100th International Women's Day: 'Africa needs gender responsive development', says NEPAD's Justina Dugbazah

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UN Photo

By * Justina Dugbazah

8/3/2011, Midrand - As the world marks International Women’s day on March 8, it is important to review the situation of women in Africa. Despite the fact that most African governments have adopted international and regional instruments and resolutions that promote women’s rights, African women still face institutional, legal, political, environmental as well as socio-economic constraints, which impact their capacity and ability to undertake sustainable livelihoods.

As a result, these constraints have served to exclude women from recognized development benefits and opportunities, a phenomenon more pronounced among rural women who are the backbone of the economy, constituting 80 percent of farm labour and producing 50 percent of food in Africa. Consequently, women in Africa are among the most disadvantaged population groups. Studies show that they tend to have relatively lower positions with regard to occupation, income, education, age, social class, culture or ethnicity. Additionally, their position within their households and community is considered lower than that of their male counterparts.

The constraints African women face hinder them from accessing financial and natural resources such as capital and land. The lack of access to resources translates into lack of better economic opportunities for women. These drawbacks, in turn, perpetuate income and real poverty—poor women are not only those with the lowest incomes but also those who are most deprived of health, education and other aspects of human well-being

Another negative consequence of the constraints is manifested in women’s low participation in national and regional policy-making. Their invisibility in national statistics and their low participation in development planning means that issues of concern to women are neglected in the design and implementation of many development policies and programs.

However, although women are confronted with many constraints, they are able to negotiate their position within their households and enhance their daily lives, albeit in a limited way.

The ability of women to improve their lived realities is an indication that they are not passive recipients of development. Closing the gender gap and enhancing women’s participation in development is therefore, essential not only for building a just society, but also as a pre-requisite for sustainable development. In light of the potential and dynamism of women in enhancing their living conditions and national economies, concerted efforts are required to enable them access resources for sustainable livelihoods.

Governments in Africa need to scale up the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment through the enactment of relevant policies, legislation and effective strategies. The past few decades in Africa have been characterized by the adoption of international and regional laws aimed at improving the status of women. However, the lack of accountability to honour commitments to gender equality, equity and empowerment of women and girls, coupled with the prevalence of patriarchal systems, continue to prevent the translation of these policies and programs into concrete actions that will positively impact the lives of African women.

As well, there is need for all relevant stakeholders to focus more and take concrete steps towards promoting gender equality in development since men and women experience participation in development and poverty differently and are affected differently. The World Bank has identified four dimensions of poverty that can be used as a framework for the analysis, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of gender-responsive poverty alleviation programs. These are opportunity, capacity, security, and empowerment dimensions.

Lastly, governments, policy-makers and development practitioners must take concrete action to address poverty from a gender perspective based on integrating gender concerns in all programming, and addressing specific issues that contribute to poverty-related gender disparities. Projects to improve the status of women must consider the different roles, needs, and perceptions of women and men. They must take into account the gender-based constraints that women face, particularly the factors that limit their participation in development.

Failure to consider such differences can result in project delays, implementation bottlenecks, and generally unsuccessful project performance. Direct involvement of women through active participation in project planning, design, implementation, and evaluation empowers women and gives them a stronger sense of ownership and a more pronounced stake in project success. 

*Dr. Justina Dugbazah is a Project Manager, NEPAD Spanish Fund, Gender Programme, NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency in South Africa.