Dismantling / the Biggest Threats to Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment

This article is one in a series covering the UN Commission on the Status of Women – a gathering of powerful female voices about women’s global fight for equality.

While women everywhere face the challenge of economic empowerment, not enough attention is given to women in rural areas. The economic empowerment of women is essential for gender equality and as part of our commitment to eradicating poverty and achieving worldwide sustainable development. While women everywhere face the challenge of economic empowerment, not enough attention is given to women in rural areas.

Across the world, these rural workers are the unsung heroes of our economies. They’re more than farmers; they’re wage earners and entrepreneurs, making up one quarter of the world’s population. For many rural women, it is the only option open to them. It’s typically highly demanding but pays very little, done as a means to support their families. If they had the support their male counterparts currently enjoy, it’s estimated that the increase in agricultural production could reduce the number of hungry people by 100-150 million.

Launched in 2012, the UN’s Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress towards the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women (RWEE) was created to address the inequality inherent in the sector. It has since transformed the lives of over 75,000 women and men, and reached over 400,000 household members in rural areas.

Implemented in seven countries, the programme focuses on four key areas that help women achieve economic empowerment: improved food and nutrition security; increased income to sustain livelihoods; enhanced participation in decision-making roles in the household and community; and a more gender-responsive policy environment.

The programme gave women greater autonomy with their money and businesses, helped them find a voice through leadership, provided literacy and numeracy training, and gave them a voice in their communities and households. This training eroded gender roles as men recognised the economic potential of women and even took on household chores to ease the workload of their wives.

But they couldn’t have accounted for the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus had a direct impact on these women’s livelihoods as markets were shut down, meaning they couldn’t sell their fresh produce. Only, these women weren’t anything less than prepared thanks to the programme. They were supplied with alternative ways to continue to make money, with some learning how to make soap. And in the case of one woman who relied on selling her vegetables, the programme gifted her a milking cow so that she could continue to generate income.

The pandemic caused dire consequences globally, and it of course impacted the lives of women in rural communities. Like in many places, domestic assault skyrocketed. But women support women. Those who had the means too could stand up to defend other women, confronting the men to settle domestic disputes, taking a step closer to gender equality and harmony within their communities.

Access to training and new technologies brought increased production, diversification, and access to new markets, increasing income while supporting better nutrition. These women now have increased status in their households and communities, which leads to decision-making roles and improved self-confidence. It demonstrates that women ARE capable and need to be involved in these processes to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the community at large.

We need to support these women, many of whom live in countries where their rights are considered lesser compared to men. Less than 20% of landowners across the world are women. And the pay gap in these areas can reach as high as 40%. By opening up a discussion on the issue, we can begin to ensure women’s voices are heard.