lola Omolola. Our mission is to champion and amplify the voices of female leaders, change makers, big thinkers and risk takers driving change. Victor’s interest in the overall development of Africa has propelled him to research beyond his current area of focus. Over the years, more women have become involved in industry and have risen to become leaders who have made their mark. When women overcome hurdles and gain political seats, they hardly lead the most important political positions. 2 The number of female CEOs featured in the Fortune 500 is a mere 24. Whether in media or mining, banking or politics, these women are forces to be reckoned with, and role models to many. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ These institutions can be long-lasting and difficult to remove, yet it is their removal that will create more egalitarian societies in which women may have the freedom and resources to reach their full potential. African women ministers, for instance, are half as likely as their male peers to be appointed to influential positions such as finance minister or prime minister. The three stand-out South African women in leadership featured below show how women are shaping the economy and the country: South Africa records the highest female political influence and also the lowest gender discrimination in social institutions. Policy makers are key actors who can implement and enforce laws against any form of gender discrimination. more Tackling poverty by growing SMEs – UNDP South Africa In South Africa, progress on women empowerment has been uneven. women still occupy traditional female occupations. Often, female politicians in Africa overcome many barriers and constraints to access political positions. Systemic gender bias against female leadership, entrenched in socio-cultural and religious values, still persists in Africa. This not only causes negative personal development, but economic issues for the lives of women as well. Studies in Sub-Saharan Africa have shown that, on average, women with secondary education have three fewer children than those with no education at all. Maty Konte has PhD and Master degrees in economics from the Aix-Marseille School of Economics in France. It is important to highlight the benefits of having women in decision making and to have local role models to help build local capacity. The advocacy also led traditional authorities to increase the legal marriage age from 18 to 21. Similar historic events and processes have been compared and discussed using the method of Similar Systems Design to pin point differences between the countries. Additionally, by focusing on educating women in the STEM field, which is sought after both on the continent and across the world, women will have better access to educational and economic opportunities. Women at the start of the 20th century. Episode 1: How are you being sustainable in quarantine? He also holds a Master of Urban Planning and Policy Design on a Platinum Merit Scholarship from Politecnico di Milano, Italy. As a career-development program for rising female agricultural scientists, the organizations’ flagship initiative, the AWARD Fellowship, aims to equip women in sub-Saharan Africa with leadership and scientific skills to lead agricultural innovations and improve food security. We have shown in this article that giving more influence to female policy makers would help many African countries become more egalitarian and fair toward women and girls. While most governments in Africa acknowledge that empowering women and girls is a key contributor to economic development, the fertility transition in Africa ─ an important factor in sustained economic growth ─ has been much slower than in other regions of the world. Families are able to sustainably lift themselves from poverty and contribute meaningfully to their families and the economy. x South Africa has a high level of illiteracy. Victor Osei Kwadwo Zille began her working life as a journalist. One important factor that restricts the rights of women in parts of Africa is the entrenched nature of gender discrimination in social institutions. International Women’s Forum (IWF) The International Women’s Forum (IWF) is a global organization … Strengthening women's roles as leaders, entrepreneurs, consumers and economic stakeholders will transform the continent. However, the Gender Equality Index Women are essential to ending poverty around the world. Lastly, political representation of women from the lowest to the highest level has been more of a reactionary measure. Content is produced in collaboration between Africa.com’s editorial team and our partners — including non-governmental organizations, private sector stakeholders, agencies, and institutions. Angélique Ingabire, a 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow from Rwanda, has dedicated much of her professional life to empowering young women and girls and fighting for gender equality.Angélique works for a local nonprofit organization, committed to supporting young women through a variety of projects. Explaining the motivation behind her work, Swai says in an interview with Mail & Guardian that “This is my passion and a huge part of my life. Photo Credit: AMISOM Public Information on Flickr. The advocacy work of Banda and the Girls Empowerment Network led to an alliance with community leaders in the Chiradzulu district of southern Malawi to develop bylaws that penalise men who engage in the practices of kusasa fumbi and child marriage. Most striking, they get little influence and decision-making power in legislation and budgets. As entrepreneur and young business leader, Lynette Ntuli said in an interview, young South African women may be faced with different struggles to the women of 1956, but they have equal responsibility to make similar strides. His research output has earned him the Young Scholar Award in 2017 from the European Urban Research Association. The percentage of women in national parliaments in 2017 was 23.4%, this number only increased by 0.1% from 2016. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – Africa’s first woman president (Liberia) The Harvard educated leader made history by becoming Africa’s first female … Approximately 50% of women in cabinet handle mostly social welfare portfolios, while only 30% lead the ministries for treasury, infrastructure, defense, and foreign affairs which are considered to have more political influence. View Women Leadership Social Empowerment’s professional profile on LinkedIn. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ x South Africa has a high level of illiteracy. By increasing women’s and girls’ education, contributions are made to higher economic growth and personal development. I ask myself, what the world would look like if more women were empowered. South Africa celebrated this year's International Women's Day with calls for African leaders to advance women's participation in politics and empowering them economically. The Kenyan Ministry of Energy and Petroleum seeks to add 5000 megawatts to the national grid in coming years in order to Executive influence measures the percentage of heads of the executive cabinet or ministry held by women and the percentage of the national budget allocated to ministries led by women. Ntuli is the founding director and CEO of Innate Investment Solutions, a property, asset and infrastructure development and solutions firm. F or fifty years, the African Development Bank has championed home-grown ... (South Africa, Rwanda, Namibia, Mauritius and Malawi are the top five) —and, over time, the best improvers. Women's empowerment is the process of empowering women. South African journalist based in Johannesburg. Access to affordable funding was seen as critical for the empowerment of women in the agriculture sector. Similar historic events and processes have been compared and discussed using the method of Similar Systems Design to pin point differences between the countries. Eradicating such customs in order to give girls a better future has been the work of Malawian gender rights activist Memory Banda, who has been working with the Girls Empowerment Network to stop the prevalence of child marriage and a custom known as “kusasa fumbi”. Photo Credit: DFID – UK Department for International Development on Flickr. One of the prime businesses making strides in poultry farming is AKM Glitter Company, formed by businesswoman and head of African Women in Agribusiness chapter in Tanzania, a Graça Machel Trust initiative, Elizabeth Swai. women’s empowerment. Women’s representation in political parties, the legislative and executive arms of government, and at points of crisis matter, but what matters most is how these numbers translate into improving policy content and direction. 3 In Africa alone, only 5% of women hold a CEO position. It had not been banned but its ally, the ANC, had been driven underground. Women Leaders South Africa is a movement for high impact women to connect, inspire and empower each other.
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