Best practices in increasing rural women’s economic empowerment

Forum of women’s NGOs of Kyrgyzstan and Feminist Group of CPDE conducted the parallel session “Best practices in increasing rural women’s economic empowerment ” on 15th March 2022 withing the CSW 66th session agenda.

Session Objectives:

1. Discuss best practices for women’s economic empowerment in 4 countries: challenges, existing mechanisms that support rural women’s entrepreneurship, factors of success
2. Share best practices of state support to women-led business.
3. Propose recommendations in advancing rural women’s economic empowerment

Speakers are from Africa, Asia, Europe, and MENA.

At our session at the UN CSW, the speakers shared very interesting information about their achievements, problems and methods of work. For example, the experience of Ghana, the Netright organization, was very interesting. It is important how women’s organizations approach the problem. Firstly, to the problem of economic justice, secondly, to the rights of women, thirdly, to the problem of accountability, to the problem of social justice.

If an individual woman in the village has no money and property, a low social position in society, a low level of education, no access to financial resources, technical, administrative and other resources, but at the same time there is a desire to learn how to work and earn. In this case, this problem is not her personal, but is a problem of society, a social problem. And the issue should be decided at the public level.

In Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Nepal, there is experience in improving the access of rural women to resources, to interest-free and low-interest loans, to specialized grants, as well as experience in increasing the potential of rural women in working with finance, with the market, marketing, and information technology. All speakers and participants of the session came to the conclusion that the approach of strengthening connections between women entrepreneurs themselves is essential for achieving social equity in the entrepreneurial sphere.

In Ghana, women in their experience of supporting rural women suggest simplifying regulations to regulate rural women’s business, use visual tools to attract more rural women to do business, facilitate entry into markets, and brand women’s business. In Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Moldova, women’s organizations conduct trainings for rural women on financial management and legal literacy. In all our countries, often women in the countryside are not officially engaged in business. This process needs help so that rural women can formally change their status by creating favorable conditions for women in need.

Speakers and participants discussed success factors and challenges facing rural women.