Why gender matters - Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining ...

Case study 4
Women’s empowerment project
as part of the Community
Development Plan
The aim of the women’s
empowerment project is to create
awareness within the community
about women’s status, their role
in community building, their
contribution to the household
and also to elevate women’s
awareness and voice in the
development process.
While the women’s empowerment
project specifically targets women,
the community development plan
includes other initiatives that
incorporate gender considerations
and participatory methodologies.
The Communities team consulted
with local male leaders and
government authorities to discuss
the prospect of initiating a
women’s empowerment project
as part of the overall community
development plan, and to gain their
trust. Communities practitioners
also met with women in the local
area to discuss the proposal. While
they were supportive, women
expressed apprehension about
men’s resistance to the idea, and
the social implications that would
come from empowerment. Based
on these consultations, the project
team plans to work on small scale
initiatives with the community
closest to the operations as a “trial”.
Initiatives in 2008 included the
formalising of a long term, strategic
partnership with UNICEF to
facilitate the provision of education
(literacy, health, hygiene and
rights), accessible drinking water
and forums for interaction and
public participation.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that
the work has had positive impacts,
but there has not as yet been a
formal evaluation. The project
team plans to extend the project
by scaling up to work in other
communities and involve other
parties, such as “women’s issues”
advocacy groups and other non
government organisations. 4
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