what we do
women
The problem
In many countries, women traditionally take on most of the work in maintaining the household, including caring for children, making food and fetching water.
Fewer girls attend school than boys, and therefore have fewer opportunities open to them. Although women and men both farm, women are likely to farm more marginal and unproductive land because traditional patterns of land ownership often favour men.
Women can also suffer as a result of domestic violence, early marriage or harmful traditional practices. In general, women tend to have less say in their communities and fewer options in earning a living. Yet research has shown that money earned by women is more likely to benefit the whole family, by being spent on family clothes, school/health bills and nutritious food.
What are MRDF partners doing?
In response to demand from local women, Zasilari Ecological Farm Projects (ZEFP) in Ghana has set up women's groups, which offer small scale loans to help their members generate income and training to help them manage their money well.
Increasing the income that goes directly to women increases their status in the community and their ability to make decisions for themselves. Women also report that domestic violence and family arguments decrease as levels of poverty decrease.
ZEFP also provides training sessions in gender issues, for both men and women, where people can discuss ownership of resources, education for girls and boys and how to make shared decisions.
Other MRDF partners, such as the Association of Women in Solidarity in Guatemala, raise awareness of women's rights at work and in the family in order to increase women's confidence and prevent exploitation and ill health.
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"I hope that my daughter's life will be different from mine, that she will have more opportunities. Now we are getting old, but can transfer skills to our children, so that they can inherit a brighter future." Zuara Nantanah, member of Bugye village women's group, northern Ghana. |
