EADD II - East Africa Dairy Development Phase II

Empowering Women

Kenya: We have recruited volunteer trainers who not only educate farmers, but also establish gender working groups with men, women and youth. These groups are designed to encourage open discussion on farm-related issues and increase women’s participation in the project and in their communities.

We have engaged three financial institutions (Women Enterprise Fund, Equity Bank and Uwezo Fund) to facilitate trainings for women on financial and business management, and help farmers access credit for productive assets.

Through the Uwezo Fund and the Women Enterprise Fund, 698 farmers (502 women) from 44 groups were trained on bookkeeping, loan/credit management, identification and implementation of businesses, and group leadership, responsibilities and dynamics. The Uwezo Fund provided 25 women-led groups with loans each valued at about $1,100, and the Women Enterprise Fund gave 11 groups loans valued between about $1,100 - $5,500.

Uganda: Our staff completed a four day training on gender equity that focused on applying that knowledge to empower women to become active participants in the country’s developing dairy sector. Staff also established proactive strategies to integrate gender equity into their various roles and responsibilities in the EADD project.

Additionally, we have developed and disseminated a country-wide plan to guide our efforts in empowering women. This plan has led to the formation of PO/Hub gender committees that consist of volunteer farmers and representatives of the PO/Hub boards (5 members per PO/ Hub). The committees will reach out to women at the household and PO/Hub levels to increase accountability and ownership.

Tanzania: Our staff completed gender equity training and conducted an assessment to reveal gender specific needs among our own team. They found that they needed a better understanding of how to highlight key concepts and incorporate those topics into project activities. 

A team of seven staff from across the project area have formed a gender committee. The committee has been instrumental in developing plans and activities to empower local women. We will provide continued support throughout 2015 to ensure staff are equipped to effectively incorporate gender equity in their roles and responsibilities.