An examination of the contribution of NGO gender programme to women empowerment

Abstract

The study was carried out in Gogonyo sub – county in Agule county, Pallisa district. The study was carried out in three parishes of Gogonyo sub - county. The main objective of the study was to examine the contribution of the NGO gender programme to women empowerment (taking a case study of Action Aid). The research adopted a case study design. A study of Action Aid allowed for an in-depth examination of the contribution of the Action Aid gender programme to women empowerment. The research adopted both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative methods were used to verify information, where as the qualitative methods were used to describe attributes of women empowerment among. A total sample of 55 respondents was selected for the study constituting of the women beneficiaries, local politicians and civil leaders and project staff. The researcher used three methods of data collection for both primary and secondary data; questionnaire and interviewing for primary data and document review for secondary data. The findings are presented under the following themes: Strategies used by Action Aid to mobilize communities to participate in empowerment activities. The contribution of Action Aid to strengthening women empowerment structures. Challenges faced by Action Aid in empowering women. The major finding of this study is, despite the existence of Action Aid and her activities aimed at empowering women, women empowerment is still long to come. This lack of empowerment is manifested by women’s inability to take decisions on their own, women’s lack of participation in community activities and generally, women’s lack of independent access and control of resources for production such as land, independent capital among others. The key conclusion of this study is that, Action Aid’s work at the grassroots level has not differentiated between practical and strategic women needs. The empowerment concept of Action Aid is limited to only practical needs (provision of boreholes, income generating activities, adult education, prevention of domestic violence) instead of challenging the subordinate position of women (address the strategic needs – changing attitudes, access to power and decision making, access to and control over resources for production). Based on the above conclusion, the recommendation of this study is; Action Aid’s empowerment efforts should take into consideration the whole realm of empowerment (the time and efforts women invest in household activities and the benefits of such efforts for the women and the community at large) rather than merely incomes, domestic violence and literacy of women.