information and Stories about woman and female empowerment.

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Gender Inequality: A Pop-Up Restaurant in Afghanistan

Gender Inequality: A Pop-Up Restaurant in AfghanistanBanowan-e-Afghan is a pop-up restaurant in Afghanistan that opened in 2023.  A couple of women comfortably lounge across the wooden tables; some reading books, listening to music, or, conversing with others. Suddenly, a tantalizing aroma disseminates across the atmosphere. A cordial woman wearing a hijab and white apron walks over and places a symphony of flavors in front of the seated women. These women enjoy the delight while finally finding a special community of safety, security and opportunity.

Amidst a bustling street in Northwestern Kabul, a small intimate sanctuary is present. From mantoos (lamb-filled dumplings) to bolani (vegetable-stuffed flatbread) this welcoming Afghani abode serves a wide range of traditional and Western foods. However, this restaurant is not your ordinary dine-in. Instead, it is the result of the first step taken by a courageous woman toward a greater national vision.

Gender Inequality in Afghanistan

Gender inequality has been a persistent and perennial issue in Afghanistan. In 2021, despite prior positive efforts against this concern, all progress was nullified due to the Taliban’s inception. The Taliban has issued 80 edicts, including 54 contradicting women’s rights and freedom. Additionally, women were banned from visiting parks, gyms, public bathing houses and constrained girls’ education beyond the sixth grade.

To prevent further Taliban abuse, these Afghani women were forced into surveillance, assault, arbitrary detention, torture and exile. As a result of these restrictions and more, it has been a norm for women to not leave their homes. Women harassment is ubiquitous and even a simple errand or stroll down the street can put a woman in danger. On top of that, in rural Afghanistan, society forbids women from stepping out of the house without a mahram (a male relative by blood).

Societal restrictions also limit women’s job opportunities, prohibiting them from working in NGOs or government jobs. The women’s only chance of employment is in the private sector, but many women are hesitant to do this because of the risk it puts them in. Nonetheless, Samira Muhammadi believes in utilizing this opportunity to provide hope for a more women-friendly future.

By Women, For Women

Muhammadi, the owner of this unique pop-up restaurant in Afghanistan, launched it with a mission to provide women with a safer, more trustworthy and serene haven. In a typical Afghani restaurant, there is a separate family section for only women accompanied by male relatives. Despite this, male threats still endanger women.

Therefore, this rare pop-up restaurant addresses this widespread caveat. For starters, the restaurant is exclusively by women, for women. In other words, all the employees and customers are only women. This allows both the employees and the customers to feel more secure and surrounded by people going through similar circumstances. Instead, these women reclaim their true authentic selves, freely choose their attire and recultivate their public life which has been unethically stripped from them. With this substantial solution, powerful relationships are developed over mouth-watering meals in an elevated state of joy and laughter.

Empowerment Through Employment

In addition, this pop-up restaurant directly supports women facing poverty in Afghanistan. It provides unprivileged women with job and work opportunities in a field that adheres to their talents. The workforce of this restaurant consists solely of women taking refuge at a local women’s shelter, the Afghan Women Skills Development Center (AWSDC). Furthermore, many women living on the streets and in substandard living conditions have approached Muhammadi to work at her restaurant. Most of these women tend to be widows or the sole breadwinner in their families, making them desperate for money as they are the primary source of income. Ultimately, this restaurant provides impoverished women a ticket out of financial deprivation and can provide food and shelter for their families.

Today, the restaurant has hired more than 17 employees including 10 chefs and 7 waitresses. Most of the employees are around the age of 20, the youngest being 13 and the oldest being 40 years. However, all of these employees have gone through rough hardships and dreadful turmoil such as family violence, domestic abuse, parental drug addiction and more. Working at this restaurant allows them a second chance to positively invigorate their lives.

Future Plans

As this pop-up restaurant flourishes and evolves, Muhammadi plans to provide more job opportunities to unfortunate women, as well as more adequate salaries. She also wants to expand the size of the restaurant, to host mini-exhibitions for women to display handicrafts like clothes or jewelry for customers to purchase.

Inspired by her own experience and odyssey, Muhumadi wants to continue to enhance women’s lives in Afghanistan. “I thought these vulnerable women should have a source of income,“ Muhammadi says.

– Sai Sidharth Kanyaboena
Photo: Unsplash

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Gender Inequality and Women’s Treatment in Somalia

Women’s Treatment in SomaliaSomalia is plagued with a fragile government, economic pressure and insecurity for its people. However, one of the most significant issues is children’s and women’s treatment in Somalia.

Current Picture

Somalia ranks fourth lowest in the gender equality index with one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. The nation has a long history of gender inequality, male dominance, and mistreatment of women and children, which is brought up through generations. The reason why the country continues to see high levels of abuse in women and girls is because of society’s grip on the crisis. 

In Somalia, a staggering 98% of girls deal with abuse. Girls between the ages of 9 and 15 experience sexual violence, exploitation and physical abuse. Without any legal framework protecting girls’ rights, about 35% of girls undergo child marriage, which contributes to the alarming number of abuse cases. 

Most women and girls deal with genital mutilation, which is named the silent epidemic by Women of Concern Honouree, Ifrah Ahmed. She states, “Parents, communities, religious leaders, [and] elders still think that this is a tradition that should be kept and continued… There is no common understanding and awareness of the issue.” The main reason why there are still cases of this type of abuse is because of generational practice.

Maternal Health 

Somalia is also one of the worst countries to become a mother. One out of 12 mothers in Somalia die due to pregnancy complications. A study in 2017 found that many causes of maternal deaths are preventable. According to the study, 25 of the 30 women refused to seek care because they believed that staying away from the doctor keeps them healthy. The lack of education and basing decisions on superstition contribute to the high levels of maternal mortality rate alongside scarce medicine in more rural parts of the country.

Why are women dying preventable deaths? It is because Somali women are denied the right to an education. The 2022 USAID report found that only 35% of women have some years of school. Only 25% of girls attended primary education in formal schools. The lack of education leads to a lack of skills that can help women become independent and prevent deaths.

Women have limited access to the justice system, which leads to more unresolved cases of gender-based violence, and the government continues to leave legislation on the drawing board. For example, the Somaliland Sexual Offences Law of 2018, which proposed prohibiting sexual harassment, remains to be implemented. The government does not prioritize women’s rights, even with women in the Parliament. 

Organizations Improving Women’s Treatment in Somalia

Save the Children has urged the government of Somalia to prioritize the protection of women and children in response to the country’s ratification of many U.N. Human Rights Conventions, which led to the country committing to advance the rights of women and girls. 

Somali Women Empowerment Organization (SWEO) is an organization that aims to unite and promote women’s abilities and roles in Somali society. The Somali Women Empowerment Organization is a nonprofit organization established in 2010 that focuses on training girls and young women in Somalia on how to get involved in politics through seminars. The goal is to inspire the next generation of women to fight for a shift in women’s rights. 

U.N. Women is another organization that advocates for women’s rights, and its involvement in Somalia has it working extensively with the government and civil society to create programs, laws, and policies for women’s well-being. A crucial program U.N. Women are working towards is the Sustainable Development Goals, which advocates for girls and young women to aspire to participate in the fight for women’s rights. The program also helps create economic and social development, which is crucial when tackling gender inequality issues in the government. 

– Sebastian Llerena
Photo: Flickr

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The Potential of the Sisal Plant in Addressing Period Poverty

Sisal PlantAccording to the World Bank, period poverty has affected 500 million women globally, leading women and girls in developing countries to miss out on their education and work. To combat the striking number of women plagued with inconveniences to their basic health necessities.

Three Stanford researchers, Anton Molina, Anesta Kothari and Manu Prakash, are working on a solution to these struggles by asking, “Can Plants Help End “Period Poverty?” and they found their answer: Sisal.

Sisal Plant, The Key to Ending Period Poverty

The sisal plant is an agave plant that is originally from Mexico. The sisal plant is grown for the fibers in its leaves to create ropes. While the main focus of the sisal plant has been on the production of ropes, Molina, Kothair and Prakash have found that the plant can be efficient in producing pads. The researchers used a chemical process to remove the plant cell walls from the sisal plant. They can blend the rest of the plant and create a fluffier, absorbent material.

The blended material is optimal in developing countries because the chemicals they use to remove the cell walls are local to various countries. The sisal plant can also grow in arid areas and does not need much upkeep to maintain its length. According to Communications Engineering, “Sisal can be harvested year-round across a variety of geographies, yielding over 200,000 tonnes globally in 2020.”

More Comfort and Absorption

These plant-based pads provide users with a more efficient pad for comfort and absorption than hemp and flex seed pads. According to Communications Engineering, “There is a clear difference in porosity between the two materials with flax-derived fluff pulp being much denser than the hemp-derived fluff pulp and both, in turn, being less dense than cotton-CMP.”

In an interview with Nature Journal, the Stanford team shared more about the sisal and its effectiveness. The sisal fibers could absorb liquids better than other cotton materials. “It has the right amount of cellulose that fibers…the part of the plant that holds the water, making it a viable center of the menstrual pad.”

How Can This Help End Period Poverty?

Period poverty is a global plight many organizations have tried to battle through donations of a supply of period products. However, because of the need for more awareness of the dire situation, those who donate do not think to add period products or present the correct products needed for particular countries. Period products are not as accessible in developing countries as many women cannot afford to buy them monthly because they are too expensive.

Culturing the sisal plant allows women to process and create their pads at a cheaper rate without worrying about monthly expenses. The Stanford researchers continue to spread information about their plant-based pads and, through their efforts, have developed an efficient and hopeful path to ending period poverty using a hardy plant.

– Jessica Jean-Baptiste
Photo: Flickr

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Empowering Women: Community Libraries in Rural Asia

Rural Asian LibrariesIn the heart of rural Asia, community libraries are emerging as vital centers for women’s education and empowerment. Once viewed as simple repositories for books, these institutions are transforming into dynamic spaces that offer much more than just reading material. They are becoming crucial in bridging the educational gender gap prevalent in many rural areas. Here is more information about community libraries in rural Asia.

Education in Rural Asia

Education in rural Asian communities often faces obstacles like limited resources and gender biases. Community libraries in rural Asia are challenging this by providing accessible educational tools and programs. In rural Bangladesh, for instance, libraries not only provide a diverse selection of books but also host computer training and literacy classes specifically designed for women. These initiatives are pivotal in enhancing women’s abilities to secure better employment and improve their living standards. The resources and learning programs available in these libraries have opened doors for women, offering them a chance to learn new skills and gain knowledge that was previously out of reach.

How Community Libraries are Helping

The transformative power of community libraries in rural India is evident through numerous initiatives aimed at revitalizing these spaces. These libraries have become more than just places for reading; they have become active centers of learning and empowerment for local communities. Through diverse programs such as adult education and digital literacy, women in these areas are acquiring invaluable skills and knowledge. This has not only created new opportunities for personal development and employment but has also played a significant role in the social and economic upliftment of their communities. The success stories emerging from these libraries are a testament to the crucial role they play in fostering a culture of continuous learning and empowerment.

The libraries are also helping to foster a sense of empowerment and community involvement among women. Empowered with newfound skills and knowledge, women are increasingly taking on more active roles within their communities. This shift is gradually altering traditional gender dynamics, allowing for greater gender equality and community development. Women’s empowerment through education can lead to broader social changes, contributing to the overall progress of these rural areas.

Despite their successes, these community libraries face challenges, such as funding constraints and cultural barriers that sometimes hinder women’s participation. However, the future seems hopeful with increased support from nongovernmental organizations and governmental initiatives aimed at expanding educational resources and opportunities in these rural areas.

Looking Ahead

Community libraries in rural Asia are much more than just book lending facilities; they play an important role in shaping the future of women’s education and empowerment in these regions. As they continue to break down barriers and open doors to new opportunities, they pave the way toward a more inclusive and equitable society. The story of these libraries is one of resilience, hope and the transformative power of education.

– Hana Al-Khodairi
Photo: Flickr

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Huairou Commission: Supporting Women’s Grassroots Movements

Huairou Commission: Supporting Women’s Grassroots Movements
The Huairou Commission (HC) was established in 1995 at the U.N.’s World Conference on Women. Since then, it has grown from a tent of female community leaders in China into a global movement for women’s grassroots empowerment movements. 

HC has two missions: reform the paradigm of how development policies undergo planning and implementation, and center female leadership in global, social-issue decision making. It aims to position women’s grassroots groups as agents of change and active development partners, helping make the world free from poverty, inequality, violence, insecurity and injustice. HC is an example of bottom-up development, an approach to international development that places local communities at the center of the process, with a specific focus on women’s grassroots movements in Asia, Africa and South America.

Why Women’s Grassroots Movements Matter

“Achieving gender equality and empowering women is not only the right thing to do but is a critical ingredient in the fight against extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition,” says Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva.

The U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require the active involvement of poor and marginalized populations in both establishing and supporting sustainable systems. In this regard, civil society and women’s grassroots movements must be in dialogue with their governments, and HC works to facilitate these conversations.

The U.N.’s SDGs also emphasize identifying and combating social inequalities, including at grassroots levels. Women comprise 60% of those living with food insecurity in developing nations, placing them in an ideal position to lead the anti-poverty revolution. Ella Bhatt, founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) highlights the crucial role of impoverished women as an untapped source of strength, known for innovative, inclusive and peaceful problem-solving approaches. She stresses that involving women in leadership is crucial for SDG success. 

Despite women making up 43% of the labor force in the agriculture industry of developing countries, there is persistent discrimination against them in owning land and livestock, wage equality, participating in decision-making, and access to credit and financial services. It is estimated that if women had the same access to resources as men, productivity gains would skyrocket and global poverty would reduce by 150 million people. With the understanding that marginalized people are better able to determine their own needs and solutions, the HC strongly advocates for bottom-up development and locally driven policy-making led by women’s grassroots groups.

Ways HC Helps Women’s Grassroots Movements

The organization focuses on empowering impoverished women to develop resilience against economic shocks and natural disasters. This allows these women to drive decisions about their own development, particularly in cultures where men hold dominant roles. 

HC works with international donors and financial partners to create Community Resilience Funds (CRFs), financial resources specifically intended to assist women’s grassroots groups in implementing initiatives focused on reducing disaster risks in impoverished communities. These funds serve the dual purpose of fostering collaboration between these groups and local or national governments to expand the reach of women-led projects. 

CRFs are primarily allocated to women residing in economically disadvantaged rural and urban areas, which face significant exposure to natural disasters and extreme weather. For more than 10 years, CRFs have been extensively utilized across 21 countries. In 2018, they helped 2,675 women in impoverished and indigenous communities to spearhead resilience plans.

The Community Practitioners Platform For Resilience (CPPR), an HC initiative, unites various community groups to tackle issues such as natural disaster recovery, poverty and social inequality. It aims to foster collaboration among grassroots organizations, encouraging idea-sharing and joint projects in support of resilience development. By empowering grassroots efforts, CPPR emphasizes community-specific development processes and drives collective action toward sustainability and resilience, acknowledging the vital role of low-income area residents in tackling poverty, inequality and changing weather patterns.

CPPR is instrumental in enabling women and impoverished communities to take leadership roles in resilience planning. For example, the Shibuye Community Health Workers in Kenya — an HC member group — became empowered to establish a formal agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture that ensures agricultural subsidies reach impoverished households in regions affected by drought.

The Power of Women’s Grassroots Movements

The HC actively supports grassroots resilience programs that women lead to address community needs and mitigate the effects of natural disasters. It asserts that resilience is key to fighting inequality, injustice and poverty. Women in developing nations often face regular exposure to natural hazards and entrenched poverty and have acquired valuable, practical knowledge for community-level work. This expertise helps in creating solutions that combat poverty and foster sustainable responses to climate challenges and disaster risks. With HC’s support, these grassroots groups become catalysts for resilience, applying their knowledge to drive sustainable development from the ground up and foster solutions to modern challenges.

HC’s support for women’s grassroots movements represents an innovative approach toward addressing poverty and achieving various SDG goals. Its emphasis on locally driven change and bottom-up development places the beneficiaries of these solutions at the core of planning and implementation. Its efforts ensure the inclusion of women’s grassroots groups while also taking the lead in driving progress.

– Sam Waterkeyn
Photo: Flickr

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UN Women’s Oasis Program tackles gendered poverty in Jordan

UN Women’s Oasis Program
In 2016, U.N. Women reported that the majority of women living in Jordan were unemployed, with only 19% of Jordanian women and female Syrian refugees living in Jordan participating in the labor market. The U.N. Women’s Oasis Program has helped more than 30,000 Jordanian women and female Syrian refugees develop skills and become financially independent by working in Oasis centers — overcoming the multitude of barriers to employment that exist for women in Jordan.

Gendered Poverty in Jordan

Providing security and rehabilitation for 700,000 Syrian refugees, Jordan has become a safe haven for women and girls fleeing the violence and destruction that has plagued Syria since 2011. However, without the support of husbands, sons, or brothers, many of them are now experiencing the effects of gendered poverty in Jordan. In 2022, the World Bank found that 14.7% of Jordanian women are employed. One can accredit this low figure to obstacles such as a lack of job opportunities and limited access to higher education and skill development.

Security and Opportunity: The UN Women’s Oasis Program

The U.N. Women’s Oasis program is a humanitarian mission with 22 centers in Jordan, all of which are aimed at combating gendered poverty by empowering Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanian women. Originally established to aid women and young girls in refugee camps, such as Za’atari and Azraq, the program expanded its goals by incorporating cash-for-work schemes and training women in labor markets such as home maintenance and childcare. 

Not only does the U.N. Women’s Oasis program help women become financially independent and break down structures of gendered poverty, but it also supports and protects women against gender-based violence. This is accomplished by creating accessible training programs where women can earn money and enter the labor market, supporting themselves and their children without being stuck in dangerous domestic situations.

A Brighter Future for Jordan

Since 2012, the U.N. Women’s Oasis program has had an array of positive effects on Jordanian women and Syrian refugees living in Jordan who seek to improve their financial position. According to a study carried out by the program, 70% of the participants experienced a decrease in domestic violence and 78% felt that they could take on more decision-making responsibility in the household. The Oasis centers also offer a safe, empowering space for women to interact and build social relationships, which 98% of women in the program feel improves their self-esteem, reducing loneliness and depression.

Women in Jordan also cited childcare and housework responsibilities as limiting their ability to access employment. The Oasis centers are working to mitigate this by including nurseries and childcare areas in their facilities. Allowing women to bring their children to work also empowers their children to develop skills and continue their education, further contributing to breaking down gendered poverty cycles.

Conclusion

The U.N. Women’s Oasis program in Jordan equips women with valuable skills that not only motivate them to start their own microbusinesses and further their careers once leaving the centers but also empower them through workshops built around raising awareness on human rights and gender-based violence. With increasing numbers of women able to access skill development services and safe spaces to network, the gendered poverty in Jordan can, with hard work and determination, perish. 

– Zara Brown
Photo: Pixabay

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Women in Nigeria Lead Entrepreneurial Charge

Women in Nigeria Lead Entrepreneurial ChargeThe Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has recently reported that women own 40% of the businesses in Nigeria, which is a large improvement from the World Bank’s report of only 34% of women owning businesses in 2018.

Women in the Workforce

Women in Nigeria lead the entrepreneurial charge. More Nigerian women are now focused on making their own money in 2023. Also, according to UN Women, “unemployment has decreased by 7.5% for women in Nigeria.”

They demonstrate the uptick of women in the Nigerian workforce, which men have notably dominated. The increase in women working connects to Nigeria’s dire economic status and the recent gas and food price increases. Nigerian families are struggling to feed their children, forcing women into the labor force.

Women are shattering barriers and breaking into male-dominated jobs such as agriculture, vendors, or skilled manual workers to help their husbands stay afloat and families survive. 

Nigerian Women Breaking the Glass

Today, more Nigerian women have become empowered to join and lead the workforce. 

Fara Ashine-Jituboh is the founder and CEO of Okra, a tech company that helps create a faster way for African companies to access financial data.

“You’re now seeing women be leaders, cofounders, CEOs, CTOs, COOs and they’re building across multiple spaces… More teams are seeing female leaders as well,” says Ashine-Jituboh.

Despite the exceptional growth of female entrepreneurs, Nigerian women still face barriers when starting a business. Recent data by the African Development Bank reports a $42 billion gender financing gap, meaning women are less likely to receive higher business loans compared to men.

Nonetheless, Nigerian women persevere. Many Nigerian women have found great success with numerous tech start-ups, as it is a booming enterprise in Nigeria.

Maya Hogan-Famoda, a Nigerian-American venture capitalist investor in her interview with CNN, states:

“In 2016, it was only $129 million that came into all of African tech; in 2021… venture capital dollars into technology companies were over $5 billion.”

Nigerian Women are Leading the Entrepreneurial Charge

Over the years, tech start-ups have been an excellent route for many female entrepreneurs, but tech is not the only path that brings success to Nigerian women. Here are some female-owned businesses that have thrived in various avenues.

ReelFruits

A pioneering company in the snacks industry in Nigeria, Affiong Williams founded Reel Fruits in 2012 with the initial goal of simply employing Nigerians as Nigeria was dealing with an immense decline in employment.

ReelFruit has created more than 250 jobs in Nigeria and includes local farmers in manufacturing to put money into their economy.

However, Williams has gone beyond her original goal, as she has created the largest dried fruit processing company. They now sell their snacks in more than 10,000 retail stores in Nigeria and have begun to expand into foreign markets, exporting to the U.S. and Europe.

Volition Cap

Volition Cap is a growth equity firm that educates businesses and individuals on creating wealth in Africa. The two Nigerians behind Volition Cap are Subomi Plumptre and Kola Oyeneyin, who founded Volition Cap in 2018  to create a “safety net” for African working-class citizens.

Volition Cap offers online investment courses for small businesses to ensure more African companies are financially stable.

Subomi Plumptre explains in her interview with CNN how important it is to educate the African community on finances.

“If the businesses go under, then it affects the people who depend on the businesses for their livelihoods: the employees, the suppliers, and the contractors. It has such a multiplier effect. So when there’s a recession, as fund managers, we need to turn our attention to funding businesses, and that’s what we’re doing now.’’ 

Plumptre advocates for economic literacy as the helping hand Africa needs to develop thoroughly.

Some of Volition Cap’s most significant accomplishments comprise developing a $30 million private equity fund for local farmers and real estate agents in Africa. The firm collected $250,000 for its entertainment and media fund, which will help filmmakers and the domestic film industry.

House of Tara

Makeup has become a massive market for many Nigerian businesses, and one of the more notable pioneers of its popularity in Nigeria is the founder of House of Tara, Tara Fela-Durotoye.

Fela-Durotoye established House of Tara in 1998 to create makeup designs for Nigerian brides. In 2004, Fela-Durotoye built the first make-up studio and schools in Nigeria, where she would go on to teach 80% of Nigerian makeup artists.

Fela-Durotoye explains to CNN the goal behind the creation of her schools:

“The aim is to equip graduates with everything they need to launch their beauty store, and past graduates have gone on to start small firms that employ a handful of other makeup artists.”

Fela-Durotoye now has 14 schools, 19 studios in different areas of Nigeria, and 4,000 reps nationwide. Being one of the first female-owned businesses in Nigeria, Fela-Durotoye has been a crucial inspiration to many Nigerian women.

Conclusion 

Women in Nigeria lead the entrepreneurial charge by withstanding the blockades thrown at them. Many Nigerian women, like Tara Fela-Durotoye, know these barriers and note that supporting fellow female entrepreneurs will allow for more significant progress in the community and the Nigerian economy.

– Jessica Jean-Baptiste
Photo: Flickr

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Reducing Poverty Among Women in the Dominican Republic

Women in the Dominican RepublicThe 2022 Regional Multidimensional Poverty Index by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) highlights that 27.4% of women in the Dominican Republic experience poverty. Moreover, among the Latin American and Caribbean countries studied, the Dominican Republic came fourth in the region in regard to the prevalence of poverty-induced problems that women face. In light of this, several organizations are working to reduce poverty among women in the Dominican Republic.

Poverty Among Women in the Dominican Republic

According to the UNDP, the most prominent problems that Dominican women encounter include the lack of housing and the inaccessibility to the internet, affecting 50.6% and 66.3% of Dominican women respectively. As a whole, 40.4% of the population in the country is impacted by poverty as of 2022.

Moreover, poverty among Dominican women is also a result of the gender barriers that are not only present in the country but remain a major concern in the Caribbean region. According to data that the World Bank published, while adult literacy is nearly the same between men (95.1%) and women (95.3%) in 2021, the gap between employment for men and women remains disproportionately high in 2022. In the Dominican Republic, while 76.5% of men enter the labor force, the participation of women is only 52.5%. Furthermore, nearly 79% of women in the Dominican entered university as opposed to 38% of men. However, only 40% of STEM graduates in the Dominican Republic are women.

Taking Action

The United States Agency of International Development (USAID) aims to address gender inequality with the hopes of reducing poverty among women in the Dominican Republic. USAID introduced the Engendering Industries program in 2015 to tackle gender inequality in industries where the problem is prominent while promoting economic empowerment for women. In their recent partnership in 2021 with Dominican government organizations such as the Instituto Nacional de Aguas Potables y Alcantarillados (INAPA), a water utility company, USAID aims to establish gender equality in the industry.

Since their collaboration, INAPA has developed an extensive gender equality strategy that saw new training programs to combat sexual harassment in the workplace. Moreover, as of 2022, the company saw an increase in female hires, with 300 new female employees and the promotion of 75 existing employees to senior positions. This results in women making up 30% of new hires, 10 times more than the previous year.

Looking Ahead

By addressing gender inequality in the workplace, the Dominican Republic takes a crucial step in reducing poverty among women by ensuring that women are economically stable and self-sufficient. Moreover, the work of philanthropic organizations such as Food For The Poor (FFTP) aims to reduce the impact of poverty on Dominicans by providing support for essential needs. As of 2023, the charity has built 1719 housing units and 50 water projects to provide safe drinking water. FFTP has also supported improvements in education by constructing rural schools as well as developing a vocational training program specifically for women to increase their chances of employment.

The work of these public and private organizations helps to address the feminization of poverty in the Dominican Republic by supporting women to overcome gender barriers.

– Remigius Kim
Photo: Pixabay

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Updates on SDG 5 in Namibia: Setting the Standard 

SDG 5 in NamibiaNamibia, a southern African country with a population slightly above 2.5 million, marked a milestone in global development. It is currently the first African country to meet the fifth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. 

In 2012, the United Nations (UN) created a list of 17 interconnected goals to act as the blueprint for a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous future for people and the planet by 2030. These “global goals” cover many issues, including poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water and more.

SDG 5: Empowering Women and Combating Gender Discrimination

United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 specifically targets ending discrimination against women and girls through a comprehensive approach that encompasses the following:

  • Including women in the labor market: Globally, only one in two women work for wages as compared to three in four men.  
  • Ending violence against women,  both physical and sexual abuse: One in three women above the age of 15 experience physical/sexual violence in their lifetime. 
  • Stopping harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation: At least 200 million girls are subject to female genital mutilation. In 2021, nearly one in five girls were married before age 15. 
  • Integrating women within leadership and decision-making roles: The UN reports that women’s representation in government across more than 23 countries was under 10% in 2022. 
  • Adopting policies that strengthen and empower women and girls: Remove discriminatory laws and replace them with legislation to reflect society’s equal gender roles. 
  • Strengthening women’s empowerment through technology: Women make up a significant portion of the 3.9 billion people lacking access to technology.
  • Recognizing the value of domestic unpaid work: Women are more than twice as likely to be engaged in domestic work than men. 

Gender Equality and Economic Growth

Gender equality is not only a matter of human rights but also a driver of poverty reduction and good governance. The World Bank’s Gender Employment Gap Index (GEGI) predicts that closing all gender gaps would result in a 20% increase in GDP across all countries.  

Namibia’s Commitment to SDG 5

Working on SDG 5 in Namibia achieved the following: 

  • Achieving gender balance in the labor force: In 1990, women represented 45.6% of the workforce. As of 2022, women represent 49.8%. 
  • Ensuring gender-equitable education for males and females: In 1990, women’s literacy rate was 74%. Currently, the rate for women above 15 is 91.4%, equal to that of men.  
  • Increasing the representation of women in national government positions: In 2013, women held 24.36% of government positions. As of February 2021, women held 44.2% of parliamentary seats.
  • Increasing women’s use of technology: Around 93.6% of female-headed households have mobile telephone access.  

These accomplishments are a testament to the influence SDG 5 has had on local and national legislation, education and public awareness in Namibia. The Namibian government has implemented and enforced legislation prohibiting sex-based discrimination in the workforce and public campaigns promoting positive gender roles while eradicating harmful practices such as female genital mutilation. These efforts have facilitated women’s transition from the informal to the formal economy, giving autonomy to women and bringing them into the workforce. As of 2023, more than 50% of women are in the workforce, and 80% of Namibian women hold a bank account through an institution or online platform. 

Critical Success Factors: Collaboration

Namibia’s success in meeting SDG 5 goals is due to a cooperative effort between international organizations led by the UN, local Namibian government institutions and citizen-led movements. Namibia achieved a remarkable 91.7% implementation of the SDG 5 programs through this collaborative effort.

Participation of the UN has been vital to meeting SDG 5 in Namibia. Particularly noteworthy was the support from the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Population Fund and UN Women. Furthermore, local and governmental institutions within Namibia played crucial roles. In fact, the Namibia Ministry of Health and Social Services and the Namibia Ministry of Gender Equality played essential roles in following these advancements. 

Another notable role involved Namibian citizens. The “ShutItAllDown” movement in October 2020 propelled the country into action, calling for the protection of women against gender violence. Protests in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, began in response to gender-based violence following the femicide of Shannon Wasserfall as a result of protesters’ demands. Namibia implemented security measures to enhance women’s protection. The government implemented a school curriculum focused on gender-based violence and enhanced training for police officers.

The Way Forward

To address poverty among women in Namibia, a robust political movement has emerged, accompanied by increased budgetary allocations for gender mainstreaming. National initiatives focus on preventing and educating against gender-based violence, and a recent positive step involves the elimination of the “tampon tax.” Legal foundations, such as The Namibian Constitution (1990) and the Combating of Domestic Violence Act (2003), along with affirmative action, contribute significantly to gender equality and poverty reduction.

Despite commendable progress, challenges persist, necessitating continued efforts. Achieving gender equality is an enduring process demanding sustained commitment across various sectors. Notably, Namibia’s significant strides in fulfilling SDG 5 exemplify the attainability of such goals. Also, Namibia’s progress could serve as an inspiration for neighboring countries.

– Isabella Oliver-Steinberg
Photo: Flickr

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5 Women-Focused Charities Operating in Somalia

Charities Operating in SomaliaWhen addressing women in Somalia, one should focus on the work occurring on the ground. The civil war — coupled with famines, droughts and floods — has left urgent matters on the back burner. Now, as the country is steadily finding its footing, the focal point is shifting towards more local and individual concerns that affect the society as a unit. There are a good handful of nonprofit organizations and charities operating in Somalia that center their work around women’s issues. Here are five women-focused charities operating in Somalia.

1. Action for Women and Children Concern (AWCC)

Action for Women and Children Centre is a nonprofit non-governmental and non-political grassroots organization that works specifically for women and children. Its motive is to empower women by providing and aiding in receiving basic education, primary health care, water hygiene and sanitation and the promotion of human rights.

This NGO is active in Somalia and has been since February 2017. It is youth-serving and youth-led. Its main strategy is to advance women’s rights and leadership and build and support local communities by encouraging human rights, justice, safety and security. 

Action for Women and Children Concern works across 100 countries with 80% of staff working within the communities they serve. It has been able to work directly and make a substantial difference within Somalia.

2. Somali Women’s Studies Centre (SWSC)

Somali Women’s Studies Centre is another non-governmental nonprofit organization that originated in Somalia in the year 2000. The organization follows the idea that through empowerment and assistance, women can get the support they need, which will in turn allow them to make positive alterations that will ultimately improve and strengthen their community. 

SWDC works to better the lives and conditions that women live in. It does this by first focusing on vulnerable groups of women. The SWDC carries out this mission by heightening the capacity of women to lobby and advocate for concerned parties, and finally promoting reconciliation and peace building. 

3. CARE

CARE is a charity that was established in Canada in 1946, but it was in the mid-1970s that the organization began to work on an international scale. The work in Somalia began in 1981. Its programs have covered water and sanitation, civil society and media development, primary school education, teacher training, adult literacy and vocational training, and much more. 

CARE also works specifically for women. On its website, it describes its mission as aiming to reduce the impact of emergencies on vulnerable communities, especially women and children. In 2022, CARE was able to reach 2,214,383 directly and 2,811,318 with 53% of the number being women and young girls.

4. Somali Women’s Development Centre (SWDC)

Somali Women’s Development Centre is an NGO that began in 2011. It aims to uplift and motivate Somali women to support Somali women in advocating for their rights. SWSC also does a lot of research and documents the problems that Somali women and girls face daily. 

The SWSC are based in Somalia, but they also have offices in Nairobi Kenya for the Somali women that live there. 

5. Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF)

The Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund first came to work in Somalia during the 2012 presidential election. Their primary focus is women. The WPHF recognizes that women in Somalia have always suffered disproportionality at the hands of Clan fights and extremist groups. With child-bride marriages and female genital mutilation, FGM women have had an unfair beginning to adult life. 

These women-focused charities operating in Somalia are doing substantial work to support and provide for the women that they cater to. The work that is done is reaching women and girls and is allowing them a new chance and opportunity to grow. 

– Sumaya Ali
Photo: Flickr