Report urges leaders to increase investment in women to end GBV in Africa

A study conducted by TechnoServe Nigeria and the Ford Foundation calls on African leaders to focus on women’s economic empowerment to end gender-based violence (GBV) on the continent.

Based on research conducted in Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal, the report finds that most women have confidence in applying laws and government policies to obtain justice against gender-based violence on the continent. He also says he doesn’t have one.

A study presented in Abuja over the weekend by TechnoServe Nigeria Country Director Adesua Akingboro shows that giving women the means to generate and earn an income economically can significantly improve their status. They say it reduces their exposure to gender-based violence.

Mr. Akinboro disclosed that the aim of the study was to speak to women, stakeholders, local communities, faith and cultural institutions in the three countries where the study was conducted, adding that over 1,000 women were interviewed during the study. He said he interviewed.

According to the director, this operation gave TechnoServ an opportunity to understand their perspectives, thoughts and what is happening in society.

She said TechnoServe as an organization believes in seeking business solutions to poverty.

She said: “The findings of this report were very interesting because we found that when women are empowered in these communities, their incomes increase.” and be able to better support their spouse.

“So, we know that there are a lot of very hard-working men and women around the world, and it is no different in Nigeria. There are a lot of hard-working men and women across the country. And we We strongly believe in empowering these men and women to increase their income, strengthen their business, and grow their business.

“And so that they can generate income to get out of poverty. And we have a very strong gender desk. So in all our programs, we make sure that we empower We are ensuring that at least 40 per cent of the people we serve are women,” she said.

Adesua said TechnoServe wanted to see if there was a link between women’s economic empowerment and gender-based violence, which informed the Ford Foundation-funded study. I explained that it was.

“In other words, does empowering women increase the risk of women being violated, or does it decrease the risk? Of course, in the field of development, especially international development, the principle of ‘do no harm’ there is. Therefore, the process of implementing programming should not increase the risk of people falling into negative situations and negative coping mechanisms.

“So if our work is to empower women, we want to empower them and at the same time not expose them to the risks that come with having money,” she says. said.

Olufunke Baluwa, president of the Ford Foundation, said: “Our respondents, Nigerian women and men, generally believe that women need to have their own money, be financially viable and empowered, and be able to take care of their own needs. Needs that can be met and are not necessarily dependent on her man.

“What’s happening, and what’s changing a little bit, is that men are becoming very uncomfortable because of the shift in power and power relationships that they’re feeling.”

She further added that the main focus of this study is to look at social norms, religious and cultural discourses that implicitly encourage gender-based violence, as well as other factors that lead to gender-based violence. He said that.

“What we were supporting at TechnoServe was to look at the interaction between gender-based violence and women’s economic empowerment. You know, women’s independence, women’s economic empowerment. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that it can cause some friction in the household between married and unmarried people.

Dr. Daniel Abar, leader of the research team, spoke immediately after the public release of the report and said that empowering women economically, helping them generate income and escape poverty, is a way to improve their gender exposure. He said research has shown that it can also reduce violence.

“Yes, we find that the link between women’s economic empowerment and gender-based violence (GBV) is complex and contextual in nature.”

Source: guardian.ng