Empowering women

Equal rights to participation

Women’s unequal participation in economic and social development has a negative effect on families, communities and global development.

We believe that all people must have the same rights, responsibilities, possibilities for self-development and freedom to choose without any gender constraints. All people also have the right to develop their personal skills and make decisions without constraints imposed by gender roles.

In an equal community the different behaviours, desires and needs of women and men are assessed, appreciated and favoured on an equal basis.

Our aim is for women to be able to secure a sufficient livelihood through their own work. We focus on improving the food security of the poor­est families. We help family farmers and small en­trepreneurs increase the productivity of their work. We also help strengthen women’s cooperatives, which func­tion as significant motors for people’s social and economic development.

This is how we work:

• Promoting climate sustainability in agriculture in Northern Nicaragua and Somaliland.
• Developing basic craftsmanship skills among Nicaraguan poor with a special focus on gender equality and small entrepeneurship.
• Refining value chains and advancing cooperatives in Somaliland and Nicaragua.
• Promoting product development and marketing skills among Nicaraguan artisans.
• Supporting new livelihoods and agricultural methods among Somaliland farmers.
• Cross-cutting livelihood themes with gender-based violence themes, such as female genital mutilation.