Archive for category: Women and Female Empowerment

information and Stories about woman and female empowerment.

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STHREE RIDE Program Creates Women’s Employment in India

Women's Employment in India
In Telangana, India, a new program is creating a path into the workforce for women through an industry where they have traditionally been underrepresented. The Telangana Police Women Safety Wing launched STHREE RIDE in June 2026 to connect women with employment as bike riders, auto-rickshaw drivers and cab drivers. The initiative is part of a broader push to expand women’s employment in India, a country that continues to face a significant gender gap in workforce participation.

The Link Between Work and Poverty

For people living with limited financial resources, access to reliable employment can be an important factor in maintaining economic stability. The type of employment matters as well. The World Bank reports that 78.2% of employed women in India were in vulnerable employment in 2025, compared with 69% of employed men. Vulnerable employment often involves fewer formal work arrangements and social protections. This leaves workers more exposed to economic shocks and poverty.

Women also participate in India’s workforce at a much lower rate than men. World Bank data based on International Labour Organization estimates shows that India’s female labor-force participation rate was 32.4% in 2025, compared with 77.6% for men. The gap reflects the broader challenge facing women’s employment in India and is part of the wider effort to expand women’s economic opportunities in the country.

The barriers behind this gap are not limited to one issue. The World Bank identifies access to skills, finance, housing and transportation among the factors that can affect women’s ability to participate fully in India’s economy. Addressing these barriers can help create conditions in which more women are able to enter and remain in the workforce.

STHREE RIDE Opens a Door

STHREE RIDE is one initiative addressing women’s employment in India by connecting women directly to jobs in the transportation sector. During its inaugural phase, 55 women were onboarded and connected with mobility service providers through both gig-worker and full-time employment models. The Telangana Police Women Safety Wing designed the program specifically to create livelihood opportunities for women in transportation, a field that has traditionally had fewer women participants.

The first group represents several types of transportation work, including bike riding, auto-rickshaw driving and cab driving. The initiative combines employment connections with livelihood support, giving participants a way to apply their skills directly to paid work rather than stopping at training alone.

That model is particularly relevant to poverty because training by itself does not guarantee an income. Connecting skills development with employment can create a more direct route from learning a skill to using it as a source of livelihood. For women who face barriers to entering the workforce, that connection can be an important part of improving access to economic opportunity.

Why Transportation Matters

Transportation is also connected to women’s ability to participate in the economy. The World Bank identifies safe and affordable transport as one of the structural factors that can influence women’s access to work in India. STHREE RIDE approaches transportation from another angle by creating jobs within the sector itself.

The program also places women in roles that can increase their visibility in public spaces and challenge traditional expectations surrounding transportation work. The Women Safety Wing describes STHREE RIDE as both a livelihood initiative and an effort to increase women’s participation in public spaces and the workforce.

From a Small Start to a Larger Model

STHREE RIDE is still in its early stages, so its long-term effect on poverty cannot yet be measured. There is not enough evidence to determine whether participants will experience lasting increases in income or whether the program will produce measurable reductions in poverty. At this point, its impact can be evaluated through the opportunities it has created rather than outcomes that have not yet been established.

The Women Safety Wing plans to expand the program based on the results of its initial phase. Its longer-term plans include reaching women in urban, semi-urban and rural areas and exploring opportunities with logistics and cargo service providers. If expanded, the program could bring its employment model to women facing different economic and geographic barriers.

Measuring the program’s future results will be important. Employment numbers alone will not show whether STHREE RIDE is helping women build more secure livelihoods. Changes in participants’ income, job stability and ability to remain in the workforce would provide a clearer picture of the initiative’s economic impact.

A Path Toward Economic Opportunity

Poverty reduction requires more than addressing immediate financial needs. Expanding access to education, skills and employment can help people participate more fully in the economy. In India, where women continue to participate in the workforce at a substantially lower rate than men, increasing access to employment is one part of addressing the economic barriers that contribute to vulnerability.

STHREE RIDE began with 55 women, but its broader significance lies in the model it is testing. By connecting women with training and transportation jobs, the initiative is creating an opportunity for women to enter a sector that has traditionally had limited female participation. As more women take the wheel, STHREE RIDE offers an early, hopeful signal for the future of women’s employment in India.

– Anvitha Nakka

Anvitha is based in Frederick, Maryland, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Women’s Land Rights in Côte d’Ivoire Strengthen Economic Security

Women’s Land Rights in Côte d’Ivoire
Land ownership can provide an important source of income and economic security for women in rural Côte d’Ivoire, where agriculture supports many livelihoods. However, women have historically faced barriers to owning land independently, despite having equal legal rights to own and inherit property. Recent land registration programs are beginning to address this gap. Between 2018 and 2024, the Land Policy Improvement and Implementation Project (PAMOFOR) helped deliver more than 51,000 land certificates, with 21% of those certificates going to female landowners. Strengthening women’s land rights in Côte d’Ivoire can therefore provide greater economic security while addressing inequalities that contribute to rural poverty.

Women Still Face a Large Land Ownership Gap

Despite having legal rights to own land, women in Côte d’Ivoire remain less likely than men to own agricultural land. OECD data from its 2022 Côte d’Ivoire SIGI study show that around 5% of women own agricultural land compared with 25% of men. This gap is particularly important because agriculture provides livelihoods for many women in rural communities, yet women continue to face difficulties accessing land and other economic resources. This can restrict women’s control over an important source of income. Improving women’s land rights in Côte d’Ivoire can help narrow this gap and give women greater control over land and the economic opportunities that come with it.

Customary Practices Can Limit Women’s Land Rights

Although Ivorian law gives women rights to own and inherit land, customary practices can make exercising those rights more difficult. OECD research shows that customary inheritance practices continue to create barriers to women’s land ownership, despite reforms intended to strengthen equal property rights. Inheritance is particularly important because it is a major way people acquire land in Côte d’Ivoire. OECD data show that 50% of female landowners obtained their land through inheritance, compared with 42% of male landowners. As inheritance is an important route to land ownership, discriminatory inheritance practices can have a significant effect on whether women gain control over land. Strengthening awareness of legal rights and recognizing women’s ownership can therefore help close the gap between rights provided by law and women’s experiences in practice.

Land Registration Is Strengthening Land Security

Côte d’Ivoire has begun expanding formal land registration to give rural landholders greater security. The PAMOFOR project, which ran from 2018 to 2024, helped the government deliver more than 51,000 land certificates, with 21% going to female landowners. The World Bank also found that the project reduced women’s risk of losing their land within five years by 55 percentage points. Building on this work, the government launched the Rural Land Tenure Management Strengthening Program (PRESFOR), which is expanding land registration across 16 of Côte d’Ivoire’s 31 regions. By increasing formal recognition of women’s ownership, these programs can give women greater security over land that supports their livelihoods.

Secure Land Rights Can Support Women’s Economic Security

Secure land rights can help women protect an important economic asset, particularly in rural communities where agriculture supports many livelihoods. FAO identifies secure land tenure as important for agricultural development and investment, while women in Côte d’Ivoire continue to face barriers to accessing land. Greater recognition of women’s ownership can therefore support poverty reduction by reducing the risk of losing land on which their livelihoods depend.

Women Have Been Underrepresented in Land Governance

Women’s land rights in Côte d’Ivoire are also affected by who participates in local decisions about land. Historical World Bank data from 2014 found that nearly 40% of Village Land Tenure Committees had no female members, while a further 55% had only one or two women among an average of 13 committee members. These committees play an important role in identifying customary land rights within villages, meaning limited female representation can reduce women’s influence over decisions that affect land ownership. PAMOFOR sought to address this by encouraging women to participate in village land committees and by providing gender-sensitive information about the registration process. Increasing women’s involvement in local land governance can help ensure that their legal rights are considered when communities identify and register customary land.

Legal Rights Do Not Always Translate Into Ownership

Although Côte d’Ivoire has strengthened legal protections for women’s property rights, access to land remains unequal in practice. While women received 21% of the land certificates delivered through the PAMOFOR project, this figure refers specifically to certificates issued under that program. More broadly, the African Development Bank reported in 2026 that women held only around 12% of registered land certificates in Côte d’Ivoire. The bank also highlighted the importance of improving women’s awareness of their rights and access to legal institutions, particularly in rural communities. Although the figures measure different things, both show that women still face inequalities in registered land ownership.

Looking Ahead

Côte d’Ivoire has made progress in formally recognizing rural land rights, but ensuring that women benefit fully from these reforms will require continued attention. PRESFOR is expected to expand land administration across the country and includes measures intended to strengthen women’s land rights. By 2029, the program aims to register 270,000 women with customary ownership rights and another 75,000 women with land-use rights. Continued efforts to involve women in registration, improve awareness of their legal rights and increase their participation in local land governance could help address barriers that still limit women’s ownership. As Côte d’Ivoire expands its rural land reforms, ensuring women can obtain and retain secure rights to land could strengthen their economic independence and make rural development more inclusive.

– Aniya Akram

Aniya is based in Bradford, United Kingdom and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Building a Better Future: Girls in Accra

girls in AccraIn Ghana, poverty is increasingly concentrated in rural communities, where many families depend on agriculture to survive. According to Opportunity International, 43% of Ghana’s population lives in rural areas, while 29% of the country’s workforce is employed in agriculture. Cocoa, the country’s largest export crop, supports millions of livelihoods and has the potential to help families build more secure futures. But for households living close to the poverty line, that future can be fragile. A bad harvest, unexpected medical bill or lack of access to education can quickly turn a difficult year into a crisis.

Poverty Pushes Girls to Accra

Some young women and girls leave their communities as a way to cope with limited opportunities. Many adolescent girls migrate from northern Ghana to Accra, the capital, to find work, hoping to earn money to support themselves and their families.

Once in Accra, children work to support themselves and their families as street vendors, head porters, cart pushers, restaurant workers and in other jobs. Some also face violence and exploitation. A 2012 census found that more than 61,000 children were living or working on Accra’s streets. Girls made up 57% of that number, compared with 43% boys. Many girls work as head porters, also known as kayayei.

Life in Agbogbloshie

Agbogbloshie is in central Accra. The area covers about 146 hectares and is home to nearly 40,000 people. Many of the homes and businesses are small structures built by residents themselves.

The community began in the late 1970s when people who could not afford housing in the city built small shelters near the Korle Lagoon using whatever materials they could find. The area sits on land traditionally belonging to the Ga people, the Indigenous people of the Greater Accra Region.

Today, the area is crowded, and many residents live in small wooden kiosks or shacks without enough access to clean water and bathrooms. Some people pay to share a kiosk, with payments made weekly or even daily instead of paying rent months in advance. Residents also have to pay to use public toilets, showers and water.

Support for Girls in Accra

Girls in Accra can find support from organizations such as Street Girls Aid (S. Aid), a nonprofit established in February 1994 to help children and young people living and working on the streets. S. Aid focuses mainly on girls and young women after seeing the specific challenges they faced while living and working on the streets. The organization is non-religious and non-political and is run by Ghanaian staff.

Its early work focused on helping girls in difficult situations, including pregnant girls living on the streets. Today, S. Aid provides services to about 1,500 children and young people each year.

What Street Girls Aid Does

  • Street Outreach Program: Outreach workers go into markets, lorry parks and other busy areas of Accra every day to find and speak with young people who may need help. Instead of simply giving people information, the workers spend time building relationships and listening to their problems and needs. They also speak with families when possible to better understand why children are living or working on the streets.
  • Young Mothers Support Program: S. Aid runs a support center for vulnerable girls in Accra. The center provides a safe place for girls and young mothers to stay while they work toward becoming more independent. Girls in Accra who enter this program receive basic necessities, including food, clothing and shelter. The program teaches parenting and nutrition skills so young mothers can better care for themselves and their children.
  • Vocational and Life Skills Training: Skills training includes cooking, sewing, hairdressing, beauty care, laundry and soap making. Girls can choose from different types of training depending on what interests them and what could help them earn money. The program goes beyond teaching a trade. Participants also learn literacy, life skills and basic business management. Business lessons can help girls understand how to manage money and potentially run a small business. The goal is to give girls practical skills that can help them find paid work or create their own source of income rather than depending on street work.
  • Early Childhood Development Program: This program offers early education and family support.

Conclusion

Through its work, Street Girls Aid is helping girls in Accra gain the skills and support they need to become more independent and provide for their children. While poverty remains a challenge, programs like these can give young women more options to earn an income and create a more secure future.

– Daniela Escobar

Daniela is based in Huntington, NY, USA. and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Higher Education in Cambodia

Higher Education in CambodiaSince the introduction of the Policy on Higher Education 2030, higher education in Cambodia has made significant progress, especially in enrollment percentage. However, due to access issues for the rural poor and women, it is uncertain whether they will achieve their 2030 goals across the whole population. The Khmer government and local organizations have therefore mobilized to introduce scholarships and support programs to set young people, and their communities, up for success.

Cambodia’s Higher Education 

Between 2004 and 2019, enrollment in higher education in Cambodia increased from 6% to 15% of the eligible population, reflecting stakeholders’ prioritization of tertiary education. However between 2019 and 2022, enrollment fell by 15% due to rising costs and disruptions to secondary school education during the pandemic.

Even before the pandemic, only 5% of students from the poorest quintile graduated from high school, compared to 52% of students from the wealthiest quintile. Limited access to laptops and poor internet infrastructure in rural areas, where the majority of the poor live, meant more children were out of school, thus widening the graduation gap between wealth quintiles.

While efforts have been in place to return high school graduation rates to pre-pandemic levels, declining literacy and math proficiency in primary and lower secondary schools means this remains a concern for the coming years.

Beyond this, higher education costs have risen by 62% in the last decade, making it increasingly hard for the poor to send their children to university. Indeed, the lowest wealth quintile only accounts for 4% of tertiary enrollment while the wealthiest makes up 46% of the student population. Unless addressed, this divide will continue to grow, limiting both national and regional development as the poor continue to miss out on opportunities.

National Scholarships 

To address this, the Khmer Government intends to introduce national scholarships. These scholarships would focus on increasing access for the poor, women, those in disadvantaged areas, disabled students and those enrolling in STEM programs. By offering free tuition to these target groups, the government hopes to increase enrollment and thus lift more of its vulnerable population out of poverty.

Their focus on STEM programs links to hopes for technological innovation, as this will raise the value of goods and services Cambodia produces. Unlike other ASEAN countries where STEM-associated degrees make up the majority of tertiary education, in Cambodia, 41% of students are enrolled in business and management degrees. While this helps maintain current sectors, there is limited opportunity for innovation, thus hindering economic growth.

The Question of Quality 

Beyond access, the quality of higher education in Cambodia also remains a concern. Since funding is allocated according to institute age rather than research or graduation percentage, there is little incentive for older universities to invest in developing their programs. Only 9% of full-time academics have PhDs, the staff’s limited research expertise limiting both their students’ learning and university progress. Furthermore, the focus on enrollment rather than graduation means less than 60% of students complete their studies.

To help address some of these barriers, Lotus Outreach established the Cambodian Tertiary Education and Leadership Youth Training (CATALYST). The program provides vocational training for high school graduates from Cambodia’s poorest rural areas through scholarships, mentoring and workshops. The aim is to ensure disadvantaged students are able to thrive and complete their studies, rather than be forced to drop out due to financial or academic struggles.  

CATALYST has also sponsored 266 women through higher education. Its vocational training and workshops run alongside the scholarships and mean that all 20 of the 2025 graduates secured salaried employment following their graduation.

Charity Organizations 

Lotus Outreach is among many charitable organizations seeking to help the disadvantaged to pursue higher education. 

The Life and Hope Association’s Program Advancing Girls Education (P.A.G.E) tackles the gaps in secondary school education, giving full-time accommodation and teaching to 36 girls from rural areas near Siem Reap. The girls live in the city with the monks who run the organization and are given the support and space needed to complete their education, rather than being pushed into domestic care.

The Asia Foundation has also made huge strides, funding 146 scholarships for rural girls to achieve bachelor’s degrees from Western University. Paired with the Foundation’s Career Development plan where the young women acquired English language, computer and leadership skills, the graduates have gone on to pursue careers in both civil and private sector organizations.

Since only 11% of girls in Cambodia continue to upper secondary school, these programs have proved vital in opening doors for young women. 

Looking Ahead 

Higher education in Cambodia has developed significantly in the last two decades, however there remains work to be done. National scholarships and charitable organizations are helping to tackle access issues. If this is paired with budget reform and support programs, the country can ensure students thrive at both university and beyond.

– Elizabeth Holden

Elizabeth is based in Kent, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Gender Wage Gap in Cameroon: Poverty and the Path Forward

Gender Wage Gap in CameroonFor every 672.40 CFA francs men earn in Cameroon, women earn only 496.40 CFA francs, according to the World Bank. This stark disparity highlights the gender wage gap in Cameroon, a persistent issue limiting women’s economic mobility and overall equality in the region. While Cameroon has taken steps to address gender inequality through initiatives such as the National Gender Policy, women still face significant disparities in earnings and economic opportunities. The country continues to lag globally, ranking 97th out of 146 countries on the 2022 World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index, as highlighted in the Cameroon Gender Equity Report 2023.

Not only is women’s participation in the labor market in Cameroon lower than men’s, but they are also paid less, have less secure jobs and have fewer opportunities to advance into leadership roles. According to data from the International Labor Organization (ILO), in the formal sector, men earn 18% to 21% more than women in similar roles.

Women, Wages and Poverty

The gender wage gap in Cameroon is not just an issue of inequality—it is a key driver of poverty. When women earn significantly less than men, their ability to meet basic needs and escape poverty is severely limited. In Cameroon, poverty disproportionately affects women. While about 37.5% of the population lives below the poverty line, this figure rises to 51.5% for women, the majority of whom are also underemployed. Due to limited access to stable or formal employment, women are more likely to remain in low-paying, insecure jobs, reinforcing cycles of poverty. This is also visible through women’s lack of asset ownership; only around 3% own a house, and just 1.6% hold property titles.

Countries with the largest gender gaps in economic participation are often among the poorest. According to the World Economic Forum, “gender inequality is not a symptom of poverty, but a fundamental cause of it.” Research shows that eliminating gender disparities in the formal sector can improve living conditions for households with working women and reduce overall poverty rates at the national level.

What Drives the Gender Wage Gap in Cameroon?

One of the primary reasons for the gender wage gap in Cameroon is the disproportionate number of women who have employment in the informal sector. In 2025, only 21.9% of employed women were engaged in wage and salaried work, compared to 37.5% of men. Since the informal sector often includes low wages, poor job security, and little to no social benefits, women are concentrated in vulnerable and low-paying roles, increasing the wage gap between men and women. 

This disparity in employment is not incidental but rooted in structural barriers that limit women’s access to formal, salaried work. Education plays a major role in shaping job opportunities. While many girls attend primary and secondary school, fewer complete higher education, limiting their access to formal and private-sector jobs. Among self-employed women, most have primary and secondary education. Meanwhile, only 6.25% of women in formal pay-employment hold a higher education degree, compared to 10.84% of men. Because fewer women complete higher education, they are less likely to work in higher-paying jobs that require specialized qualifications.

 Another crucial factor behind the wage gap is work experience. In formal pay employment, men possess significantly more work experience, averaging 7.2 years compared to only 5.4 years for women. Women come with a structural disadvantage, as many often shoulder unpaid care responsibilities at home, including childcare and household duties, which inevitably take a toll on opportunities for paid work. This domestic burden directly reduces the time women can commit to paid work, which further widens the wage gap.

However, even after accounting for disparities in education and experience, a significant portion of the wage gap remains unexplained, particularly among higher earners. While the wage gap is smaller among low-income workers, it widens as incomes increase, with the largest disparities observed among top earners, often called the “Glass Ceiling Effect”. The unexplained factors for the wage gap make up 61.56% of the wage gap and continue to grow. The massive pay difference at this stage has no objective reason, such as a lack of skills or qualifications, but rather systemic biases.

Cameroon’s Response

While the gender wage gap persists, the Government of Cameroon has taken several steps to promote gender equality. It adopted the National Gender Policy (2011–2020), which provides a framework for advancing gender equality. In addition to policy reforms, Cameroon has made progress in labor outcomes. Since 1991, the rate of vulnerable employment among women in Cameroon has declined and is lower than the Sub-Saharan African average.

In 2021 and 2022, for the first time, the government also introduced a Gender-Sensitive Budget Document and the 2022 and 2023 Finance Laws. These budgets aim to align public spending with gender equality goals by funding programs that benefit both women and men and by assessing their impact on the population.

Cameroon also improved its Gender Inequality Index (GII) between 1995 and 2015, nearly reaching the Sub-Saharan African average. In addition, the female-to-male unemployment ratio declined from 1.4 in 2015 to 1.2 among young people, partly due to government programs supporting women and improved access to education for girls.

The Path Forward

Looking ahead, Cameroon has the opportunity to narrow the gender wage gap by strengthening policies that promote equal pay, women’s economic participation and access to leadership opportunities.

Policies that address the barriers women face, both when entering the workforce and throughout their employment, can help reduce the gender wage gap in Cameroon and move the country toward greater equality. A strong focus on education is key to achieving this goal. While government initiatives such as “Education for All” have promoted girls’ education at the primary school level, addressing women’s low participation in higher education remains critical. Retention policies targeting young women, such as scholarships or training programs, can help close this gap, positioning more women to access higher-paying, formal employment.

Across Cameroon and similar contexts, targeted interventions, from global scholarships and training programs like the Cameroon Women’s Scholarship or African Academy for Women in Political Leadership to locally grounded initiatives such as the Joseph Sack Foundation, demonstrate how programs providing financial support, mentorship, and skills training are effective in retaining women in higher education

Cameroon is beginning to shift from awareness to action, putting real measures in place to address these inequalities. With continued effort and stronger implementation of solutions, meaningful change is not just possible, but very likely.

– Maliha Khan

Maliha is based in Srinagar, Kashmir and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Stitch by Stitch: Afghan Women Fight Poverty with Zardozi

ZardoziAccording to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), nearly 85% of Afghan women rely on less than $1 a day to successfully support their families while facing barriers to education, employment or economic authority within the household. Since 2020, the UNDP reports that Afghanistan that a devastating 29% economic downturn has gripped the nation, prompting women to find creative solutions in their fight against poverty.

Cherma Dozi, a well known and traditional Afghan embroidery style, celebrates underappreciated culture in the Middle East. It stands as one of many Zardozi patterns that showcases regional culture and beauty. Taking advantage of this common hobby is Zardozi, which is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that takes its name directly from the Afghan embroidery it promotes. It teaches women and girls in Afghanistan to create traditional stitching, protecting their economic opportunities under an oppressive government. This organization seeks to help women and girls find viable employment, participate in local markets and amplify their voices in the government.

Protecting Women

Zardozi embroidery utilizes basic fabrics that often fill Afghan homes and in local markets. Located in community spaces, Zardozi runs an embroidery business program, teaching women to sell their creations for profit. By learning how to sew this embroidery upon dresses, shirts and traditional attire, the program helps the girls to become proficient in sewing, embroidery and business skills. Nearly 1,000 Afghan women participate in the program. They currently operate four main centers in the cities of Kabul, Mazar, Jalalabad and Herat. These women also earn grants of $100 to get started. Notably, Zardozi formulates connections with local merchants and stores to purchase their goods.

Zardozi invites all women to participate, from advanced to beginners, all women, no matter their age. Nearly 2.2 million Afghan girls receive no formal schooling, emphasizing the importance of these programs. Serving as a vital alternative to typical school, these women learn, bond and grow as empowered leaders. By partnering with local markets, these women gain economic footing under an oppressive government. They develop a larger societal presence, stable connections and continued business growth even after graduating out of the program.

Preserving Culture

Historians believe Zardozi originated in Persia, and it remains a popular Middle Eastern embroidery technique. Throughout generations, women pass down familial techniques, formulating unique designs based on regional location and cultural lineage. More than 500 years old, Zardozi derives its name from two Persian words: “zar,” meaning gold, and “dozi,” meaning embroidery. It has appeared throughout history on traditional, royal attire for Asian countries. Using stones, beads and metallic thread, Zardozi creates stacked designs with layers of details and heavy material. Designs leap from the outfit, often favoring bright colors to symbolize luck and creativity.

Utilizing this ancient technique as a business foundation, Zardozi preserves key Afghan culture in the process. According to the University of London, traditional Afghan embroidery faces the risk of dying out due to a lack of interest from younger generations, volatile markets and competition from machine made products. Zardozi empowers these women to commercialize their products, protecting this vital craftsmanship from extinction.

Helping Afghanistan

Zardozi’s program transforms a traditional hobby into a powerful monetary asset, tackling systemic poverty in an innovative way. The program equips Afghan women with the market tactics, accounting basics and business skills to develop a sustainable livelihood.

As families pass down unique forms of Zardozi stitching from generation to generation, they teach young girls these sustainable practices allow them to support themselves while keeping their heritage alive. With Zardozi, women learn key skills and receive essential monetary support to combat local poverty, moving them one step closer to true economic gain, stability and a brighter future for all in Afghanistan.

– Maya Tung

Maya is based in Summit and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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CAMFED: Education Opportunities for Women

How Education Opportunities for Women Impact the Future of Africa CAMFEDEducation equips women in developing countries with essential knowledge around reproductive health, nutritional health and disease prevention. In a world where infectious diseases remain a leading cause of infant mortality, education is one of the most important assets a mother can have to protect the health and well-being of her child.

Education Barriers for Women

A child born to a mother who can read is twice as likely to live past the age of five. However, as of 2023, national laws to protect adolescent and pregnant mothers’ right to an education exist in only half of African countries, even though more than 30% of teenagers in Africa become pregnant. Adi Radhakrishnan, Leonard H. Sandler Fellow in the Children’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, said that many pregnant girls and adolescent mothers in Africa are still denied their basic right to education for reasons that have nothing to do with their desire and ability to learn.

The number of girls who drop out of school because of early pregnancies is especially high in Sub-Saharan Africa. More than 6 million young women ages 10 to 19 who were pregnant or parenting were out of school in October 2024. Because of the stigma around teen pregnancy and school cultures that discourage return, fewer than 5% of girls who drop out early due to pregnancy ever return to finish their education. Regional directors of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have noted that when these girls want to return to school, they are not welcomed back.

Progress in Girls’ Education

For every year that a girl stays in school, her potential future income increases by 10%. Girls in Africa who finish secondary education are more likely to be healthier, earn more money for their families, marry later and have greater knowledge around medicinal and nutritional health to pass on to the next generation.

Education opportunities for women in Africa create benefits beyond the individual — they are a catalyst for brighter futures for families, communities and the broader region. In Africa, 50 million more girls were in school in 2024 than in 2015. During the same period, infant mortality declined from 55 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 47 in 2024, suggesting a connection between expanded educational access for mothers and improved child survival rates.

Providing Education Opportunities for Women in Africa

The Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) association is a sisterhood of African women who partner with their communities to support and mentor young girls in their journey to becoming young adults, both in the classroom and beyond. CAMFED not only sends girls to school who would otherwise be unable to attend due to poverty — it also works one-on-one to provide girls with real-world skills so they can contribute to their communities long after they finish secondary school.

One young woman whose life was affected by CAMFED’s support said that without the organization, she would have dropped out of school and her family would have gone hungry. She now works as one of CAMFED’s climate-smart agriculture guides, bringing sustainable practices and climate education into classrooms and to rural farmers. Like many other women who once received educational support from CAMFED, she is now part of the sisterhood, working to help girls who are in the same position she once was.

This sisterhood, founded in 1993 with just 32 women, aims to provide education opportunities for women across Africa. On average, each member of the CAMFED association uses her own resources to support another three girls in attending school. So far, the association has supported 646,000 students with secondary school scholarships and helped more than 1 million girls attend primary school. Since its founding, CAMFED has supported more than 9 million children in schools across seven countries in Africa.

Looking Ahead

Expanding education opportunities for women in Africa requires continued investment in policy, funding and community engagement. The progress seen over the past decade — from legislative reforms to grassroots organizations like CAMFED — demonstrates that meaningful change is achievable. Sustained commitment to girls’ education remains one of the most effective pathways to reducing poverty and improving health outcomes across the continent.

– Tommy Bass

Tommy is based in Philadelphia, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Poverty Reduction Efforts Across Africa

Poverty Reduction Efforts Across Africa

From East Africa, home to Kenya, to the western coast of Sierra Leone, the continent is home to diverse populations that have both experienced and influenced much of modern history. Africa features climates ranging from tropical beaches to vast desert regions. Despite decades of systemic and economic challenges, countries across Africa have made significant progress in reducing poverty through foreign aid and locally driven social programs.

Kenya’s Clean Start Africa

International collaboration remains important in the mission to reduce poverty across Africa. Local social programs have also become central to this effort. For example, Kenya is advancing local social initiatives through Clean Start Africa, an organization that empowers women and girls through rehabilitation and reintegration.

Clean Start Africa was founded in Kenya with a mission to support women and girls affected by the criminal justice system, particularly those from vulnerable communities. The organization works to reintegrate participants into society through a three-pillar model.

The first pillar, dignified rehabilitation, prepares women for release by emphasizing healing and leadership development. The second pillar, re-entry pathways, supports formerly incarcerated women through peer mentorship, networking opportunities, business training and much more. The final pillar focuses on systemic change by speaking against laws, policies and social conditions that contribute to women’s vulnerability. 

International Support Through WPHF 

The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) supports local projects across Africa and women-led initiatives focused on peacebuilding and gender equality. International programs such as WPHF have contributed significantly to poverty reduction efforts across Africa by investing in and strengthening women’s leadership. Funding allocated through WPHF enhances women’s participation and leadership across the continent. 

In Nigeria, WPHF supports projects that work to reduce violence against women and promote human rights and gender equality. WPHF has partnered with several organizations, including Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration, Grassroots Researchers Association, Green Concern for Development and Muslim Sisters Organization. These partnerships further the WPHF’s agenda, which focuses on women’s safety and gender equality in leadership roles.

Outside Nigeria, WPHF has also supported displaced women in Yemen, contributed to Uganda’s fight against sexual and gender-based violence and aided women in Mali in their efforts to participate in peacebuilding and economic recovery. The program highlights the importance of worldwide investment in women’s empowerment and underscores that when women are given the tools and freedom to succeed, it benefits national economies as a whole.

Expanding Women’s Economic Leadership

Other international partnerships share the same focus on helping women across Africa gain economic stability. Similar to WPHF, the U.S. Department of State established the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) in 2010. AWEP operates in 44 countries across Africa through local chapters that serve as business and networking centers. The program was expanded in 2022 under the Joe Biden administration.

The U.S. Department of State created AWEP to provide African businesswomen with the tools, resources and opportunities needed to grow sustainable businesses. AWEP also encourages women to become community leaders and participate in international trade, helping create more economic opportunities across Africa.

Combined Impact

Poverty reduction efforts across Africa highlight the value and dedication of local social programs and international partnerships. Programs like Clean Start Africa, along with the WPHF and AWEP, demonstrate how important support and civic involvement can be in strengthening communities. As more countries globally adapt, more opportunities for women will continue to reflect that women’s empowerment is tied to poverty reduction efforts. Both are attainable through foreign aid and global partnership and will create lasting growth and social progress. 

– Rayonna M Sander

Rayonna is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Vocational Training for Syrian Women Supports Empowerment

Vocational Training for Syrian WomenThe economic collapse following the Syrian conflict left more than 90% of Syrians living below the poverty line, with many women becoming heads of households in a society lacking the legal reforms needed to support their transition into this role. Of these households, 92% living in displacement camps were unable to meet their basic needs. As of 2025, women’s labor-force participation stands at 12.7%, compared to 61.4% for men. Vocational training helps to address this gap by providing women with specialized skills that support financial stability, self sufficiency and improved access to work opportunities. These findings explain why humanitarian organizations are prioritizing vocational training for Syrian women, expanding education access and supporting their path to economic independence. Here are the four key ways vocational training for Syrian women is supporting their empowerment.

Economic Independence

Vocational training centers in Syria give women “income-generating skills” that support long-term economic stability, according to the Aga Khan Development Network. DCA Syria developed its programs in response to the socio-economic instability women face, offering training that equips women with the skills and knowledge needed to generate their own income.

The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Building Life Skills and Resilience (BLRS) program also provides specialized vocational training for Syrian women that strengthens their employability and confidence. Ashwaq, a 21-year-old woman, benefited from BLRS training in 2024. CARE reported that the program’s bakery training equipped her with practical, transferable skills that helped her earn a sustainable income and create stability for her family.

Women’s Roles in the Workforce

In 2017, the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy reported that the Syrian conflict had severely affected women’s lives but also opened new avenues for them in the workforce. The deaths and displacement of husbands, fathers and brothers created a significant labor gap that women are now filling. As a result, women have become the primary earners in almost one in three households.

In response to these changes, the UNDP developed workshops, vocational training and emergency employment opportunities to support women’s participation in the workforce. TIMEP noted the effectiveness of these initiatives, reporting that the UNDP provided career opportunities to 6,103 women heading households in 2016.

Vocational training has significantly reshaped Syrian women’s economic roles. Organizations continue to educate and support Syrian women “economically, professionally, socially and culturally.”

Education Access for Young Women

In 2025 UNICEF enabled 164,883 girls to return to learning and develop transferable competencies through non-formal education. These programs include self-learning, remedial education, early childhood education and life-skills training. UNICEF reported that this approach highlights the growing need to provide women and girls, including internationally displaced persons, returnees and vulnerable host communities, with opportunities to rebuild their confidence and strengthen their learning pathways.

UNICEF has also expanded programs aimed at “strengthening adolescents’ resilience, agency and social cohesion.” These programs teach life skills, employability training and civic engagement. By the end of 2025, these initiatives strengthened wider efforts to stabilize communities and reached 255,488 adolescent girls.

Rebuilding After Displacement

Vocational education gives women and displaced people practical training that supports reintegration into society, strengthens economic stability and contributes to recovery from conflict-related trauma. The Columbia University Journal of International Affairs emphasizes the importance of these programs, noting that two-thirds of Syrians displaced globally are women who are underrepresented in the “global narrative.”

Refugee camps also support women as they return to community life by offering training opportunities. In research on displacement in the Abu Khashab camp, Acted documented Heba, a woman who gained practical skills and new opportunities through participation in training centers. These skills helped her reintegrate into community life and build long-term stability.

Conclusion

Vocational training centers in Syria play a central role in supporting women’s empowerment through expanding access to job opportunities and practical life skills. These programs have emerged in response to the barriers that continue to limit women’s achievements. The experiences of women such as Ashwaq and Heba show how practical training can create pathways to employment and stability, even in a post-conflict society. As humanitarian organizations continue investing in vocational training for Syrian women, these initiatives remain essential to strengthening women’s roles within their communities and the labor market.

– Flora de Leeuw

Flora is based in Exeter, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Are Smartphones Driving Financial Inclusion in South Asia?

Financial Inclusion in South AsiaA silent revolution is taking place in South Asia’s markets and rural areas, where the digital gender gap is being challenged significantly. Recent studies show that despite women being 32% less likely than men to use mobile internet in South Asia, those who have access use smartphones as an all-in-one financial and educational hub, effectively avoiding traditional banking systems that have historically excluded them. Here is some information about how smartphones are driving financial inclusion in South Asia.

‎The Rise of the “Portable Bank Branch”

In South Asia, women in rural areas often face challenges in accessing physical banks. Women are compelled to rely on cash, which increases the risk of theft and prevents them from building a credit history. This lack of formal financial access traps women in a cycle of poverty. Women cannot access the capital required to grow a small business or save for investments.

In countries like India and Pakistan, the smartphone has transitioned from a communication device to a portable bank. The rise of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become essential for women entrepreneurs as it processes more than 20 billion transactions per month. In Bangladesh, women manage their earnings using digital wallets such as PhonePe or bKash, without needing to visit a bank in person. Visiting a bank was a significant hurdle for women in remote areas where social norms or distance often restricts mobility.

‎This shift helped the rise of the micro- entrepreneur. In Pakistan, initiatives like Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) have successfully migrated to digital wallets such as JazzCash to ensure that the aid and business earnings reach women directly. This digital advancement enables women to maintain control over their financial assets, often using their savings for critical life improvement areas such as their children’s education or their own growth.

Financial Inclusion and the Poverty Gap

Poverty disproportionately affects women in South Asia. In Pakistan, the poverty rate among women is often higher because of a lack of property ownership and formal employment. Women are restricted to the household and often face hurdles to achieving financial freedom. Women with no control over income and finances are more likely to have less influence over household spending.

Cultural, economic and systemic barriers often constrain women’s autonomy in South Asia. In many rural areas, women require permission to leave home, and in some regions, women are restricted from stepping out of their homes. Women in rural areas are often dependent on male relatives for basic needs. People in those areas often see financial independence as rebellion.

Lack of access to technology does not limit digital inclusion; it is more about autonomy, according to the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report. The research findings indicate that while the overall gender gap in South Asia remains wide, the frequency of use among connected women is rapidly increasing. Women in this region are increasingly tech savvy, as they are not using these devices for just entertainment but to increase their awareness, access property rights information and health services. Utilization of mobile internet for e-learning is also becoming very popular.

Organizations are further working to improve women’s experience by creating safe, digital-first spaces where women can learn to invest and save. Organizations like India’s LXME, founded in 2018, further accelerate this trend. LXME created a women-only digital community. Women can learn about mutual funds, insurance, saving in a jargon-free environment and in local languages. Since its establishment, LXME has empowered more than 1000,000 women to decide their financial future. Making financial literacy accessible in local languages and easy-to-manage interfaces is bridging the gap between having a phone and having financial power.

‎Closing the Final Gap

‎While this silent transition is improving, challenges persist. Significant efforts are required to improve the situation, as 60% of the world’s unconnected women live in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Millions of women risk being left behind in a rapidly digitalizing global economy, and aggressive investment in digital literacy and affordable information and communication can mitigate the risk.

‎As access to mobile internet is increasing, South Asian women’s situation is moving from helplessness to innovation. Financial inclusion in South Asia has improved as millions of women can make transactions via QR codes and manage business from their palms. A smartphone is not just a gadget; it is a new factor contributing to an equitable economy.

‎– Noor Ul Ain Ameer

Noor is based in Islamabad, Pakistan and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels