EMPOWERMENT

e gradual and it is good to leverage influential people in
favor of the project. It is sometimes more effective when
men from the community who support the cause engage
other men from the community. And this can be done both in
groups or through individual meetings.
You should be able to leverage these different stakeholders
and institutions to carry your messages and ideas to their
followers. The scope and influence of these groups usually
helps in increasing the reach and impact of your project.
One successful way to engage powerful and influential
heads of groups is to ensure that every major event and
milestone of the project is celebrated with all of them.
IN A NUTSHELL
Engage men and women simultaneously. Women
empowerment is not about men versus women. Men
are your key allies in the journey toward women
empowerment.
Be aware of men’s fears regarding women empowerment
and craft your communication accordingly. To engage
them, ask women to talk to them or do it directly,
highlighting the economic win-win.
Start the discussion with men by talking about their
ambition for the community or generally accepted neutral
topics. It’s a good entry point to open discussions on
other topics.
Work with your local partner to identify and map the key
stakeholders of the community
Be sure to work top down with community leaders : go to
them with humbleness, explain the project, listen to them
and respect them.
Co-opt groups as allies and organize regular meetings
with them to enable an open flow of communication.
Leverage them to gradually engage their followers and
the non-supporter groups.
Maintain a continuous conversation with the key
stakeholders and celebrate every major event and
milestone of the project with them
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