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SWAZILAND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND GENDER JUSTICE
SUMMIT AND AWARDS 23-25 APRIL 2012
KOPANONG HOTEL - JOHANNESBURG
365 DAYS OF LOCAL ACTION TO END VIOLENCE ANDEMPOWER WOMEN
Local Economic Development
PROJECTS:W
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HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING THIS
PROBLEM? Save the Children works with Child Protection Committees (CPCs), or Lihlombe
Lekukhalela (LL). This initiative was spearheaded in 2002 by UNICEF as a way toreach out to and protect vulnerable children in all areas of Swaziland.
No monetary or incentives received by the CPCs despite the numerous work of
protection and caring for OVC and child headed households at community level.
In general, women are left behind in a number of issues linked to socioeconomic
and political. They are left in rural communities without good education yet theycarry family responsibilities like; sourcing food for their families, caring for
orphaned and vulnerable children, responsible for the health of family members
and general community initiatives.
Save the Children Swaziland, then took the initiative (WORTH) of helping these
women to develop and improve on Savings and Credit skills.PROJECTS:WORTH-ECONOMIC
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IS THIS ISSUE IMPORTANT?
Empowering women economically is a major priority especially in developing countries.
Development organizations and agencies have tried to address challenges faced by rural
women by providing funding for establishing income generating activities. However, these
initiatives have not been successful because women lack the basic element of being
empowered on adequate knowledge, skills, practices and attitudes, to improve their lives. This
has led them to look at their social basic needs on top of those of income generating activities
(businesses).
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HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT ADDRESSING THISPROBLEM?
There are three thematic areas under the WORTH project;
Micro- enterprise
Community Banking
Entrepreneurship and self-training skills
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WHAT IS THE TIME-FRAME FOR THE PROJECT?
Three Years (2010 2013)
The savings and Credit for the women will continue even after the lifespan of the
partnership from PACT (An American Organization)
So far the project is piloted in 20 communities and afterwards it expected that the
project will sustain itself.
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WHO IS THE KEY TARGET? WHO IS INVOLVED? AREWOMEN AND MEN EQUALLY INVOLVED?
Community based child protector or Lihlombe Lekukhalela/ Caregivers, however,
ever non child protectors are allowed to join the WORTH group.
The community is involved, however most active participants are women.
Empowering women directly plays a major role in children, as they are traditionally
assumed to be the caregivers in their households and communities.
Men are involved but they are not participating in the savings.
At the moment males are involved in community dialogues aimed at raising
awareness on GBV, HIV and AIDS and child abuse. They have shown the need
for getting involved in the WORTH project through this dialogues.
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PARTNERSHIPS FORMED THROUGH THE PROJECT
Partnerships developed are; PACT for capacity building, Techno Serve mentorship
and entrepreneurship skills (ToT for the empowerment workers and Support Staff) and
Tintsaba Crafts for crafts work skill and marketing.
Support and relationships are also formed, for sustainability of the project with
existing government structures through quarterly stakeholder meetings. Thus far there
is; Swaziland Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (SWADE), Social
Welfare, Education, World Vision, Community leaders, Women in Development,
Regional Development Administration, Gone Rural and Timbali Crafts.
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RESOURCEFULNESS: WHAT FINANCIAL, HUMANAND OTHER RESOURCES WERE MOBILISED?
Financial assistance was mobilised through partnership with PACT, who usually
solicit funding from other US based donors. Thirteen community based volunteers (also known as empowerment workers) were
hired to focus mainly WORTH.
PACT conducts capacity building workshops and trainings to the staff members and
field support officers, who in turn train the volunteers, who then go to the field to train
all women in WORTH groups. These volunteers are selected within the parameters oftheir communities for sustainability of the project.
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CREATIVITY: ARE YOU USING ARTS, CULTURE,MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO POPULARISE THE
ISSUES?
Utilization of Save the Children Radio slot on SBIS 1, a platform where allprogrammes, including the WORTH Gender Programme, are marketed.
Newspaper Articles in the local Print media (field visits are normally covered)
Through organized Child protection Community Dialogues (for the wider community)
Through Quarterly stakeholder meetings to popularise the project and child protection
issues.
Involving existing traditional or cultural structures as entry point to involving
community leaders, e.g. Chiefs, community herdsmen, inner council, and community
think tanks (bucopho)PR
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MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Community based volunteers (empowerment workers) visit each and every group each
and every week, and carry designed tools to record the savings, success stories,
address technical issues and train the women on record keeping and basic businessskills.
Also, frequent field visits are conducted by the programme officer, the monitoring and
evaluation officer, as well as other field support staff to check if groups are meeting
and tackle their immediate issues.
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WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?
More than three thousand women, from 20 communities were mobilized and are
involved in small businesses and savings in their communities.
Total savings to-date amount to E640, 185.90 (roughly more than half a million).
Surprisingly, this is their own money, Save the Children gave them skills training only
not money.
This money is used as capital for businesses, and also for expanding existing
businesses
This money is used for meeting daily necessities as well family needs (e.g. Food,
school fees top up & health care
Financial dependence has increased and contributed to GBV in the country. However,
through the WORTH project women have gained financial muscle and are now able to
support and contribute to their families.
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IMPACT (BASED ON THE SADC PROTOCOLTARGETS)
This project is in line with Article 17, which is Economic Development and it statesthat; Parties shall, by 2015, adopt policies and enact laws which ensure equal
access, benefit and opportunities for women and men in trade and entrepreneurship,
taking into account the contribution of women in formal and informal sectors.
regard to the affirmative action provisions in Article 5, introduce measures that
ensure that women benefit equally from economic opportunities, including those
created through public procurement processes.
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SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION
The practice is sustainable through the partnerships formed, and through the buy in of
traditional structures at community level.
The mentorship and business skills gained will leave an impact in the communities
where these women live. Once they start implementing these skills fully, they will also
create jobs within their communities.
The community resources who are community based volunteers will enhance the
project, as they are based at their home areas.
Currently, there has been achievements on groups which have been formed by other
WORTH groups. This actually shows that the practice can be replicated by others.
Lastly, WORTH has been introduced to other organizations through PACT, who has
partnered with SWANEPHA (an HIV focused organization) and SWAGAA (a
Gender focused organization) , and so far the impact is visible in their targeted
communities.
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LESSONS LEARNED It has been evident that, if more Swazi women would be empowered financially, e.g.
join WORTH they could move to bigger businesses, more children would attend
school and be fed and clothed, there would be a decrease in cases of gender based
violence, decline in the spread of HIV/AIDS
Most of all, this project has and will transform the lives of the most destitute to have
access to resources and afford the basic needs.
It has automatically created forums for addressing important issues. For instance, they
have started discussing their problems and other community issues with other women
instead of sitting at home.
The women are also able to share information on business ideas, make plans and
action them in a short space of time. As a result, some of them have already nominated
their own committees for development and other agricultural projects. Therefore if the
men initiatives start on group formations, they will be more forums and healthy homes
as well as peace will gradually develop in the Swazi communities.PROJECTS:WOR
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ANY QUESTIONS?
PROJECTS:WOR
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