ACFODE rolls out new project: Building and Amplifying women’s voices in Economic and Political Development.

With funding from the Netherlands government,ACFODE in partnership with DIAKONIA has rolled out a new project titled: Building and amplifying women's voices in economic and political development. This project is under a bigger grant programme by the Netherlands government in particular the Ministry of foreign affairs of Funding Leadership and Opportunities for Women (FLOW). The overall aim of the programme is to improve the position of women and girls especially their participation and benefitfrom the economic and political spheres.The programmes overarching policy aim is to contribute to structural poverty reduction by improving gender equality and empowerment of women.

Partners during the Inception Meeting in Nairobi

The project whose duration is three years will be implemented in the districts of Namutumba, Dokollo and Pader.While there is wide acknowledgement of the increased numbers of women in political and public spaces, the numbers do not match the demographic gender representation in which women constitute 51% of Uganda's population. Economically, the increased focus on macro-economic stability has not translated in women gaining so much as anticipated. They still face a range of impediments to their progress and growth in this sphere and still remain poorer than men in every aspect.

The focal areas of the project are: - Promotion of economic self-reliance of households in particular women through giving them knowledge and skills in food security and rights to food advocacy and the participation and representation of women in politics and public administration.

This project therefore seeks to improve household food security especially of the female headed households as well as enhance women's participation in politics and public institutions at local and national levels. Through advocacy and sensitization on the right to food issues together with trainings on skills and knowledge on nutrition, among other key areas to be tackled, we hope food secure households will be created and the myths associated with malnutrition in some of the operational districts will be demystified.

Similarly through dialogue meetings with women leaders & those in public administrative positions; training of women leaders and those aspiring to be in leadership and management and subsequently advocacy of issues arising, we are optimistic that more gender responsive polices and legislation will be passed, the number of women involved in politics at the local government levels will increase, and also the number of women holding public administrative positions at local government and national levels will continue to rise.

All these aspirations resonate with ACFODE'S core purpose of advocacy for gender equality and equity but also DIAKONIA's mission of working towards changing structures that cause poverty,oppression and violence.

 

Yossa Daisy Immaculate

Project Officer:

Building and amplifying women's voices in economic and political development

Action For Development

Email: yossa@acfode.org