nosphesihle mdziniso, swaziland, local economic development - summit 2012

8/2/2019 Nosphesihle Mdziniso, Swaziland, Local Economic Development - Summit 2012

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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

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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?

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nosphesihle mdziniso, swaziland, local economic development - summit 2012

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