Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the Empowerment of Women in Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 95-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine Dibie ◽  
Robert Dibie
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Political Development ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Diversity Management ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Regional Government ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract This paper examines the predicament of prejudice that women face in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It explores the social and economic factors that militate against the integration of women into senior administrative and political leadership positions in the continent. It contends that if women are under represented in Africa because of open or indirect mechanism of exclusion and discrimination, then educating women and girls is not enough. Equity for women and girls will only change if the public and private sectors’ institutions are galvanized to change simultaneously. Further it stresses that the public, private sectors and NGOs in Africa need to introduce diversity management programs as a policy at the national and regional government levels in order to engage talented women in its process of seeking sustainable development. The paper also argues that in offering women the opportunity to access economic resources as well as to disentangle their identities from those of their families they will contribute immensely in the sustainable development process of Africa. It contends that no development process will be totally beneficial to a nation if it does not involve women. The concluding section recommended some policies that would effectively reduce discrimination against women in the public service as well as stimulate and integrate talented women interests in the social, economic, leadership, and political development of Africa.

Part V Regional Approaches, Ch.34 Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shyllon Folarin
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Cultural Property ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Colonial Power ◽  
Intangible Heritage ◽  
Heritage Protection ◽  
Sub Saharan

This chapter describes cultural heritage law and management in Africa. Whether in the field of tangible and intangible heritage or the domain of movable and immovable cultural heritage, sub-Saharan Africa legislation and administration of cultural property have been blighted by the colonial past. Independence has not always been used as opportunity for a breaking off or breaking forth with the cultural heritage protection system installed by the former colonial power. It appears that the formulation and elaboration of cultural heritage laws are often designed on European concepts of the protection of cultural property. The laws are, therefore, not often adapted to the present African realities. This is a legacy of the colonial past. The chapter then considers the AFRICA 2009 programme, which has helped in many ways to enhance in manifold ways the conservation of immovable cultural heritage in sub-Saharan Africa through a sustainable development process.

scholarly journals THE IMPORTANCE OF PEACE AND STABILITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

2017 ◽  
pp. 173-190
Author(s):  
Filip Kaczmarek
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
The Social ◽  
Military Conflicts ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Stable Development

This analysis of the situation of Sub-Saharan Africa states shows that it is impossible to achieve permanent, sustainable development in the conditions of war or other military conflicts. External aid for such countries is first and foremost humanitarian aid. Although such aid is necessary and helps save human lives, it does not eliminate the reasons for conflicts and is unable to ensure stable development. In the states with the worst situation, humanitarian aid does not have a significant influence on reducing migration trends. Before permanent development occurs, conflicts have to be efficiently resolved and their reasons eliminated or radically limited. The social and economic development of SSA states, which are currently suffering from armed conflicts and instability, is therefore primarily dependent on political rather than economic solutions.

scholarly journals What If Your Husband Doesn’t Feel the Pressure? An Exploration of Women’s Involvement in WaSH Decision Making in Nyanchwa, Kenya

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thelma Zulfawu Abu ◽  
Elijah Bisung ◽  
Susan J. Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
Implementation Processes ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
Sub Saharan

Access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) is a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Women and girls suffer the main burden of a lack of access to WaSH because they are primarily responsible for collecting water for their homes. However, they are often excluded from WaSH decision-making and implementation processes. This research sought to explore women’s experiences in participating in WaSH decision-making through a case study in Nyanchwa, Kenya. Twelve (12) key informant interviews were conducted with community leaders and members regarding challenges and possible measures for enhancing women and girls’ participation in WaSH decision-making. From this research, it is evident that economic challenges and cultural factors such as male dominance, greatly inhibit women and girls’ participation in WaSH decision-making and implementation processes. Other factors such as time constraints and low literacy rates also emerged. The paper concludes with a call for collaboration among women’s groups to enhance collective action for improved access to WaSH. This will undoubtedly lead to enhanced community health and wellbeing (Sustainable Development Goal 3, SDG3) through the empowerment of women (Sustainable Development Goal 5, SDG5).

Achieving Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from the Experience of Selected Countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 256-281
Author(s):  
Theresa Moyo ◽  
Rogers Dhliwayo
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Gender Disparities ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Ssa Countries

Despite the progress that has been made towards achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), evidence shows that gender disparities remain persistent in most countries. The aim of the article is to identify lessons from the experiences of those countries which have made considerable progress in bridging the gender gap. More specifically, the article seeks to identify strategies that will enable SSA countries to achieve the gender equality goal in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

CHAM MUSLIMS IN HO CHI MINH CITY TODAY

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Phu Van Han
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Ho Chi Minh City ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Muslim Community ◽  
The Social ◽  
Insight Into

After more than 30 years of national reform, Ho Chi Minh City has made great changes in economy, living standards and society for all population groups, including the Cham Muslim community. The study clarifies the social characteristics, community development trends in the current sustainable development process of the Cham Muslims. At the same time, explore the adaptability of the community, clarify the aspects of social life and the development of Cham Muslims in Ho Chi Minh City. Thereby, providing insight into a unique cultural lifestyle, harmony between religion and ethnic customs, in a multicultural, colorful city in Ho Chi Minh City today.

scholarly journals Circular Bioeconomy Research for Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Innovations, Gaps, and Actions

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiferaw Feleke ◽  
Steven Michael Cole ◽  
Haruna Sekabira ◽  
Rousseau Djouaka ◽  
Victor Manyong
Keyword(s):  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
International Institute ◽  
The Public ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Sub Saharan

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has applied the concept of ‘circular bioeconomy’ to design solutions to address the degradation of natural resources, nutrient-depleted farming systems, hunger, and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Over the past decade, IITA has implemented ten circular bioeconomy focused research for development (R4D) interventions in several countries in the region. This article aims to assess the contributions of IITA’s circular bioeconomy focused innovations towards economic, social, and environmental outcomes using the outcome tracking approach, and identify areas for strengthening existing circular bioeconomy R4D interventions using the gap analysis method. Data used for the study came from secondary sources available in the public domain. Results indicate that IITA’s circular bioeconomy interventions led to ten technological innovations (bio-products) that translated into five economic, social, and environmental outcomes, including crop productivity, food security, resource use efficiency, job creation, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Our gap analysis identified eight gaps leading to a portfolio of five actions needed to enhance the role of circular bioeconomy in SSA. The results showcase the utility of integrating a circular bioeconomy approach in R4D work, especially how using such an approach can lead to significant economic, social, and environmental outcomes. The evidence presented can help inform the development of a framework to guide circular bioeconomy R4D at IITA and other research institutes working in SSA. Generating a body of evidence on what works, including the institutional factors that create enabling environments for circular bioeconomy approaches to thrive, is necessary for governments and donors to support circular bioeconomy research that will help solve some of the most pressing challenges in SSA as populations grow and generate more waste, thus exacerbating a changing climate using the linear economy model.

Slaves and society in Western Africa, c. 1445—c. 1700

1980 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Fage
Keyword(s):  
Social Mobility ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Western Africa ◽  
The Social ◽  
African Slaves ◽  
Limited Supply ◽  
Sub Saharan

Published European first-hand accounts of the coastlands from Senegal to Angola for the period c. 1445-c. 1700 are examined to see what light they throw on the extent to which institutions of servitude in pre-colonial sub-Saharan Africa were autonomous developments or a response to external demands for African slaves. It seems clear that when, in the early years of this period, European traders first approached societies along the western African coasts, they were commonly offered what they called ‘slaves’ in exchange for the goods they had brought. But it would be wrong to conclude from this that a slave class was necessarily a feature of western African coastal societies when these were first contacted by Europeans. It is clear, for instance, that the Europeans preferred to deal with societies which had developed monarchical governments, whose leaders had control of sufficient surpluses to make trade worthwhile. The evidence suggests that in these societies most individuals were dependants of a ruling and entrepreneurial elite, but that there was also social mobility. A category of dependants that particularly attracted the notice of the European observers was women, whom men of power and wealth tended to accumulate as wives (and hence as the potential mothers of still more dependants). The necessarily limited supply of women may have been a factor encouraging such men to seek to increase their followings, and thus their status, power and wealth, by recruiting other dependants by forcible, judicial and economic means. While many such dependants, or their offspring, would be assimilated into the social groups commanded by their masters, the latter were certainly willing to contemplate using recently acquired or refractory recruits in other ways, such as exchanging them for alternative forms of wealth.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document