Project to support the socio-economic integration of women through the establishment and development of income generating activities in the Administrative Region of Kindia (PAISEFAGRE)

Republic of Guinea

Amount: € 189,022.00

Overview

The Structure d’Appui aux Résaux d’Agricultrices et Agriculteurs (SARA) project in Guinea addressed the poverty women face that is mainly induced by gender and socio-economic burdens. Gender must be considered in strategies for economic and social development. A further problem identified Guinea is that where subsistence agriculture prevails, a substantial income cannot be provided. The project therefore sought to improve the socio-economic integration of women by means of improved access to production, processing and marketing of resources and by facilitating their access to basic social services.

Key results

• SARA project reached 772 women through improved access to production, processing and marketing of resources by facilitating their access to basic social services.
• The project financed 100 ventures in 6 local communities in Lower Guinea. The activities include clusters in the fields of agri-production, processing, agricultural marketing and crafts, and have enjoyed significant success. The benefits and information gained by participants has cascaded into the community, motivating others to become involved. The President of the Waliyetebe Group of Banani Khoure had this to say about the SARA project;

"Before the project implemented by SARA, we were using traditional mortars to pound the rice. From time to time, we would travel more than 5 Kilometers from our village with paddy rice bags on our heads to pound. This was a heavy physical burden for us and time consuming”. Obtaining a hull remover has reduced our family burdens, we spent much more time in our fields, and above all, allow our children to attend school”.

• A network of job-holders was established and become functional in the project area. This has served to energize the beneficiary groups and to encourage them to form – or reform – alliances with other communities of a similar nature, thus expanding the potential pool of employment.