GERA Projects

Uganda:

Searching For International Markets: Market Access Information Provision and Needs For Female and Male Exporters in Uganda's Horticulture and Fisheries Sector
Organisation: Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns
Team Leader: May Sengendo

This project will examine the implications of market access commitments and market information deficiencies on the ability of exporters to participate in export trade of horticulture and fish. The participatory research will provide evidence about the inter-linkages and the gender implications of trade policies and international trade agreements between and among the policy planning level, the institutional level, the individual exporter and the stakeholders at the production or fishing site levels. The advocacy will aim at influencing policy and programme actions to create an enabling policy environment for enhancing the ability of exporters to access global markets through strategies that can address gender inequalities in access to and use of market information.

Burkina Faso:

The Nature of Liberalisation Policies in Burkina Faso and Its Impact on Grassroots Organisations in the Rice and Karite Subsectors From a Gender Perspective
Organisation: Centre d'Etudes pour le Développement Africain (CEDA)/ Partenariat Hommes Femmes pour le Développement Africain (PARTHFEDA)
Team Leader: Rose Marie Sanwidi

In Burkina Faso, the rice and karite sub-sectors in which women are traditionally involved are experiencing an unprecedented solvent demand and technological transformation under agricultural liberalisation policies. This project seeks to critically analyse the implications of liberalisation measures on marketing processes and the livelihoods of grassroots organisations from a gender perspective. It will also identify the best practices for promoting the participation of grassroots organisations in economic decision-making and implement an advocacy programme for people-centred and gender-aware economic reforms and policies.

Madagascar:

Economic Reforms and Employment in Madagascar: A Gender Analysis
Organisation: Groupe de Recherche en Economie Environnement et Développement (GREENDEV)
Team Leader: Tiana Mamonjiarisoa Rambeloma

Since the end of the 80s, Madagascar has implemented a host of economic liberalisation policies, in order to promote export-led growth. In particular, the establishment of export processing zones (EPZs) in 1990 has been presented as a " success story ", especially in terms of employment. The latest statistics show the leading role of EPZs as the most important provider of jobs in Madagascar, as well as the highly-feminised composition of the labour force in EPZs. This project will analyse the conditions and characteristics of women's employment in EPZs and assess the extent to which their creation has contributed to improve women's livelihoods and status, in order to inform an advocacy campaign for the protection and promotion of workers' rights in EPZs, and for gender-aware, equitable and sustainable economic frameworks.

Ghana:

Challenging Global Forces On a Local Level: An Advocacy-Centred Study on Ways in Which Ghanaian Traders Are Constrained by National Trade Policies in Ghana
Organisation: Centre for Social Policy Studies
Team Leader: Akosua Darkwa

The objective of Ghana's trade policy as laid out in its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) for 2000-2002 is to lower protection to encourage trade and increase the competitiveness of Ghanaian traders. This study seeks to track the gendered effects of the processes and changes in import trade of consumer items on gender relations and the livelihoods of traders, and to investigate the survival mechanisms adopted by women traders. The advocacy will aim at creating awareness about the need for gender-sensitive trade policies and at establishing a sustained dialogue between policy makers and traders as a starting point for an increased inclusion of citizens in trade policy making processes.

Nigeria:

Environmental Impacts of Multi-National Corporations on Sustainable Livelihoods of Rural Women in Akwa-Ibom State, Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria
Organisation: Nigerian Environmental Actin/Study Team (NEST)
Team Leader: Comfort Omolara Hassan

In the Niger delta of Nigeria, oil exploitation by multi-national companies has entailed a number of environmental problems with severe consequences on livelihoods. This project will explore the impact of oil exploration and production on rural livelihood activities from a gender perspective, in relation to trade and investment liberalisation policies. It will work with human rights groups and other stakeholders at the local and federal level for advocacy around issues of liberalisation policies, environmental degradation and democratisation of policy making processes in order to fulfil rights to sustainable livelihoods, viable incomes and full citizenship for the poor and other vulnerable groups, especially women.

Kenya:

Agricultural Trade Liberalisation: Its Effects on Women and Food Security in Kenya
Organisation: Resources Oriented Development Inc
Team Leader: Rose Wanjira Gathitu

Trade liberalisation policies have resulted in the removal of subsidies and credit to small-scale farmers in Kenya. This project will analyse the implications and impact of agricultural trade liberalisation, including food dumping, on long-term food security, especially for women farmers. An advocacy programme to sensitise communities, NGOs, Government and other stakeholders on agricultural trade policy issues and their impact on food and livelihood security will be conducted with special emphasis on women, in order to promote agricultural trade policies that can ensure food security and enhance the livelihoods of poor women farmers.

South Africa:

Working Women in Leather and Footwear Industries in South Africa: Finding Responses to the Threat of Globalisation
Organisation: International Labour Resource and Information Group (ILRIG)
Team Leader: Hameeda Deedat

Trade liberalisation and economic restructuring generally have had severe consequences on the leather and footwear sector in South Africa, including retrenchments, short-term exercises, and the degradation of working conditions. This project will explore the ways in which women workers in the leather and footwear sector are responding to changes brought about by globalisation, with a focus on trade regimes and their impact on women workers. The research will provide information for advocacy in support of on-going campaigns for the protection of workers' and women's rights, and the development of strategies for alternative economic and social policies.

Mozambique:

Gendered Seeds: Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) Impacts on Women in Mozambique Cashew and Cotton Sectors. A study with reference to Napula and Gaza Provinces
Team Leader: Lidia Chongo

The current crisis in the sub-sectors of cashew and cotton, Mozambique's main export commodities, has brought about an on-going debate on the liberalisation and privatisation policies promoted by the international financial institutions. However, the voices of the vulnerable groups who are the most affected by the adverse impacts of the crisis, including women producers, have always been absent from the debate. The research will document the impacts of trade liberalisation policies associated with SAPs on affected communities from a gender perspective. The advocacy programme will aim at increasing awareness of emerging trade and investment policy issues among the civil society and policy makers, and enhancing the capacity of grassroots and women's organisations to articulate their interests and to advocate for policy changes that can ensure gender equality and economic justice.

Mali:

The Impact Of Mining Investments In Mali
Organisation: GUAMINA
Team Leader Souleymane Dembele

Undertaken along with the Environment Unit this study will present an overview of the growth and development of the mining industry in Mali from the 1970s to date. Investigate and evaluate the major elements of mining sector policy reforms from 1991 to date including all policy and institutional reforms as well as measures taken to address gender inequality in this sector. Evaluate the impact of mining investments in Mali, taking into consideration the following: the level of Direct Foreign Investment flow into the mining sector since the reforms, level of labour employment, gross and net foreign exchange earned, level of company earnings allowed in off-shore retention accounts, extent of linkages with other sectors. it will also carry out a gender analysis of the environmental and social impacts of large and small - scale mining sectors and review the gender dimensions of positive and negative impact of small-scale and industrial mining.

Tanzania :

Foreign Investments And Tourism In Tanzania: Impact On Socio Economic And Gender Relations.
Organisation, Tanzania Gender Networking Programme TGNP
Team Leader: Usu Mallya

The main objective of the study is to make a social economic and gender analysis of the context within which tourism development is taking place and provide a critique of the potential that the industry has as a tool for development in the Africa and specifically in Tanzania. it will examine national tourism policies, programmes and processes to determine the extent to which they address the historical and underlying factors of class and gender inherent in the industry as well as related processes of land, conservation of natural resources and others. Specifically the study will analyse foreign investment in tourism and the fundamental relationship between social life of the populace and the socio-economic, gender, cultural and political transformations taking place in northern tourist circuit of Tanzania. The study further aims at advancing the gender discourse in Tourism with a view of problematizing the question of overcoming exploitation and domination based on gender, class, race, age, and ethnic, from the local, national, regional and global levels.

Morocco:

The Effects of Cooperation Agreements on Women's work in the small scale fishing sector in Morocco
Team Leader: Hassania Chalbi-Drissi

The study will carry out a diagnosis of the current situation of the various women's social and professional groups in the small scale fisheries sector, analyse the impact of SAP and the various Fisheries Agreements on women's contribution to the development, growth and integration of the small scale fisheries sector. it will further define women's input into the export of highly priced marine products and identify the adverse effects of liberalisation and the removal of all forms of protection instead of opting for another form of cooperation.