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PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme

365 DAYS OF LOCAL ACTION TO END VIOLENCE AND

SWAZILAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND GENDER JUSTICE SUMMIT AND AWARDS 23-25 APRIL 2012 KOPANONG HOTEL - JOHANNESBURG

EMPOWER WOMEN

Local Economic Development

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING THIS PROBLEM?


PROJECTS: WORTH-ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme
Save the Children works with Child Protection Committees (CPCs), or Lihlombe Lekukhalela (LL). This initiative was spearheaded in 2002 by UNICEF as a way to reach out to and protect vulnerable children in all areas of Swaziland. No monetary or incentives received by the CPCs despite the numerous work of protection and caring for OVC and child headed households at community level. In general, women are left behind in a number of issues linked to socioeconomic and political. They are left in rural communities without good education yet they carry family responsibilities like; sourcing food for their families, caring for orphaned and vulnerable children, responsible for the health of family members and general community initiatives. Save the Children Swaziland, then took the initiative (WORTH) of helping these women to develop and improve on Savings and Credit skills.

Local Economic Development

IS THIS ISSUE IMPORTANT?


PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme
Empowering women economically is a major priority especially in developing countries. Development organizations and agencies have tried to address challenges faced by rural women by providing funding for establishing income generating activities. However, these initiatives have not been successful because women lack the basic element of being empowered on adequate knowledge, skills, practices and attitudes, to improve their lives. This has led them to look at their social basic needs on top of those of income generating activities (businesses).

Local Economic Development

HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM?


PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme
There are three thematic areas under the WORTH project;
Micro- enterprise Community Banking Entrepreneurship and self-training skills

Local Economic Development

WHAT IS THE TIME-FRAME FOR THE PROJECT?


PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme

Three Years (2010 2013) The savings and Credit for the women will continue even after the lifespan of the partnership from PACT (An American Organization) So far the project is piloted in 20 communities and afterwards it expected that the project will sustain itself.

Local Economic Development

WHO IS THE KEY TARGET? WHO IS INVOLVED? ARE WOMEN AND MEN EQUALLY INVOLVED?
PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme
Community based child protector or Lihlombe Lekukhalela/ Caregivers, however, ever non child protectors are allowed to join the WORTH group.
The community is involved, however most active participants are women. Empowering women directly plays a major role in children, as they are traditionally assumed to be the caregivers in their households and communities. Men are involved but they are not participating in the savings. At the moment males are involved in community dialogues aimed at raising awareness on GBV, HIV and AIDS and child abuse. They have shown the need for getting involved in the WORTH project through this dialogues.

Local Economic Development

PARTNERSHIPS FORMED THROUGH THE PROJECT

PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC

EMPOWERMENT Programme

Partnerships developed are; PACT for capacity building, Techno Serve mentorship and entrepreneurship skills (ToT for the empowerment workers and Support Staff) and Tintsaba Crafts for crafts work skill and marketing.
Support and relationships are also formed, for sustainability of the project with existing government structures through quarterly stakeholder meetings. Thus far there is; Swaziland Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (SWADE), Social Welfare, Education, World Vision, Community leaders, Women in Development, Regional Development Administration, Gone Rural and Timbali Crafts.

Local Economic Development

RESOURCEFULNESS: WHAT FINANCIAL, HUMAN AND OTHER RESOURCES WERE MOBILISED?


PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme
Financial assistance was mobilised through partnership with PACT, who usually solicit funding from other US based donors. Thirteen community based volunteers (also known as empowerment workers) were hired to focus mainly WORTH.

PACT conducts capacity building workshops and trainings to the staff members and field support officers, who in turn train the volunteers, who then go to the field to train all women in WORTH groups. These volunteers are selected within the parameters of their communities for sustainability of the project.

Local Economic Development

PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme

CREATIVITY: ARE YOU USING ARTS, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO POPULARISE THE ISSUES?
Utilization of Save the Children Radio slot on SBIS 1, a platform where all programmes, including the WORTH Gender Programme, are marketed.
Newspaper Articles in the local Print media (field visits are normally covered)

Through organized Child protection Community Dialogues (for the wider community)
Through Quarterly stakeholder meetings to popularise the project and child protection issues.

Involving existing traditional or cultural structures as entry point to involving community leaders, e.g. Chiefs, community herdsmen, inner council, and community think tanks (bucopho)

Local Economic Development

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme

Community based volunteers (empowerment workers) visit each and every group each and every week, and carry designed tools to record the savings, success stories, address technical issues and train the women on record keeping and basic business skills.
Also, frequent field visits are conducted by the programme officer, the monitoring and evaluation officer, as well as other field support staff to check if groups are meeting and tackle their immediate issues.

Local Economic Development

WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?


PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme
More than three thousand women, from 20 communities were mobilized and are involved in small businesses and savings in their communities. Total savings to-date amount to E640, 185.90 (roughly more than half a million). Surprisingly, this is their own money, Save the Children gave them skills training only not money. This money is used as capital for businesses, and also for expanding existing businesses This money is used for meeting daily necessities as well family needs (e.g. Food, school fees top up & health care Financial dependence has increased and contributed to GBV in the country. However, through the WORTH project women have gained financial muscle and are now able to support and contribute to their families.

Local Economic Development

IMPACT (BASED ON THE SADC PROTOCOL TARGETS)


PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme
This project is in line with Article 17, which is Economic Development and it states that; Parties shall, by 2015, adopt policies and enact laws which ensure equal access, benefit and opportunities for women and men in trade and entrepreneurship, taking into account the contribution of women in formal and informal sectors. regard to the affirmative action provisions in Article 5, introduce measures that ensure that women benefit equally from economic opportunities, including those created through public procurement processes.

Local Economic Development

SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION


PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme
The practice is sustainable through the partnerships formed, and through the buy in of traditional structures at community level. The mentorship and business skills gained will leave an impact in the communities where these women live. Once they start implementing these skills fully, they will also create jobs within their communities. The community resources who are community based volunteers will enhance the project, as they are based at their home areas. Currently, there has been achievements on groups which have been formed by other WORTH groups. This actually shows that the practice can be replicated by others. Lastly, WORTH has been introduced to other organizations through PACT, who has partnered with SWANEPHA (an HIV focused organization) and SWAGAA (a Gender focused organization) , and so far the impact is visible in their targeted communities.

Local Economic Development

LESSONS LEARNED

PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme

It has been evident that, if more Swazi women would be empowered financially, e.g. join WORTH they could move to bigger businesses, more children would attend school and be fed and clothed, there would be a decrease in cases of gender based violence, decline in the spread of HIV/AIDS Most of all, this project has and will transform the lives of the most destitute to have access to resources and afford the basic needs. It has automatically created forums for addressing important issues. For instance, they have started discussing their problems and other community issues with other women instead of sitting at home. The women are also able to share information on business ideas, make plans and action them in a short space of time. As a result, some of them have already nominated their own committees for development and other agricultural projects. Therefore if the men initiatives start on group formations, they will be more forums and healthy homes as well as peace will gradually develop in the Swazi communities.

Local Economic Development

PROJECTS: WORTH- ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Programme

ANY QUESTIONS?

Local Economic Development

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