GENDER EQUALITY

Equal opportunity for women and men is a fundamental human right and an absolute precondition for sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. Although the majority of both women and men in Southern and Eastern Africa live in poverty, the existing inequalities result in significant differences in livelihood opportunities and outcomes.
 

The differences in opportunities emanate from differing roles and responsibilities between women and men as prescribed by existing cultural norms, values and prevailing power structures. These include differences in access to decision making processes, health, education, agricultural production and food security, land, credit and services such as agriculture extension and technology, as well as the uneven division of household labour.
 

The main challenges in relation to SCCs other strategic programme areas are:
Participation: Although women’s participation in rural and housing organisations has increased, women continue to be severely underrepresented at decision making level;
 

Agriculture: In agriculture production, men tend to focus on cash crop production while women take care of household food production, and are thus tasked with a heavier responsibility for food security;
 

Finance: Although both women and men in rural areas face difficulties in acquiring capital and credit, women generally have greater difficulties in securing loans without male consent and collateral or security;
 

Land: Women are discriminated in terms of access and tenure rights, largely due to s