Empowerment: A journey not a destination - Capacity.org

‘The way Pathways isstructured [has] providedgreat scope for capacitybuilding (being able tosend people for trainingon statistical analysis; orusing digital technology,etc) which an individualproject could do on avery limited scale.’ 5Sohela Nazneen,Associate Professor,University of DhakaWays of workingTogether, we have developed a‘Pathways way of working’ thatemphasises principles ofdemocracy, transparency andsolidarity. Rather thancommission individuals orinstitutions to carry outparticular pieces of research, wehave sought to build a networkwith multiple, horizontal linksbetween partners. Each of thecore partners acts as a ‘regionalhub’, selecting their own partnersand establishing agendas andactivities appropriate to theirregion. The Pathways team atthe Institute of DevelopmentStudies co-ordinates activitieslinking the hubs, and workswith a team of dedicatedcommunications officers ineach hub to manage aprogramme of communications.Pathways team members work,in turn, with a constellation offeminist scholars, women’sorganisations and policy actorsin the field of gender equalityand women’s empowerment.Our researchPathways began with the issuesthat have been at the heart offeminist research and advocacy:women’s work and access toemployment and an independentincome; women’s sexualitiesand intimate relationships; andwomen’s voice and engagementin political institutions andprocesses. Through a processthat involved dialogues withpolicy actors, researchers andcivil society organisations inscoping workshops and thematicreview activities emerged aseries of collaborative, crosshubworking groups. Thesefocused on the issues that hadsurfaced as priorities from ourdiscussions with those workingfor change on the ground inour different regions, and inglobal policy arenas:• Empowering work• Building constituencies forjustice and equality• Changing narratives ofsexuality• Conceptualisingempowerment.4‘Being a part of Pathways has given us theopportunity to dare, to brave into unconventionalforms of doing research and giving voice to women.’ 2Cecilia Sardenberg, Pathways Latin America HubConvenor‘Pathways gave me the opportunity to be part of alearning process in which I have been able tocomplicate and enrich my understanding of conceptsand terms that are important to both academics andpolicymakers who are concerned with women’srights, gender justice, and feminism. Terms I have inmind are empowerment of women, equality, the verycategory of women, women’s rights, and of coursegender.’ 3 Mulki Al-Sharmani, Assistant Professor,Social Research Center, American University in Cairo