By Antony Kingsley | Chief Executive Officer
Women Empowerment in Guinea Bissau through agro-economics
Project Overview:
The Women Empowerment Project in Guinea Bissau is focused on enhancing social and economic opportunities for women, particularly in rural areas. Through a series of interventions aimed at improving access to resources, skills training, and income-generating activities, the project seeks to foster gender equality and empower women to become active participants in their communities. This report focus on Oio area, where we are currently working in 12 villages.
Project Activities & Achievements:
Rice Grinding Machines Installation:
In collaboration with local communities, the project successfully installed 4 rice grinding machines, which directly benefit 1,200 women across 12 communities in Guinea Bissau. These machines have significantly reduced the time spent on manual rice milling, allowing women to dedicate more time to other productive activities. The machines were strategically placed to ensure equitable access, and training on their use and maintenance was provided to ensure sustainability.
Women-Led Market Gardens:
In support of economic independence, women-led market gardens were established in key locations. These gardens provide women with an opportunity to cultivate crops for sale, increasing their financial autonomy and improving household nutrition. Training on sustainable agricultural practices, including organic fertilizer use and climate-resilient techniques, was provided to ensure the long-term success of these initiatives. The recent harvest resulted in 3975 Kg of vegetables - a new source of income and nutrition.
Skills Training and Capacity Building:
The project offered various training programs for women in mechanics, health, and leadership, aimed at boosting their technical and entrepreneurial skills. These workshops have empowered women with new skills that enhance their ability to contribute economically and socially. Additionally, young women were trained in mechanical repairs, which not only provided a marketable skill but also encouraged their participation in non-traditional sectors.
Community Awareness and Gender Equality Workshops:
Gender equality workshops were conducted in all project areas, focusing on raising awareness about women’s rights, domestic violence, and the importance of women's participation in decision-making processes. These workshops have helped challenge traditional gender norms, and local communities are showing increasing support for women’s involvement in leadership roles.
Health and Sanitation Initiatives:
In partnership with local health organisations, the project promoted women’s health through education on hygiene, sanitation, and maternal health. Well construction and the installation of latrines have also improved access to clean water and sanitation, further contributing to the well-being of women and their families.
Challenges:
While significant progress has been made, challenges remain in ensuring consistent access to resources, particularly in remote areas. Limited infrastructure and transport options have occasionally delayed the delivery of materials and services. Additionally, cultural attitudes toward women’s roles in agriculture and leadership remain a barrier, though awareness campaigns are gradually shifting these perspectives.
Next Steps:
The next phase of the project will focus on scaling up the women-led market gardens, expanding training programs to more women, and strengthening local leadership structures to ensure continued empowerment. We will also continue advocating for policy changes that promote gender equality and women’s economic rights in Guinea Bissau.
Conclusion:
The Women Empowerment Project has made significant strides in promoting gender equality and economic empowerment for women in Guinea Bissau. The support for women’s agricultural initiatives, skills development, and health has had a measurable impact on their social and economic status, laying a strong foundation for continued growth and empowerment.
Links:
By Dr Antony Kingsley | Chief Executive Officer
By Antony Kingsley | Chief Executive Officer
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
