Empowerment of women

The social, economic, psychological and political empowerment of women can reduce the risk of violence against women, as this violence is a manifestation of unequal power relationships in which women have less power in the household and in society.

The objective of this strategy is to build women’s and girls’ self-confidence and skills, particularly their negotiation skills, self-efficacy and assertiveness, as well as increase women’s autonomy and reduce their financial dependence on men and other family members.

Types of interventions

Interventions under this strategy include:

  1. Empowerment training for women or girls, including social, economic and collective empowerment.
  2. Inheritance and asset ownership, including interventions aimed at improving laws and policies to increase women’s access to and control over land and other assets.
  3. Microfinance combined with gender and empowerment training to build women’s financial literacy and self-confidence to negotiate with their partners.

evidence

See pages 3-4 of the E strategy summary brief for evidence for interventions under this strategy.

programme examples

Empowerment training:

The Adolescent Girls Initiative (AGI) (Kenya)
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AVAHAN sex worker collectivisation (India)
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Inheritance and asset ownership:

The change in inheritance law (India)
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Microfinance combined with gender and empowerment training:

MAISHA (Tanzania)
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Zindagii Shoista (Living with Dignity) (Tajikistan)
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Do Kadam Barabari Ki Ore (Two steps towards equality) (India)
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