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5 Things To Know About Femicide in Honduras

Femicide in HondurasHonduras is the country with the most femicides in Latin America. In 2020, 278 women in Honduras lost their lives due to femicide and the issue has only gotten worse during and since the pandemic. Additionally, the alarming rates of gender-based violence and murders are mainly due to the patriarchy and sexism that are deep in the culture.

Femicide in Honduras

Femicide is one of the leading causes of death among adult women in Honduras. Despite awareness of this alarming trend, authorities often fail to take sufficient action. An estimated 90% of femicide cases go unpunished.

Many women who attempt to report abuse or domestic violence are not taken seriously, further discouraging victims from seeking help. This lack of response has only fueled the rise in femicide, as impunity and inaction continue to perpetuate the crisis.

Gender-Based Violence

Honduras is considered one of the most challenging places to live as a woman, with gender-based violence widespread across the country. In 2022 alone, 297 women were killed and between 2016 and 2022, a total of 2,264 women lost their lives to such violence.

Impoverished Women Suffer More

Femicide disproportionately affects impoverished women. In poor neighborhoods, police often dismiss complaints and judicial corruption stifles justice, with only 20–30% of women using state services due to distrust.

A mother in Cortes, living in poverty, reported her gang-affiliated ex-partner’s threats. However, police inaction left her vulnerable, illustrating how economic disadvantage compounds the lack of punishment for people who commit femicide.

Weak Law Enforcement

Laws have been enacted in an effort to address the issue, but impoverished women remain vulnerable. Legislation such as the 2006 Domestic Violence Law was designed to offer protection. However, weak enforcement, particularly in low-income areas, has limited its impact. Still, there is cautious optimism, as the president of Honduras has pledged to focus more on women’s rights and the fight against gender-based violence moving forward.

Hope for the Future

There is hope for the future. Movimiento de Mujeres de la Colonia López Arellano (MOMUCLA) is a grassroots organization that has spent years advocating for women’s rights in northern Honduras. In Choloma, the city where it primarily operates, the number of femicides dropped significantly, from 38 cases in 2019 to 13 in 2020, demonstrating the potential impact of sustained local efforts. This organization targets low-income neighborhoods affected by gangs, helping those who are not receiving help from the government.

Conclusion

Femicide in Honduras remains a widespread and deeply rooted issue. Furthermore, femicide disproportionately affects low-income women who often lack the resources to escape dangerous situations, sometimes with fatal consequences. While some measures have been implemented to curb gender-based violence, they have benefited mainly women with greater financial means. Unfortunately, this leaves those in poverty underserved and unprotected.

However, there is hope. A growing number of organizations are stepping up to support low-income women impacted by gender-based violence, working to provide protection, resources and a path toward justice.

– Sydney Carr

Sydney is based in San Diego, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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The Gender Wage Gap in Haiti

The Gender Wage Gap in HaitiWomen in Haiti earn 20% to 30% less than their male counterparts. Additionally, they are more likely to be unemployed and less likely to have consistent jobs. In addition to the gender wage gap, women in Haiti face higher unemployment rates and fewer opportunities for stable, long-term employment. The challenges are even greater for women with children, as they are less likely to find work compared to women without children, further compounding their economic struggles.

Education

Education is a significant factor in women’s employment, as educated women are more likely to have jobs in higher positions. The literacy rate for women in Haiti is among the lowest in Latin America and the Caribbean, which plays a role in the gender wage gap in Haiti.

Child marriage and early childbirth are two major factors that prevent girls in Haiti from attending school or completing secondary education. Secondary education is essential for women to access higher-paying jobs, as simply finishing primary school is often insufficient to secure employment.

Textiles

Women dominate the textile industry in Haiti, which holds promise for creating more jobs and potentially higher pay for women. However, entry-level positions, predominantly filled by women, offer extremely low wages. Although two-thirds of the workers in the industry are women, higher-ranking positions are often occupied by men. Many women in textiles have limited education and face additional disadvantages due to the country’s low minimum wage, which further impacts their earning potential.

Unemployment During the Pandemic

There was a significant decrease in women’s employment during the pandemic. This is likely attributed to inequality in pay for domestic work. Data shows that most women did household chores like laundry, cooking, cleaning and caring for children. Only 35% of people surveyed said that the man and woman of the household shared these duties. Women-dominated fields, such as firms, were closed disproportionately during the pandemic, causing these women to work solely domestically.

Economic Factors

While a legal framework mandates equal pay, certain jobs, such as night shifts, dangerous roles and industrial positions, typically offer higher wages. However, women often do not have equal access to these opportunities. This creates a loophole that perpetuates the gender wage gap in Haiti. This disparity significantly contributes to unequal pay between men and women in the workforce.

Women in Haiti are entitled to only 12 weeks of paid leave, compared to the recommended 14 weeks, while men are granted just one week of paid leave. Additionally, women with children under 5 are less likely to participate in the workforce. This policy creates significant barriers to women’s full employment and career advancement.

Empowering Women

To address the gender wage gap in Haiti, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supported the Haitian Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Women’s Rights (MCFDF) through the project “Supporting the Government of Haiti for the Socioeconomic Empowerment of Rural Women.”

The project, which ran from January 2020 to December 2021, aimed to raise awareness among rural women about the importance of their roles and potential within their communities. It provided 1,200 women, organized into 15 associations, with both technical and financial support to help foster women’s freedom.

Summary

The gender wage gap in Haiti is driven by limited education, unequal job opportunities and systemic barriers, particularly for women with children. Despite legal frameworks for equal pay, women face significant challenges accessing better-paying jobs. However, initiatives like the FAO’s empowerment project provide valuable support, offering women the tools to improve their economic independence. Addressing these issues is crucial for reducing the gender wage gap and creating a more equitable society in Haiti.

– Ella Burke

Ella is based in Lawrence, KS, USA and focuses on Technology and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Women’s Police Stations Combat Gender-Based Violence in India 

Women’s Police Stations Combat Gender-Based Violence in India In India, approximately 120 women live in extreme poverty for every 100 men and 30% of women experience domestic violence. Yet, many never report these incidents due to fear, stigma and a lack of trust in law enforcement. Deeply entrenched gender hierarchies have led to widespread gender-based violence (GBV), where women often endure skepticism and prejudice when they try to tell their stories. When seeking help from male-dominated police stations, Indian women frequently face additional challenges. Men account for 90% of the Indian police force, making it difficult for women to feel safe or understood when reporting violence. Despite government efforts to increase female representation in law enforcement, progress has been slow, leaving many women without a supportive system to rely on.

Women’s Police Stations

Women’s police stations, staffed exclusively by women, provide a safer and more supportive environment for victims of gender-based violence. These stations focus on helping victims rather than solely pursuing the arrest of perpetrators. Officers connect women with domestic violence helplines, provide counseling and help them escape abusive situations. The first women’s police station, the Vanitha Police Station, was established in Kerala, India, in 1973. The success of this model led to the rapid adoption of similar stations across India, with 745 now operating, primarily in urban centers. These stations offer women a space where they can seek help without fear or intimidation. Female officers handle cases of domestic violence and sexual abuse, but they also address other gender-specific issues, giving victims a sense of empowerment and agency.

India’s women-only police stations have inspired similar models worldwide. Brazil established its first women’s police station in São Paulo and countries across Latin America and Africa have since adopted the model to combat systemic discrimination and gender-based violence.

Increasing Reporting and Legislative Impact

Women’s police stations in India have led to a 29% increase in domestic violence reporting. When women see themselves reflected in law enforcement, they are more likely to come forward and seek help. Increased reporting provides governments with more accurate data, which can lead to stronger legislation to protect women. By addressing the root causes of gender inequality, these stations contribute to breaking the cycle of violence and poverty.

Women who are more likely to experience domestic violence are often the same individuals living in extreme poverty. Rural women face higher risks of gender-based violence compared to those in urban areas. Women’s police stations not only offer support but also provide valuable information about the challenges these women face, which can shape policy changes that uplift vulnerable communities. Although the Indian government has attempted to address gender disparities in poverty, women-only police stations add urgency to legislative efforts aimed at ending these inequalities.

Global Impact on Crime Reduction

The success of women’s police stations extends beyond India’s borders. In Brazil, female homicide rates among women aged 18 to 24 dropped by 50% and the overall rate decreased by 17% following the establishment of these stations. Female personnel deterred crimes against women by creating an environment where victims felt safer reporting violence. India’s decision to pioneer this model has had a far-reaching influence, ensuring greater safety for women across the globe.

Women’s police stations offer more than law enforcement. They create a space where women can reclaim their agency, find support and pursue justice without fear. These stations address gender-based violence while contributing to broader efforts to break cycles of poverty and inequality.

Looking Ahead

Women’s police stations in India have demonstrated remarkable success, but their continued impact depends on sustained funding and expanded outreach. Increasing the number of these stations, particularly in rural areas, could ensure that more women have access to safe and supportive environments. Scaling these ongoing efforts can potentially reduce GBV and also contribute to dismantling structural inequalities that perpetuate poverty and violence. By strengthening and expanding this initiative, India has the potential to empower millions of women to live safely and independently, free from the constraints of violence.

– Divya Beeram

Divya is based in San Antonio, Texas, USA and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Women’s Education and the Work of JAAGO in Bangladesh

JAAGO in BangladeshAccelerating Action is this year’s International Women’s Day theme, calling for urgent efforts to advance gender equality matters. The 2024 Global Gender Gap report shows that although significant progress has been made and several economies reached higher gender parity scores this year, others are far from ideal results.

Southern Asia ranks last in Economic Participation and Opportunity and shows low rates of women employed in the workforce, with Bangladesh declining by -3.3 points in the global ranking. Bangladesh (31.1%), Sudan (33.7%), Iran (34.3%), Pakistan (36%), India (39.8%) and Morocco (40.6%) are the economies with the lowest economic parity.

Gender parity in projected earned income is less than 30% in these economies. Furthermore, all the economies on the list have labor force participation rates below 50%.

Education as a Pathway to Economic Freedom

Global studies have long shown that education is one of the most effective ways to combat poverty and reach gender equality. According to the World Bank gender data, women with secondary education earn nearly 20% more than those without and those with tertiary education earn up to 323.4% more. Educated women are also less likely to marry before 18, reducing risks associated with early pregnancy and improving overall family health.

Bangladesh excels in educational attainment, with a 94% achievement rate that reflects gender parity in secondary enrolment, 93% in literacy and 84.1% in university enrolment. Generally, Southern Asia has also made the most remarkable progress since 2006, improving educational gender parity by +13.4 percentage points – more than twice the leap made by the Middle East, Northern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa regions during the same period.

The World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report also notes that 91.3% of girls and 74.8% of boys have completed lower secondary school in Bangladesh as of 2022. Hence, the female literacy rate rose to 84% in 2023.

The Work of JAAGO in Bangladesh

JAAGO is a leading foundation in Bangladesh dedicated to promoting gender equality and ensuring women have continued access to education. Its journey began in 2007 in a single room with only 17 children in the Rayer Bazar Slum of Dhaka. It aims to break the poverty cycle and ensure a bright future for children from underprivileged communities. JAAGO currently has 11 schools in 10 districts in Bangladesh, educating 5,000 children.

Through various programs, JAAGO has successfully implemented solutions to keep girls in school while fostering skill development. In many rural areas, schools are either too expensive or poor quality. To address this, JAAGO schools offer free education with highly qualified teachers. It provides online programs through the digital school initiative, ensuring access to quality education for all.

The Digital School Program of JAAGO in Bangladesh

JAAGO Foundation’s Digital School Program provides quality education to underprivileged children in remote areas of Bangladesh using online learning. It bridges educational gaps by offering interactive lessons, trained teachers and digital resources. The program focuses on accessibility, inclusivity and skill development, ensuring children receive a standardized education regardless of location. This initiative empowers students with knowledge and opportunities for a brighter future.

The program also focuses on delivering quality education and opportunities at every step, including counseling parents to encourage them to keep their daughters in school. Additionally, the programs provide medical and mental health sessions to ensure girls can continue their education without barriers.

ODOMMO

The ODOMMO project, launched by the JAAGO Foundation with the Malala Fund, promotes girls’ education in Bangladesh by tackling poverty, gender discrimination and societal barriers. It focuses on improving school enrollment, retention and learning environments. The initiative further includes teacher training, life-skills programs and school expansions, empowering girls to become future leaders and advocates for change.

The ODOMMO project has positively impacted 1,584 girls in Bangladesh’s flood-prone areas by reducing school dropout rates, increasing awareness about child marriage and encouraging greater participation in STEM. Additionally, the project conducted community-driven awareness initiatives, including courtyard meetings and discussions with school authorities, government officials and local leaders to advocate for girls’ education in the region.

Bandarban School Bus

Many impoverished families in Bangladesh struggle to afford schooling and recurrent flooding worsens job losses, making education even less accessible. In many cases, girls are sent to work or married off instead of continuing their studies, as families believe marriage offers them a more secure future.

Geographical challenges further limit access to education, especially in rural areas, where long and unsafe commutes discourage attendance. Without secure transportation or infrastructure, many girls cannot reach school safely.

The JAAGO Foundation launched the School Bus Initiative to tackle this issue, providing students with reliable transportation. This simple yet impactful solution has significantly increased attendance, ensuring more children, especially girls, stay in school. By removing safety concerns and commuting barriers, the initiative has helped reduce dropout rates, allowing students to focus on their education.

Volunteering and a Call to Action

Ensuring access to education requires a collective effort; governments, parents, corporations and communities all drive meaningful change. Raising awareness through social media campaigns, expert advocacy and corporate engagement can further mobilize resources and support.

Individuals and businesses can contribute by sponsoring a child’s education, covering school fees, meals, supplies, health check-ups and mentorship. Sponsors also receive monthly reports and can connect with the school or child via online calls or in-person visits.

Beyond financial support, volunteers play a key role in driving local change. During recent floods in Bangladesh, volunteers stepped up by raising funds, rescuing people, setting up medical camps and rebuilding homes, demonstrating how collective action can make a lasting impact.

– Arianna Distefano

Arianna Distefano is based in London and focuses on Good News, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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WEHAF Foundation: Knowledge is Power for Women in Tanzania

Women in tanzaniaThe women of the Maasai tribe in Arusha, Tanzania face extreme rates of poverty and violations of their human rights. Traditions and cultural norms perpetuate health risks and social injustice, diminishing their development and way of life. About 60% of women live in extreme poverty, on account of the unequal challenges they face.

These risks include Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early marriages, vulnerable employment and unfit education on reproductive health. Indeed, as of 2016, 10% of women experienced the cultural practice of FGM. Furthermore, 35% of those women were under the age of 1.

WEHAF in Tanzania

Ensuring women in Tanzania have access to proper education and tools to fight economic and social issues was the deciding factor behind Widows Encouragement & HIV/AIDS Foundation (WEHAF). Founders Theresia Mollel and Silvia George are sisters who came together in 2016 to empower women of all ages to create a better life for themselves and their families.

WEHAF’s objectives include lobbying for human rights policy change, increasing psychosocial support services to victims of HIV/AIDS and women in need, providing legal assistance to these groups, etc. Further, most young women simply need educating on daunting practices like FGM and early marriage that propel them into adulthood. WEHAF holds workshops and open conversations surrounding FGM in Tanzania to get women equipped to overcome these hardships.

Unemployment

Along with human rights violations, these women lack the necessary resources to cultivate an adequate income. Women are more likely to participate in unpaid labor than men. The employment rate among women has dropped from 79% in 2005 to 72% in 2016.

Vulnerable employment rates, or informal work arrangements and fewer protections, have steadily stayed at a higher rate among women than men in Tanzania. In 2023, the vulnerable employment rate in women was 89.3%, with men at 77.8%. As this rate slowly decreases over time, WEHAF is building a New Mama Center to revive economic prosperity among Maasai women.

In December 2023, construction on WEHAF’s New Mama Center began in Moshono, a small suburb in Arusha, Tanzania. This facility will provide a more permanent care center for women and victims of HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, classes on menstrual hygiene practices are provided for an array of life skills that will set these women up for a successful future.

Success Story

From food packages to sewing classes, WEHAF has created real results that encourage the community in Tanzania to trust the process. One example of the sisters making an impact is through 63-year-old Aisha. She was an accomplished coal saleswoman, but after her leg was amputated, she could no longer invest in her business once the hospital bills came through. WEHAF provided two bags of coal and a food package to kick start her career again. Just one month later Aisha was flourishing once again.

The outreach programs graciously provided by WEHAF is proof that investing in the younger generation is highly important. There is a call to action regarding these women and children, through donations, volunteering or advocacy. The Mollel sisters and everyone fighting with WEHAF appreciate any efforts to break down barriers for women in poverty in Tanzania.

– Rachael Wexler

Rachael is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Women’s Rights in Sao Tome and Principe

Women’s Rights in Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe is an island nation on the coast of Central Africa, with a population of nearly 240,000 and a land area of 386 square miles. Although the island is small, one cannot understate the role of women in its success. They are the backbone of society, and while Sao Tomeans have made long strides in removing legal barriers to women’s rights in Sao Tome and Principe, restrictions remain that prevent women from accessing the full extent of their rights.

Sao Tomean Women in Poverty

More than two-thirds of the population of Sao Tome and Principe lives in poverty, but compared to 64.3% of male-led households in poverty, more than 71.3% of women-led households experience extreme and debilitating poverty.

Attempting to rectify systemic inequalities, the Sao Tomean government wrote the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe in November 1975, not only establishing the nation’s independence from Portugal but also codifying a host of cornerstone women’s rights, including property ownership, inheritance and the ability to pursue a job without a husband’s permission.

Since 1975, Sao Tomeans have introduced more than 14 national legal reforms to increase women’s economic autonomy and have ratified numerous international conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Most recently, in 2022, Sao Tomean President Carlos Vila Nova signed a new gender parity law designating 40% of all parliamentary seats to women. Although women in Sao Tome and Principe have not yet met the 40% representative quota, they now occupy 24% of parliament, a substantial increase compared to just around 12% in 1980.

In a legal context, the government has made undeniable progress toward women’s rights in Sao Tome and Principe, and it has implemented measures attempting to eliminate the poverty inequalities between men and women. However, many social barriers still prevent women from being truly free. 

Preventing Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence is a principal indicator of women’s rights standards and a major barrier preventing women from escaping poverty. Sao Tomean leaders have implemented new measures to decrease the incidence of domestic abuse and increase the ability for women to report, but few of those reforms show in the growing rate of gender-based violence.

Police and prosecutors saw an increase of more than 20% in the number of domestic violence cases. Law enforcement is now considering ways to dismantle the influence of centuries-long traditions embedded in the inequities women face, including introducing new ways for women to report instances of violence.

Gender-based violence is cyclically linked to poverty, as both an impetus and a response. There is hope to end gender-based violence in Sao Tome and Principe with persistent legislators and police officers, given time and consistent resources.

Encouraging Women’s Education 

Sao Tomeans segment their education into pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary levels, and while education is legally mandated for children between 6 and 14 years old, many children, particularly young girls, face challenges in attending school. Often, people encourage them to stay home and learn the traditional role of women rather than skills to join the workforce.

Sao Tomean’s adherence to tradition may explain why only 23.1% of women participate in the workforce, compared to 24.1% of men, furthering the challenges for women escaping poverty. Education is the most critical factor in allowing young women to pursue professions later in their lives, and while girls typically finish secondary school, they rarely go on to higher education.

To advance women’s education, the Sao Tomean government removed the Disciplinary Act in 2020, which prevented pregnant girls from attending classes during the day after their first trimester. They are also expanding gender-responsive education and providing support materials to young women seeking education.

The government secures women’s rights in Sao Tome and Principe one girl at a time, reaching empowerment through structural reform and ending poverty disparities across the archipelago. 

– Divya Beeram

Divya is based in San Antonio, TX, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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How the PpDM is Addressing Women’s Rights in Portugal

How the PpDM is Addressing Women's Rights in Portugal According to the European Institute for Gender Equality, Portugal ranked 15th in Europe for gender equality in 2023. The study found that health care had the most significant gender disparities, while workplace equality showed the most progress. A Randstad study, conducted by the global talent company, reported that Portugal’s gender pay gap stood at 13%, aligning closely with the 2024 European average. Despite ongoing challenges, activists and nonprofit organizations continue working toward gender equality, advocating for women’s rights, awareness, policy change and social reform.

PpDM Promoting Women’s Rights in Portugal

The Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights (PpDM), an independent, nonprofit humanist organization, promotes gender equality through research, advocacy, mobilization and training. Free from government, political or religious affiliations, PpDM represents Portugal in key international networks, including the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), the EU Civil Society Platform against Trafficking, the Association of Women from Southern Europe (AFEM) and the Euro-Mediterranean Women’s Foundation (FFEM). As the national coordinator for the EWL, PpDM works closely with European organizations to advocate for gender equality policies and initiatives. The organization focuses on eliminating discrimination and gender-based violence by providing training and resources to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). PpDM fosters open discussions on gender issues, creating a platform for organizations to collaborate, exchange knowledge and implement gender equality initiatives.

Key PpDM Initiatives for Gender Equality

  • Mobilize Against Sexism!. Funded by the Council of Europe and organized by the EWL, raises awareness about sexism and discrimination. The initiative promotes public dialogue on gender-based biases and provides legal definitions of sexism to support advocacy efforts. To extend its reach, the campaign offers flyers, posters and educational materials for use in schools and public awareness programs.
  • Women in Climate. An initiative launched by the EWL integrates gender perspectives into climate policy. The project highlights how climate change disproportionately affects marginalized women and encourages civil society organizations to advocate for gender equality in environmental action. By bridging women’s rights and climate justice, the initiative strengthens policy discussions and advocacy strategies.
  • From the Voice III. It provides a digital platform for conversations about sexism, discrimination and gender-based violence. The initiative creates a safe online space where women can share experiences, participate in discussions and access educational resources. Webinars, podcasts and other digital content aim to challenge gender stereotypes and promote feminist discourse in Portugal.

Beyond these initiatives, PpDM has launched several other projects that amplify women’s voices, mobilize communities and influence policy change. Programs such as the Feminist Tribune, bE_SAFE, and Young Europe Sustainable Democracy Builders (YES) focus on human rights advocacy, gender-based cyber safety and youth involvement in democratic policy-making.

Advocacy and International Collaboration

PpDM actively engages in international human rights conventions that promote gender equality and women’s rights. The organization contributes to global policy discussions, influencing frameworks such as the Istanbul Convention and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. By working with international organizations and policymakers, PpDM strengthens its influence on gender policies at both national and global levels.

Looking Ahead

The PpDM calls for broader community participation in its mission to achieve gender equality. Indeed, by fostering education, advocacy and legal reforms, the organization remains a driving force in promoting women’s rights in Portugal. As challenges persist, continued collaboration with policymakers, activists and civil society could be essential in creating lasting change for future generations.

– Hannah Pacheco

Hannah is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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DreamSave: Women in Kenya Combat Poverty

DreamSave: Women in Kenya Combat PovertyAccess to financial resources remains a major challenge for women in Kenya, limiting economic growth and business expansion opportunities. The gap in financial exclusion between men and women in Kenya has narrowed over the years. In 2024, financial exclusion was higher in women at 10% than in men at 9.8%. Women own nearly 48% of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya, yet they receive only 9% of available credit from financial institutions. With more than 80% of Kenyans working in the informal sector, the lack of banking access contributes to economic instability and deepens poverty.

Barriers to Financial Access

Small and medium-sized businesses in Kenya face significant obstacles in obtaining credit from financial institutions. Many lack sufficient assets to provide as collateral, making commercial bank loans difficult to secure. As a result, business owners often turn to friends and relatives for financial support, which is rarely enough to sustain long-term growth. Without proper funding, enterprises are forced to rely on lower-cost and often inefficient technologies, limiting their potential for success.

How DreamSave Works

DreamSave, an innovative mobile app, is transforming how savings groups operate by digitizing financial management. The platform enables users to track savings, manage loans, build credit histories and set financial goals without requiring access to traditional banking services. By providing a reliable and structured approach to saving, the app is helping women gain financial independence and break the cycle of poverty. In addition, the platform simplifies financial management for savings groups in underbanked areas. The app helps users record financial data, conduct meetings and track credit histories, ensuring accountability and transparency. By automating these processes, DreamSave allows members to focus on growing their businesses and achieving their savings goals.

Key Features of DreamSave

DreamSave is designed to overcome common financial barriers in developing countries. Its offline capability ensures that users in remote areas with limited internet access can continue managing their finances without interruptions. Data automatically syncs to the cloud whenever a connection becomes available, maintaining continuity in record-keeping. The app also offers enhanced traceability and compliance by keeping detailed logs of all transactions, allowing users to track their financial activities with full transparency.

Recognizing the high cost of mobile data in its target markets, DreamSave has optimized its platform to minimize data consumption, reducing costs by up to 60% compared to previous versions. Faster data synchronization ensures that users with limited internet access can efficiently update their records, even during brief online sessions. Additionally, DreamSave’s near-real-time data processing allows savings groups to instantly access updated financial insights. To ensure continuity, the app is backward compatible, meaning users can seamlessly transfer their existing data when upgrading to newer versions.

Global Recognition and Impact

DreamSave’s innovative approach has earned it multiple awards. It was recognized as the Best Finance App and Best Developing World Technology at the Fast Company 2023 World Changing Ideas Competition. The app also won the Best Digital Banking Technology Award at the 2023 Worldwide Finance Awards and the Most Empowering Digital Banking Technology Award at the 2022 Worldwide Finance Awards.

Looking Ahead

DreamSave continues to expand its reach, enabling more women in Kenya and beyond to access secure financial services. By bridging the gap in financial inclusion, the app is empowering women to achieve economic independence and contribute to long-term poverty reduction.

– Taylor Naquin

Taylor is based in Gilbert, AZ, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Female Employment in Kenya: Boda Girls

Female Employment in Kenya“Boda-boda” driving, a form of motorcycle taxi service, has been a prominent industry in East Africa since the 1970s when drivers transported people across the Uganda-Kenya border on bicycles. In recent years, however, the industry has become a subject of intense public scrutiny, as several accidents and assaults have been increasingly connected to boda-boda drivers. Robbery, violence, drug trafficking and even murder claims have been connected with drivers, leading to protests and calls for regulation of the boda taxi industry. The public benefits boda-boda driving brings, including employment for thousands of young men and cheap transportation, especially to hospitals or voting booths, further complicate this issue.

Women and Boda-boda

Women have been excluded from the boda-boda industry since its invention, despite Kenya’s large strides towards gender equality over the past 50 years. Before 2022, there were few, if any, female boda drivers and women were subjected to numerous incidents of assault as passengers. Regardless of legal equality in the workforce, many barriers to entry still exist for female employment in Kenya. According to U.N. Women Africa, most women in Kenya work in the informal (home and agricultural labor) sector. At the same time, men receive higher wages and have more opportunities to participate in the formal economy than women.

Employment opportunities in Siaya County, the home of the Matibabu Foundation Hospital, are largely agricultural. This is especially true for women, who constitute anywhere from 30% to 80% of the agricultural labor force across sub-Saharan Africa and whose labor pays about one-tenth of what male boda drivers typically make in a year. Transportation is a major issue, as most women cannot afford the typical boda taxi fee to reach the hospital for health care services.

Boda Girls

Boda Girls, a cohort of Kenyan women who have trained to become boda drivers, offers a solution. As the first female driver entrepreneurship program, Boda Girls offers employment opportunities to women in addition to safe, free transportation and home care. Launched by the Matibabu Foundation Hospital and the Tiba Foundation in April 2022, the cohort has employed more than 50 female drivers, identifiable by their bright pink shirts and purple leather motorcycle seats.

In addition to training in road safety, Boda Girls learn self-defense to protect themselves and others in the case of unwarranted conduct, which they share with female students of nearby schools, according to The New York Times. Motorcycle upkeep and mechanical skills are also a part of the six-week training program.

Maternity Care

Boda Girls originated from the gap in female accessibility to hospitals, particularly for maternity care. Drivers provide free, safe transportation for women’s check-ups, even bringing portable ultrasounds in the case of complications. In the two years since its launch, the organization has now provided more than 6,000 free rides to hospitals for prenatal, family planning, and cancer screening services. Due to their services, Siaya County has experienced a 67% increase in hospital deliveries, a 100% increase in maternal clinics, and a 300% increase in cancer screenings, according to the Tiba Foundation.

After birth, Boda Girls also make home visits to follow up on postpartum care, planting a kitchen garden and avocado tree for future nutrition and profit opportunities for families.

School Girls

Boda Girls adopts schools to promote menstrual and sexual education for female students, as well as to distribute free sustainable menstrual kits. It also runs entrepreneurial clubs where girls can learn the fundamentals of business, and they promote high school graduation. In two years, Boda Girls has visited 84 schools and provided menstrual education and kits to more than 3,700 girls, according to its website.

Female Employment in Kenya

Female employment in Kenya is a cornerstone of the Boda Girls mission; they focus on widowers in particular, who often suffer from the loss of financial support. By facilitating entrepreneurship classes and group stress counseling, Boda Girls assists in dealing with grief in families and sponsoring female financial ventures. They also engage in micro-lending practices to boost entrepreneurship in Siaya County and have played a role in helping 118 women develop profitable small businesses and mentor others to do the same, according to The Tiba Foundation.

Boda Girls, launched by the Tiba and Matibabu foundations, has partnered with several other initiatives including the Red Pride Project and USAID’s Western Kenya Sanitation Project. “USAID aims to reach 500,000 women and girls with accurate information on proper menstrual hygiene management and reliable access to sanitary products in Western Kenya by 2027.”

Boda Girls’ ability to reach local schools and communities will play a major part in this goal, as it continues to recruit new driver cohorts and expand its range to a greater area of Siaya County.

Beyond simply providing transportation, Boda Girls works to inspire thousands of women and support female employment in Kenya and will continue to work towards gender inequality and access to essential services.

– Sadie Claps

Sadie is based in Seattle, WA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Implementation of New Social Reforms in Morocco

Social Reforms in MoroccoRecently, the World Bank approved giving $70 million to the Kingdom of Morocco to help boost the country’s decades-long efforts in implementing and extending social reform protection. This will be done through the newly created National Population Registry (NPR), the National Register Agency (NRA) and the Social Registry System (SRS). These are country-wide systems that will also make sure to reach vulnerable populations such as low-income families and women.

According to a 2023 report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), gender gaps in the Moroccan labor market are quite big, with the gap being around 21% and has been falling since 2004. The labor force in rural areas, in particular, has been declining in terms of the number of women working. The report also mentioned gender disparities in employment rates, in which it was found that unemployment rates were higher for women than they were for men. This presents a major issue, as the report found that if more women were encouraged and able to go to work, Morocco’s economy could be strengthened. There would be more people in the workforce.

Morocco acknowledges its ongoing struggles with gender inequality and its efforts to address this issue through social protection reforms are not recent. These efforts date back to the ’50s and were revitalized in the late ’90s, with a particular focus during the COVID and post-COVID periods.

Moudawana – 2004

Moudawana is Morocco’s family law. First drafted and implemented in the late ’50s, this law was reformed again in 2004. In this law, important rights for women were introduced, such as the right to self-guardianship, divorce, child custody and inheritance. Additionally, the legal age of marriage was raised from 15 to 18 years old. This law was a stepping stone toward improving gender equality in Morocco. The law provides women with self-autonomy and a way to support themselves financially, such as by securing inheritance and the right to self-guardianship.

COVID-19

Fast forward 16 years later, COVID-19 had a profound impact on social reforms in Morocco. It highlighted the need for special protections to be extended to all Moroccan citizens and the need for the country to pay closer attention to low-income individuals and families. At the time of the pandemic, it was found that women experiencing multidimensional poverty were more likely to be living in rural areas.

This is primarily due to a lack of education. According to a study titled “Women’s Poverty in Morocco in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic: a Multistory Approach,” “educational deficits explain nearly 60% of the risk of suffering this form of poverty.” In fact, a significant education disparity exists between men and women in Morocco, which undoubtedly contributes to women’s higher rates of poverty. As of 2022, the World Bank reports a 16.5% gap in adult literacy between men and women in Morocco.

In March 2021, during the pandemic, Social Protection Law No. 09. 21 was adopted with the intention of protecting Moroccans against economic and social risks. This law had two phases. The first phase from 2021-2023 would allow the government to focus on the generalization of medical insurance. In contrast, the 2024-2025 phase would require the government to implement unemployment allowances. These medical protections fall under three new registries that the Kingdom of Morocco created and began implementing in 2022.

Post COVID-19

  • NPR – 2022. In early 2022, the NPR was implemented initially as a pilot in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. It is a centralized database containing people’s names and addresses to ensure a record and fair access to social services. Each person is also given a unique identification number.
  • NRS – 2022. The NRS is closely linked to the NPR. However, it is specially referred to as a border system of national databases. The NRS is also responsible for managing and integrating Morocco’s social protection systems.
  • SRS – 2022. Also referred to as the Unified Social Registry (RSU), it is designed to help find vulnerable people for social assistance programs and actually properly allocate the benefits. Unlike the NPR, the SRS does not include everyone. However, it assesses income levels in households and determines whether or not they can receive benefits.

Closing Remarks

These three systems, while still in the beginning stages of implementation, have managed to benefit impoverished women in particular. Often, women in rural areas lack proper identification. In many cases, illiteracy makes it hard to navigate bureaucratic processes. Now that these women have been identified, they are eligible to access government social assistance programs.

Overall, social reforms in Morocco have made steady progress in addressing gender inequality and poverty. While the systems mentioned are new and by no means perfect, the progress has been encouraging to see.

– Aya Diab

Aya is based in New York City, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr