Monthly Corner

Evaluation of UN Women’s Work on the Care Economy in East and Southern Africa 

A regional study of gender equality observatories in West and Central Africa, carried out by Claudy Vouhé for UN Women

Sources: UN Women

This regional study offers an inventory and analysis of the legal framework of gender observatories, their attributions, functions and missions. It is based on exchanges with 21 countries, in particular the eleven countries that have created observatories. It compares the internal organisation and budgets of the observatories between countries, looks at operational practices, in particular the degree of involvement in the collection and use of data, and identifies obstacles and good practices in terms of influencing pro-gender equality public policies. Finally, the study draws up a list of strategic recommendations intended for observatories, supervisory bodies and technical and financial partners.

MSSRF Publication - November 2025 - Shared by Rajalakshmi

Ritu Dewan - EPW editorial  comment on Labour Codes

Eniola Adeyemi Articles on Medium Journal, 2025

An analysis of the “soft life” conversation as it emerges on social media, unpacking how aspirations for ease and rest intersect with broader socio-economic structures, gendered labour expectations, and notions of dignity and justice

Tara Prasad Gnyawali Article - 2025

This article focused on the story of community living in a wildlife corridor that links India and Nepal, namely the Khata Corridor, which bridges Bardiya National Park of Nepal and Katarnia Wildlife Sanctuary of Uttar Pradesh, India.
This article revealed how the wildlife mobility in the corridor affects community livelihoods, mobility, and social inclusion, with a sense of differential impacts on farming and marginalised communities.

Lesedi Senamele Matlala - Recent Article in Evaluation Journal, 2025

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Women's economic empowerment good practice

Dear all,

I am looking for examples of recent good/bad practice for women's economic empowerment. If anyone has any practical examples of what works and what works less well - especially through the fora of vocational and skills training, I'd love to hear from you.

It is to support project design of women's centres for vocational training and skills development for vulnerable women in conflict affected rural areas of the Caucuses.

Many thanks in advance, Rachel

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Getaneh Gobezie on March 25, 2021 at 16:06

Dear Rachel

Thank you for this ...  The UN-FAO just share a new book with 15 ''good practices'' on gender and economic empowerment of women (see link below).... On the top of these 15 good practices is the Gender Action Learning System (GALS)

With Oxfam-Novib and IFAD we have been implementing 'GALS, originally in Uganda and other African countries ... I have delivered various trainings on GALS in Africa (Rwanda, Zambia), and did an evaluation for Oxfam Novib in Uganda,  .... Using ''ruralfinance'' (esp. groups) as an entry point, the proposed approach is not only to facilitate discussion between men-women on gender (e.g why do you like, or dislike of being a particular sex, and why, etc possibly leading to a consensus on better practices at household level), but also to include ''indicators'' in selecting proposals for micro-loans, prioirity being attached for tjhose with ''improved practices'' at household-community level .... 
I did a summary of the GALS approach for a UN-Women ''expert group meeting'' in Ghana (link below, paper also attached)
As I indicated above, the GALS tool is now selected as one of the 15 ''good practices'' by UN-FAO in their recent book:
 
GENDER TRANSFORMATIVE APPROACHES FOR FOOD SECURITY, IMPROVED NUTRITION AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
I hope this would be helpful ... and I am happy to get your feed backs...
Getaneh (getanehg2002@yahoo.com)
Permalink Reply by Rachel Wareham on March 25, 2021 at 17:48

Dear Getaneh,

This looks super useful. Many thanks indeed. I will contact you by email as well.

Warm regards, Rachel

Permalink Reply by Sevinc Rende on March 25, 2021 at 16:26

Dear Rachel,

You may want to check SADA Women's Cooperative in Gaziantep, Turkey. Here is their web site > https://sadacoop.com/

This is a women's coop that extends beyond the promise of economic empowerment - it also operates as a center of social work through which women can access information on public goods and services.

all the best,

Sevinc

Permalink Reply by Rachel Wareham on March 25, 2021 at 17:44

Dear Sevinc

Thank you so much this is very useful to see this model.

Rachel

Permalink Reply by Rituu B Nanda on March 25, 2021 at 22:16

Hi Rachel,

This comes from my experience of implementation and evaluation. Thanks for making me reflect.

What does not work- lone focus on economic empowerment

What works- start from helping the women realise their own strengths, others realising the strengths of women, a common dream of the community. When this environment is created economic empowerment will flourish. So in a nutshell use a ecological lens, strength-based approach and start from social to economic empowerment. eg domestic workers in India they did not value themselves, they said that their families did not value the work they do, so could we expect them to negotiate salaries with their employers. See a blog I wrote https://aidscompetence.ning.com/profiles/blogs/community-life-compe...

Am happy to have a call if the above strikes a chord. All the best!

Permalink Reply by Rachel Wareham on March 28, 2021 at 1:39

Dear Rituu

Many thanks for your reflections and also for the link below from the UNW Webinar. 

Maybe we can schedule a call next week - if we can do it towards the end of the week then we will have our initial field research information in which can contribute to our conversation.

Warm regards, Rachel

Permalink Reply by Rituu B Nanda on March 26, 2021 at 18:23

UN Women Webinar on 25 Feb 2021 “Evaluation Lessons on Women Economic Empowerment (WEE)” to discuss lessons from our 2nd series of UN Women ESA Evaluation Knowledge Products produced in 2020.

We are pleased to share the recording from our recent webinar “Evaluation Lessons on Women Economic Empowerment (WEE)”. A Big Thank You to the panelists and the 30+ participants! The webinar recording is available here.

Best regards,

Caspar

 

Caspar Merkle

Regional Evaluation Specialist

UN Women Regional Office for Eastern and

Southern Africa

Permalink Reply by Rachel Wareham on March 28, 2021 at 1:39

Thank you Caspar this is very useful.

Warm regards, Rachel

Permalink Reply by Prakash Kumar on March 28, 2021 at 0:19

Dear Rachel,

 

I have been working on poverty alleviation program since last ten years especially women based community institutions such as SHGs and it federation. We have several livelihood interventions.

 

I would love to provide help if you clarify some sub sectors as well.  

 http://www.brlps.in/

With Regards!  

Prakash Kumar,

Senior Manager- Institutional Capacity building,

Bihar State rural livelihood Promotion Society, Jeevika

East Champaran, Bihar , India  

 

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