Gender

Our development efforts will be worthwhile only if we step up the fight for equality between women and men.

Gender equality is as it were a red thread woven throughout all of our work. We also have specific gender projects, in particular education projects for girls and projects against violence against women.

 

What we do

Education and decision-making

The right to education is a prerequisite for creating economic, social and political opportunities. In our technical and vocational training programmes issues regarding access to education and continued school attendance of girls are systematically taken into account; and so is the creation of a safe and healthy environment that is conducive to learning and empowerment.
In addition, we address both women and men with our capacity development activities.
Finally, incorporating gender issues and fostering the participation of women in the decision-making process when elaborating our partners’ policies, plans, programmes and budgets is a focus of attention.

Health and sexual and reproductive rights

Promoting and protecting sexual and reproductive rights – including HIV response – are key to women’s empowerment and the well-being of households. We address these rights throughout our health, agriculture, education and other programmes and we involve men and local authorities in the process.
Addressing the subject of family planning remains a challenge at the heart of the dialogue with our partners. Finally, we contribute to the fight against sexual violence with awareness-raising activities and the improvement of care given to victims.

Food security and food sovereignty

The bulk of people living in poverty live in a rural environment. For women it is increasingly hard to obtain land (land and inheritance rights) or to access to markets and formation, even though they are key players in the production, processing and commercialisation of food. By ensuring equal access to land, inputs, technical training and business opportunities, we support their income-generating potential.
Our agricultural programmes in particular work with women’s cooperatives help them to get more organised and to involve women in the management of the value chains (from production to sales).

Related content

The empowerment of women concerns women gaining power and control over their own lives. With our gender strategy (2019-2023) we try to reinforce this. Read more.

Enabel’s Gender Strategy 2019-2023

woman holding her baby

It is estimated that globally 200 million girls and women have undergone FGM. In Burkina Faso the majority of women have been cut. Together with communities and the government of Burkina Faso, Enabel works to put an end to this practice.

Ending FGM in Burkina Faso

picture of sandra galbusera

Interview with Sandra Galbusera on feminism and equal opportunities

Interview with Sandra Galbusera

News & Events

awa prize winners News

22 November 2024

Le Prix Awa 2024 récompense 4 cheffes d’entreprises africaines inspirantes

L’Agence belge de développement Enabel a créé le prix Awa en 2022 afin de soutenir et mettre en lumière l’entrepreneuriat des femmes en Afrique et au Proche-Orient.

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News

20 November 2024

COP29: Enabel welcomes climate financing from the Walloon region for the preservation of lake Kivu and Tanganyika in Africa

The Tanganyika Kivu Water Management Project (TAKIWAMA), with a total budget of 31 million euro, is part of the Team Europe Initiative on Transboundary Water Management in Africa, which aims to improve cooperation between African countries for the sustainable management of shared water resources.

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Events

07 November 2024

EU climate policies and impact on youth in developing countries

In the framework of COP29, Enabel is co-organising a side event to discuss how EU climate policies impact low and middle-income countries.

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Events

25 October 2024

Delivering impact by strengthening collaboration in fragile low-income contexts

In the framework of the 2024 World Bank Group Annual Meeting, Enabel organised a side-event together with Expertise France, GIZ and SNV.

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men at crossroads in Rwanda Resources

09 October 2024

Belgium-Rwanda bilateral cooperation – Programme report 2019-2024

The 2019-2024 Belgium-Rwanda Cooperation programme contributed to the advancement of Rwanda’s sustainable development goals, enhanced socio-economic well-being, and fostered inclusive growth.

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national teachers' college in kaliro, Uganda Resources

08 October 2024

Promoting the widespread use of ecological and resilient infrastructures

In the face of climate and environmental challenges, Enabel is in favour of the widespread application of green building principles in cooperation programmes.

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women entrepreneurs brainstorming during a workshop

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