GENDER EQUALITY

Our development efforts will be worthwhile only if we step up the fight for equality between women and men.

Alexander De Croo, Minister of Development Cooperation

WHAT WE DO

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Gender equality is as it were a red thread woven throughout all of our interventions. We also have specific gender projects, in particular education projects for girls and projects against violence against women.

Education and decision-making

The right to education is a prerequisite for creating economic, social and political opportunities. In our technical and vocational training programmes issues regarding access to education and continued school attendance of girls are systematically taken into account; and so is the creation of a safe and healthy environment that is conducive to learning and empowerment.

In addition, we address both women and men with our capacity development activities.

Finally, incorporating gender issues and fostering the participation of women in the decision-making process when elaborating our partners' policies, plans, programmes and budgets is a focus of attention.

Health and sexual and reproductive rights

Promoting and protecting sexual and reproductive rights – including HIV response – are key to women's empowerment and the well-being of households. We address these rights throughout our health, agriculture, education and other programmes and we involve men and local authorities in the process. Addressing the subject of family planning remains a challenge at the heart of the dialogue with our partners. Finally, we contribute to the fight against sexual violence with awareness-raising activities and the improvement of care given to victims.

Food security and food sovereignty

The bulk of people living in poverty live in a rural environment. For women it is increasingly hard to obtain land (land and inheritance rights) or to access to markets and formation, even though they are key players in the production, processing and commercialisation of food. By ensuring equal access to land, inputs, technical training and business opportunities, we support their income-generating potential. Our agricultural programmes in particular work with women's cooperatives help them to get more organised and to involve women in the management of the value chains (from production to sales).

Stories

Most girls in Niger leave school before they have finished their studies. The Sarraounia project tries to reverse this trend by boosting the girls' self-confidence.