Archive for category: Women

Information and news about woman issues

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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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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

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Digital Wages in Bangladesh are Empowering its Female Workforce

Digital Wages in BangladeshAcross the developing world, women continue to make up large proportions of key manufacturing industries. For instance, they comprise 68% of the garment workforce and 45% of the textile industry. Wages in these industries are generally paid in cash, making it difficult for workers to save for the long term, which is one way to escape poverty. Here is some information about digital wages in Bangladesh. 

The Situation

At the same time, historic gender roles mean women often do not directly benefit from the results of their work. In Bangladesh, where female textile factories dominate, women are expected to turn their wages over to their husbands or fathers. There are even accounts of long lines of men waiting outside the factories on payday, ready for this handover.

This wage settlement means female workers are denied proper control over their finances. For those women already living in poverty, this leaves them trapped. Despite undertaking paid employment, they cannot access the financial resources required to escape their current position. While this is a complex problem, some simple solutions can go a long way to removing the barriers women face. BSR’s HERProject has looked to do exactly that. HERProject has supported the growing trend of introducing digital wages for factory workers in Bangladesh. It helps teach employees how to use digital banking systems to ensure successful implementation.

The Benefits of Digital Wages in Bangladesh

Digital wages in Bangladesh have transformed women’s lives in the key areas where they were previously disempowered. Now, it is easier for workers to plan and save. They only withdraw the money they need to spend, while the rest is stored securely in a bank account. 

World Bank researchers found that digital banking increases the likelihood of workers saving money by 25%. At the same time, women have more control over their money. Instead of receiving pay in person, their wages are transferred directly to an account that belongs to them. This prevents husbands or fathers immediately confiscating women’s wages.

One can see these benefits in the popularity of digital wages in Bangladesh. According to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, pollsters found that after an H&M factory adopted digital wages, the number of workers who preferred the system jumped from 4% to 81%. A crucial part of the message of HERProject is the benefits factories themselves will stand to make from schemes such as digital wages. According to the organization, empowered women become agents of change, making businesses “more ethical and more productive.”

The Formation of RISE

On International Women’s Day 2023, HERProject joined Gap Inc. PACE, CARE International and Better Work (all organizations fighting for gender equality in supply chains) to form RISE. This new organization, standing for ‘Reimagining Industry to Support Equality,’ will look to fight for gender equality on an even larger scale. Its founders already support more than five million workers in over 20 countries. By sharing their resources, they can bring transformative ideas like HERProject’s digital wages to more of the developing world. The success of digital wages in Bangladesh is one example of how technology can be applied in the developing world to give workers greater control over their finances and the means to escape poverty. Its continued application will help reshape industries across developing countries for decades. 

– Jack Arrowsmith
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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How Women’s Pavilion is Fighting for Gender Equality

Gender EqualityWomen’s Pavilion is a community exhibition in Expo City, Dubai, which aims to showcase women’s contributions to humanity, particularly those who have not received the recognition that they deserve already. This ranges from the work of women who are incredibly well-known to the completely anonymous. The exhibition includes different floors with each one describing the heroic and selfless actions of women with accompanying photos and memorabilia. In this way, Women’s Pavilion is fighting for gender equality.

Visiting Women’s Pavilion

Even if it is not possible for one to physically visit the display, the website offers a virtual 360° tour of the showcase that allows people to witness the amazing displays from their own home. The exhibit includes photos and accompanying explanations ranging from Frida Kahlo to Kathy Matsui, a partner in MPower.

The opening of Women’s Pavilion’s exhibit portrays how women have been underrepresented. With this being the first section of the Pavilion, it highlights the fact that gender inequality does not start at a specific age, and even children will experience prejudice from a school age. 

The Aims of Women’s Pavilion

The main and most evident aim of Women’s Pavilion is to encourage young women to break down the barriers that are pre-existing stereotypes and allow them to live carelessly as their authentic selves. It also aims to deconstruct any misconceptions when it comes to women’s roles; both in a small community or a wider society including household duties and careers. However, Women’s Pavilion also acknowledges the men who have helped to make sure that these women are finally getting the recognition that they deserve as a thank you for using their privilege in order to share the deserved spotlight with the women they worked alongside. 

This is not the first time that Dubai has been vocal in its fight for women’s rights and gender equality. Women’s Pavilion shares stories of many women from Arab countries and Islam who have fought to make the world a cleaner and better place.

Highlighting Gender-Related Poverty

In the display, there is a moving excerpt that consists of a wall filled completely with women’s shoes. At first glance, it may simply look like a wall of shoes, but after looking closer, they will learn that despite the 75% decrease in poverty, more women live in poverty compared to men. This highlights the fact that although conditions are improving immensely, there are still improvements that need to occur to promote gender equality. 

There is also a moving dedication to applaud the women who played important parts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which again showcases the work of women whose selfless acts are going unnoticed. 

Women’s Pavilion is a perfect representation of all of the women throughout history who have gone completely unacknowledged for their skills or contributions to society. From world-famous artists to teachers and behind-the-scenes programmers, Women’s Pavilion appreciates and applauds every woman. 

– Ella Bushell
Photo: Flickr

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5 Facts About Gender-based Poverty in the DRC

gender-based poverty in the DRC
Poverty levels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are incredibly high, and women tend to suffer deeper economic violence and injustices. Limited access to education, reproductive and care responsibilities, gender-based violence, unequal laws and the lack of representation of women in decision-making contribute to gender-based poverty in the DRC. 

Women’s Limited Access to Education 

Limited access to education and economic opportunities poses significant challenges for girls in the DRC. Although girls’ enrolment in school has increased from 50% to 78% between 2000 and 2017, women still face challenges to higher education and economic access. The main reason for Congolese girls’ struggle to pursue an education is social norms and expectations — marriage and motherhood. 

Addressing this issue is crucial to guarantee girls’ access to education and therefore reduce gender-based poverty in the DRC. Indeed, providing Congolese women with the opportunity and means to obtain an education increases their chances of obtaining better-paying jobs and allowing women to participate more fully in the political sphere. 

Increasing women’s access to education requires advocacy, improving school infrastructure, providing financial support and combating gender-based discrimination and violence. For instance, the United Kingdom’s new Women and Girls Strategy helps 36,000 girls in the DRC access education in the Kauai province. 

Empowering girls will contribute to social and economic development, fostering a more equitable and prosperous society in the DRC.

Reproductive and Care Responsibilities 

Reproductive and care responsibilities burden Congolese women, hindering their economic empowerment. Women’s value in Congolese society is often reduced to the roles of wife and mother. According to the 2017–18 MICS, nearly 30% of women are married under the age of 18 years old. 

This phenomenon deeply impacts women’s economic agency and thus gender-based poverty in the DRC. Indeed, women’s caregiving roles limit educational and workforce opportunities. 

Actively fighting gender stereotypes and expectations could not only allow women to pursue education but also encourage the equitable sharing of caregiving responsibilities in marriage and provide comprehensive support to women in managing their work and family commitments. 

Gender-based Violence

Gender-based violence (GBV) is prevalent in the DRC, particularly in conflict-affected regions, impacting women’s physical and mental well-being, as well as partially causing gender-based poverty in the DRC. Indeed, one in two women in the DRC report having experienced physical or sexual abuse at least once in their lives. 

Firstly, fear of violence discourages girls’ education and limits economic opportunities. In fact, girls face increased risks of violence, sexual exploitation and harassment by teachers and harmed forces in school settings. 

Secondly, the economic consequences of gender-based violence are closely linked with harmful conceptions of gender roles. Because the value of women is based on their capacity to marry and bear children, people often view survivors of sexual abuse as “unfit” for such roles, and their socioeconomic status suffers as a result. 

In order to fully address gender-based violence in the DRC, national and international institutions need to implement legal reforms, provide secure learning environments and encourage community engagement to combat harmful norms. 

Unequal Laws and Discriminatory Practices Towards Women 

Unequal laws and discriminatory practices reinforce gender-based poverty in the DRC. Inheritance laws favor male heirs, denying women their rightful property share. Limited access to land ownership and financial services further hampers economic opportunities. Despite their critical role in agriculture, rural development and food security, women own just 25% of land in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 

In response to unequal laws and discriminatory practices towards women in the DRC, a range of active solutions have emerged. Advocacy for legal reforms is driving the transformation of discriminatory legislation, ensuring women’s equal rights to property ownership and inheritance. 

The Lack of Representation in Decision-Making 

The lack of representation of women in decision-making perpetuates gender-based poverty in the DRC. Women’s voices are often overlooked in political and community leadership, hindering gender-sensitive policy development. Despite the fact that articles 5, 14 and 15 of the DRC constitution provide a legal foundation for equality and equity policies, women currently hold only 7.2% of positions at the highest level of decision-making at the national level in the parliament and administration. 

Promoting gender equality is a critical objective in the DRC to increase women’s participation in decision-making processes. Gender equality creates a way for women to participate in decision-making arenas by removing deeply ingrained gender inequities and discriminatory standards. 

Trócaire and partners — with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) — have implemented programs to enhance Congolese women’s participation in decision-making processes in more than 27 communities. Following this program encouraging gender equality, 65% of women now participate in and are represented in decision-making organizations in the communities concerned by the project. 

Despite progress, significant challenges persist in ensuring women’s economic empowerment, requiring sustained dedication to create lasting change and put an end to gender-based poverty in the DRC. Addressing gender-based poverty in the DRC demands comprehensive solutions: education access, ending discrimination, combating violence, elevating voices and fostering an equitable future. 

– Hannah Klifa
Photo: Flickr

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USAID Programs in Iraq

USAID Programs in Iraq
Since 2003, Iraq has experienced displacement of its population and instability due to domestic and regional conflict. In January 2014, with the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) beginning to seize control of parts of Iraq, the conflict and displacement worsened, until ISIS was defeated in March 2019. The Ministry of Planning at the World Bank reports the poverty rate of Iraq at 24.8% in 2021. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programs in Iraq, with funding received from the United States government, have played a pivotal role in improving the governance system, expanding economic opportunities, providing life-saving humanitarian assistance and promoting religious and ethnic pluralism to the citizens of Iraq. 

The Good News

As of September 2022, despite 1.2 million Iraqis remaining internally displaced and 5 million internally displaced population returning home, Iraq generously hosts 300,000 refugees and asylum-seekers. With Iraqis returning home, support from international organizations like the USAID has helped Iraq see positive growth in all aspects of society. USAID in collaboration with the Government of Iraq (GOI), provincial and local governments, and local communities has established a combination of short-, medium- and long-term efforts to stabilize areas that were formerly occupied by ISIS. 

The following is a brief that focuses on two of the many important USAID programs in Iraq initiatives whose overall objective is to pull households and communities out of poverty and to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance for the people of Iraq. 

Job Creation and Economic Diversification

According to USAID, job-creating initiatives and economic diversification in Iraq’s public and private sectors are vital for creating economic opportunity, helping households and communities out of poverty and long-term economic growth. Iraq is one of the most oil-dependent countries in the world. The over-reliance of its GDP on oil-related growth (7% in 2022 has stagnated the growth of its non-oil sectors such as agribusiness, service delivery processes (for example, technology and trade) and the industrial sector. Thus, USAID in collaboration with the GOI, economic and civil society leaders and vulnerable communities has set up projects and also funded initiatives like the Middle East and North Africa Investment Initiative (MENA II) to increase food production, improve water supply and ensure sustainable water and energy usage. 

The implementation of USAID programs in Iraq that focus on economic diversification has resulted in tremendous growth and a reduction in extreme poverty for the marginalized and displaced populations. These programs have also boosted the participation of women in Iraq’s workforce thereby, making an attempt to address gender-based violence and patriarchal norms — two issues starkly visible in Iraq. 

Since 2020, USAID programs have provided more than 10,000 entrepreneurs with business support services, of which approximately 50% of the entrepreneurs were women. In addition, USAID provided about 3,000 business grants and loans. This resulted in an increase in business revenue by 65%. According to USAID reports, the huge success of these programs has attracted $41 million in private investments to expand local businesses in technology, trade and the industrial sector.

Humanitarian Assistance for Producing Self-Reliant Citizens

For a nation riddled with conflict for more than a decade, USAID has targeted a substantial amount of funds, $3 billion, towards providing humanitarian assistance to the citizens of Iraq. These funds have been targeted towards the most vulnerable and hardest-to-reach people. USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance reports a positive trend in access to safe drinking water, improved health and hygiene supplies, meeting food and shelter needs and meeting critical nutritional needs. In addition, according to USAID, the funds have also helped in the prevention and quick response to gender-based violence and increasing access to psychological support. This support is particularly important for a country responding to natural disasters and complex crises. 

A Promising Future 

The programs and funds provided by USAID have come a long way in improving the economic condition and ensuring quality and dignified basic living conditions for the citizens of Iraq. USAID, through its programs and aid, paves the way for long-term development and the journey of self-reliance for the citizens of Iraq. This is an essential step. And, while there is still room for improvement, the country and its citizens’ commitment to solving the large human and economic capital needs bode positive signs for the future.

– Anshu Saha
Photo: Flickr

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The Role of Women in the Guatemalan Health Care System

Guatemalan Health Care
In many families and homes across the globe, people consider women the primary caregivers. In rural Guatemalan communities, where health care facilities are sparse or inaccessible, women’s roles often expand beyond their front doors and into the wider community.  

The Guatemalan Health Care System

Guatemala has endured a long history of political and economic unrest in recent centuries. However, since the end of the most recent civil war in 1997, the country has celebrated a vast economic incline with 8% and 4.1% growth in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Furthermore, to date, Guatemala possesses the largest economy in Central America, including the neighboring countries of Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico. Despite its seemingly stable economy, the wealth disparity within the country is one of the highest in the Latin American and Caribbean region with more than half the Guatemalan population living below the poverty threshold. Health care in Guatemala reflects this disparity.

There are three primary branches of health care in Guatemala: the public sector, the profitable private sector and the nonprofit private sector. The largest of the three branches is the public sector, which covers 88% of the population. However, facilities within this sector are often lacking vital equipment and infrastructure. This is a result of the lack of funds that the Guatemalan government has allocated towards health care — the lowest amongst Central American countries. As per the Guatemalan constitution, health care in Guatemala is a universal right of every citizen. However, in reality, health care in Guatemala is not readily accessible to everyone, particularly those who reside in rural locations.

Women in Health Care

Indigenous Mayan communities inhabit rural Guatemalan regions, where health care facilities are not only sparse but entirely inaccessible. Despite women being the most active users of health care services across the world, one in three women in these communities has no access to health care services. As a result, many women take up prominent positions to fill this void.

One such role includes presiding over local health committees that bring together women from throughout the community, often for training sessions with international aid charities such as the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). These training and educational sessions often involve promoting hygiene practices and knowledge of common diseases. In turn, the women present on these committees go on to spread and impart their knowledge to other women and future generations of women. The IFRC reports that through its support of these local health committees, it has been able to provide approximately 1,250 families in the Quetzaltenango region of Western Guatemala with vital health knowledge.

In exchange for the information and resources that the IFRC provides, local women provide key insights into life within these rural communities that can be passed on to national health care authorities in the hopes of improving local health care facilities. 

Conclusion

While health care in Guatemala is ostensibly universal and possesses a prominent public sector, it lacks the resources and infrastructure to reach every citizen. In those cases, it is women who extend their caregiving roles into the community to provide physical health care as well as impart health awareness information. In doing so, they continue to support their community as well as improve the overall state of the health care system in Guatemala.

– Holly Coop
Photo: FreeImages

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3 Innovations Utilizing Locally Available Resources to Fight Poverty

Locally Available Resources
Across the globe, people live without access to electricity, sanitation and manufacturing resources. In turn, their households lack strong infrastructure and protection against extreme heat and environmental health concerns. Resourceful innovations are working to tackle these elements of poverty by utilizing readily available products and local capabilities. Here are three innovations using locally available resources to fight poverty.

1. Eco-Cooler

Bangladesh has one of the wettest climates in the world due to its summer monsoon season. To accommodate for the rain, more than 60% of Bangladesh’s population lives in tin huts rather than more vulnerable mud huts. Although tin provides protection from the rain, it exacerbates the extreme summer heat. Without access to electricity and, therefore, air conditioning, this heat is unbearable for those living in rural, low-income areas. 

Through resourceful innovation, Ashis Paul created a cooling system that does not need electricity and utilizes commonly found items. The Eco-cooler comprises locally available resources like plastic bottles that are cut in half and mounted on a sheet of cardboard. The cardboard is then fitted to a window with the wider part of the bottles facing outward. The bottles catch passing wind, cool the air as it experiences a change in pressure, and then funnel the air into the building’s interior. It is estimated that this affordable and easy-to-build solution is able to reduce temperatures up to 5 degrees Celsius depending on the conditions.  

2. Gjenge Makers 

Nairobi, Kenya generates around 500 tons of plastic waste every day. Without proper decomposition methods, a majority of this waste ends up in garbage dumps located around low-income communities, further impacting the health and living conditions of impoverished people in Nairobi. 

Nzambi Matee, founder of Gjenge Makers, discovered how to transform this plastic waste into a valuable resource: bricks that are seven times stronger than concrete. The bricks are formed with a mix of sand and polyethylene or polypropylene, which could otherwise not be recycled. Gjenge Maker bricks are half the weight of concrete, making transportation and building more efficient and affordable. Gjenge Makers’ aims to use its resourceful innovation to solve Kenya’s pollution problem, provide new job opportunities, produce healthier livelihoods and introduce young women to entrepreneurship and engineering. 

3. White Roofs 

The Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) originated to educate and strengthen impoverished women to improve their living conditions. One aim is to build resilience against unbearable temperatures. Temperatures in western India can reach up to 47.8C (118F) in the summer. This heat diminishes women’s ability to be productive and healthy in their homes. MHT is increasing women’s ability to tackle extreme temperatures without the need for hard-to-access resources such as electricity.    

Mahila Housing Trust has distributed white solar-reflective paint to low-income communities in western India. Women living in these areas are able to apply the paint at no cost, reflecting sunlight away from their houses and reducing the internal temperature. This simple and resourceful innovation is estimated to reduce temperatures by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius. Even the slightest drop in temperature reduces women’s vulnerability to heat stroke, exhaustion and pregnancy complications, and allows women to remain productive in the summer.

Nzambi Matee, Ashis Paul and the Mahila Housing Trust are demonstrating how resourceful innovations using locally available resources can help battle the barrier of access to commodities, such as electricity and manufacturing tools. Determining the materials a community lacks and utilizing the resources they do have is creating unique inventions and fighting poverty.  

– Aliya French
Photo: Flickr

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Rebuilding Women-Run Businesses in Ethiopia

Women-Run Businesses in Ethiopia
The conflict in Ethiopia has left a trail of devastation, leading to the loss of lives, widespread displacement and significant damage to infrastructure, services and the economy. In 2021, Ethiopia reported 5.1 million internally displaced people in 12 months, exacerbating the already prevalent poverty in the region. As of 2021, 18.4% of the population (22,076 people) were classified as vulnerable to poverty. This situation has prompted a collaborative effort by organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the affected regions. A key component of this effort is economic recovery, and a crowdfunding campaign known as Rebuild HER Business is pivotal in rebuilding women-run businesses in Ethiopia, thereby addressing poverty at its core.

Rebuild HER Business Campaign

The Rebuild HER Business campaign is an initiative that UNDP Ethiopia has led to support women entrepreneurs in conflict-affected regions. The Great Ethiopian Run (GER), known for promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fundraising for local causes, partnered with the campaign to launch it. The campaign’s impact goes beyond financial assistance. The GER’s annual 10-kilometer race in November is linked with the Running for Cause charity initiative, providing a unique opportunity to rally support for women entrepreneurs who have been adversely affected by the conflict and are at risk of falling into poverty.

The campaign’s objective is to raise $500,000, which will be used to provide a $500 capital fund to 1,000 women in the northern regions of Ethiopia. This capital fund will be a lifeline for these women struggling in the aftermath of the conflict. All funds raised through the Rebuild HER Business campaign are for women as a capital fund, with the operational costs covered by UNDP and their partners. The campaign directly combats poverty among women in the region by providing essential financial support.

The Significance of Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

Women in Ethiopia play a crucial role in their communities, particularly in rural areas where 80% of the population resides. Women provide the majority of the agricultural labor in these communities. They are responsible for providing most of the agricultural labor and managing small businesses that contribute to the local economy. However, women in Ethiopia often face more basic economic constraints than men, such as limited access to credit and restricted market access, making them more vulnerable to poverty.

According to a report by the World Bank, vulnerable employment is a significant issue in Ethiopia, with 89.2% of women in vulnerable employment as of 2021. Vulnerable employment is characterized by informal work arrangements, a lack of social protection and vulnerability to economic shocks, making individuals more likely to fall into poverty. The participation of women in the labor force is essential for economic development and poverty alleviation, demonstrating the need for this support.

Empowering Women for Sustainable Development

The Rebuild HER Business campaign goes beyond mere financial assistance; it empowers women who are providers for their families and vital community builders. The economic fabric of these recovering communities relies heavily on the success of women-run businesses, which, in turn, positively impacts poverty in the region, contributing to the fight against economic hardships. Moreover, empowering women, especially those severely disadvantaged and in hard-to-reach places, is a critical component of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, with poverty alleviation at its core. 

Achieving inclusive economies, justice and a sustainable environment hinges on women’s active involvement and empowerment. The Rebuild HER Business campaign aligns perfectly with these goals, as it seeks to provide women entrepreneurs with the resources and support they need to overcome the economic challenges they face, helping reduce those vulnerable to poverty. 

Conclusion

The Rebuild HER Business campaign is significant in Ethiopia by supporting women-run businesses. It helps these women rebuild their businesses and communities. This campaign showcases the power of working together, the importance of empowering women and the difference crowdfunding can make in promoting long-term development.

– Marnie Woodford-Venables
Photo: Flickr