Economics < Side Story

IDEX Asian Partners Work To Put Economic Control in the Hands of Women

Members of a milk cooperative with their newly purchased cows, SATU, Bangladesh

"Just a development program to access resources for the poor is not enough; participation in local governance and being part of the implementing body is very important for empowerment of women and the poor."

Women in the Asia are on the forefront of the battle against poverty, and IDEX's partners in Asia consider women's empowerment a critical element in their development programs.

The challenge for them is to help women redefine relationships, confront issues of access and control over resources, improve economic conditions and increase participation in the political process. A common theme among the partners is to place economic control in the hands of women as a tool towards empowerment.

Bangladesh

IDEX partners Social Action Through Unity (SATU) and Center for Development Services use microcredit programs as the vehicle to organize women at the grassroots level while providing access to services. Income-generating activities like small trades, cow and poultry rearing and vegetable cultivation provide women regular income, ensure access to nutritional food and empower them to actively participate in the decision-making process of the family.

According to SATU, "Just a development program to access resources for the poor is not enough; participation in local governance and being part of the implementing body is very important for empowerment of women and the poor."

India

Empowerment of women is a key element in the strategy of IDEX partners Gram Vikas Vigyan Samiti (GRAVIS) in Rajasthan and Manavi in Bihar. GRAVIS has been instrumental in ensuring participation of women in institutions of local governance. Recognizing that economic control plays an important role, they have formed a dairy cooperative solely comprised of women.

Manavi works with women under difficult circumstances in areas dominated by patriarchal and feudal practices. Manavi strives to create an environment for equal participation of women and men in domestic and community activities, ensures food security and promotes sustainable agricultural practices.

Philippines

The Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas uses training on gender and development to build the capacity of NGOs and people organizations to address empowerment-related issues. Livelihood projects like fishing and farming focus on sustainable development propelled by equity-led growth with deep respect to ecology, gender, ethnicity and age.

For more information, contact Heather Mansfield at heather@idex.org.