Women and Sustainable Economic Development in Africa

A proposed paper to be presented at Gender Symposium
Cairo, Egypt.
(12-14 November, 2006)

Women and Sustainable Economic Development in Africa

By
Jibo Nura
Nigeria
E-mail: jibonura@yahoo.com

Introduction:

The idea of women?s creation and the essence of their existentialism are always misconstrued for subservience, because they are one way or another subdued by men. Men tend to forget that women are a life role model and God?s extraction from one of fundamental realities of human purpose. They are not reproductive machines but symbols of adoration, care, concern and affection. Any form of sideline or discrimination to their very person and status is a direct reproach to the essential ingredients of womanhood.

In view of this therefore, the discourse will today dwell on women?s misconceived social role and statutory duties in Africa. We shall eventually establish the fact that they are much more than house keepers but makers; resource producers not consumers; development change agents not existing elements of development liabilities. Indeed, the concept of global economic sustainability and sustainable development cannot be fully achieved until we show special regards to women as poverty alleviators not aggravators.

Women and the developing economies: The Problems

The concept behind co-opting women services in the management and allocation of scarce resources and the proper channelling /application of factors of production such as capital, labour, manpower and entrepreneurship to our societal immediate and future needs cannot be overemphasized. At household level, women have a lot to contribute to both micro and macro economic enterprises. Microeconomics refers to how the total output is produced and distributed between economic units. On the other hand, Macroeconomics studies the aggregate performance of the economy as a whole. It deals with such overall economic problems as recession, boom, depression, unemployment, inflation, stagnation, poverty, disease and conflicts etc, which can be drastically reduced, especially when women are involved in the global discussions of variables such as National Income, Gross National Product, national wealth and aggregate employment.
African governments, donor agencies and NGOs have since shown renewed interest from the realization that Micro and Macro scale enterprises are sufficiently flexible and readily adaptable to a wider range of economic activities. The key actors in these Micro and Macro scale enterprises are, of course the entrepreneurs (Abdullahi, 1999). Usually, these entrepreneurs form the bulk of operators in the informal sector of the African economy. In fact, 70 percent of the volumes of domestic supply of goods and services and up to 90 percent of agricultural produce are done by entrepreneurs in Africa. Majority of these entrepreneurs in both the rural and urban areas are women and are, unfortunately, poor.

As Abdullahi (1999), in one of his attempts to unveil the economic loss and failure of African men to empower women, argued thus:
?If we submit that all entrepreneurs whose investment size and annual earnings fall below some minimum value and majority are women, then one would begin to appreciate the intricate connections between the issues of gender equality, poverty alleviation, rural development and promotion of Micro and macro economic schemes?.

Therefore, women sustainable economic development is an approach with emphasis on increase in agricultural productivity, environmental security, poverty reduction, social security and improvement of general life well-being.

Sustainable economic development is part of the Declaration of the UN Conference on the Human Environment, chaired in 1972 by Maurice Strong, i.e. ?Women and men have the fundamental rights to economic freedom, equality and adequate condition of life, in an environment of a quality that permits a life of dignity and well-being, and bear a solemn responsibility to protect and improve the environment for present and future generations?.

Already there has been an increased commitment by international institutions to articulate women in sustainable development but African governments and sub-region have done very little to complement this effort. Alas, on-going civil conflicts within the region also impede the progress of many programmes and conservation of resources.

Therefore, women need economic freedom and stability to be able to utilize their innovative and creative capacities in the development and protection of individual economic rights and productive assets. They need to utilize and improve on their skills to control one?s labour in terms of decisions to engage in economic activity of one?s choice (Meena, 1999). There is also the need to engage them in productive activities so as to develop their talents, and give them the right to participate in the management of their societal intellectual debates and decision making. Unfortunately, three (3) areas are hindering women?s contribution to general sustainable development. These areas are: non involvement of women in policy environment, poor African socio-cultural setting that is being adapted over time, and lack of women?s initiative. Most development plans and policies of African states have been ?gender blind?, said Meena(1999). In fact, the planning and policy making processes in the region have failed to appreciate that women and men have different roles, as such, their needs and constraints are also different.

In terms of agriculture, however, women access to land is discriminatory in the sense that nobody cares to secure and give them adequate land to farm. Their access to loans and credit facilities to boost agriculture is almost non-existent. Though, agriculture is the backbone of the economies of African states but women agricultural producers are not benefiting from these loans and credit facilities. This, limits their contribution to sustainable development in this sector. It is an established fact that agriculture provides about 33% of African GDP and 40% of its exports. But, a survey has shown that women of Sub-Saharan Africa contribute more time in the agricultural cycle than men. They contribute up to 30% of labour in ploughing, 60% of labour in weeding and 85% of labour in processing and preserving food. Nearly 95% of African working women in urban and rural areas are employed in the informal sector and they heavily perform domestic activities.
(See Ruth Meena?s ?Women and Sustainable Development?, The Voices Publ. Jan. 1999 ed. Page 2).

Nonetheless, marginal participation of women as formal employees breeds gender insensitivity. As one writer asserted elsewhere that there are socio-cultural barriers which limit male officers in providing technical advice to female farmers. Agricultural extension services are therefore always in favour of male farmers; a typical case of male bias in technological services and operations. Indeed, the domestic role for many African women is very stressful. They invest most of their energies and time in processing, cooking food and looking for firewood or water. The care of the children, which was supposed to be a collective responsibility, has been altered due to monopoly of African traditional values and norms. As John Oucho, Professor of population studies rightly pointed out that , ?African women are greatly disturbed by daily routine of paying attention to the needs of school-going children in the evenings and fulfilling marital obligations, home-making, fetching water and fuel, household chores and communal concerns, all caused by male-dominated leadership?.

Way Forward:

The economic empowerment of women is important because they are the focal points of family life. Family Economic Support/ Advancement Programmes will contribute tremendously to the poverty alleviation. The programmes should therefore be designed with provision for inclusion of females. The design should also focus on productivity with changes from inefficient traditional methods and techniques to simple tools and implements. Adequate design of Micro and Macro economic structures for short, medium and long term enterprises will strengthen sustainable economic growth at a larger scale. In fact, economic justification on Micro and Macro economic schemes can only be efficient in conducive environment for growth and wealth creation, because it is the foundation for sustained investment promotion programme. The key issues of interest therefore, include Micro and Macro economic integration in the design of viable scheme to improve the economic well-being of African communities. Other economic issues requiring design provision include the establishment of backward and forward linkages between various economic activities in African rural and urban areas. Though these might not be possible if other factors related to family and social policies, and women?s access to political decision making are not being considered, argued Gora Mboup, Senior Demographic and Health Expert, UN Habitat and Mary Amuyunzu, Director African Institute for Health and Development.

Establishment of Women corporate bodies and community associations. For instance, association of Women Farmers or Women in Agriculture and other entrepreneurial endeavours can make them much more viable. Through these established organs, they can put their heads together and secure loans and credit facilities from the government and NGOs. They can also demand and/or seek redress on the problem of land tenure allocation. In case their demands are not met, they can speak with one voice. This not only creates agricultural or economic awareness but also political.

Women?s socio-cultural initiatives distinct from existing African culture that is full of monopoly, and which has been used to subordinate or undermine their position in marriage, need to be brought up for action. For them to play a dynamic role in traditional socio-cultural setting, particularly on issues concerning marriage rights, which limit their participation in formal education, they must create an alternative cultural framework to challenge the one adopted and practiced by African states.

At the grassroots level, cottage industries need to be constructed to utilise local skills and artisans. Women?s knitting Associations, Women Weaving Centres and Mud pottery makings etc are supposed to be taken very seriously.

In order to have a good and sound economic base, there is need to prevent gender inequality and differentials by developing comprehensive framework of gender indicators that fit women and complement the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Women?s Commission of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CCRE) believes that respect for gender equality is a prerequisite for their financial support and economic improvement.

The United Kingdom Department for International Development?s (DFID?s), white paper on eliminating world poverty requires men to help improve the economies of African women. Paragraph sixteen (16) of that paper urges men to make women economy stronger by engaging them in viable jobs and meaningful projects that are much more than petty trading and casual labour. Developing their economies means more jobs and more income for government to spend on public services.

Finally therefore, lets us make their business easier so that they can invest in infrastructure, agriculture and trade. Let us give them more support, because their works are in the open where all can see. Their acts, step by step are in a hard substance, because they cannot bury their maternal mistakes in the grave like the doctors. They cannot run away from their family responsibilities or urge them into thin air or blame the judge like the lawyers. They can as well not hide their discrimination under trees or vine like the architects. To them is the job of pursuing humanity and humanitarian rights and status with courage and convictions at the unequalled struggle for survival.

Jibo Nura is Member Council for Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), Dakar, Senegal.