Why Gender?
Women comprise over 50% of the world’s population and 70% of the poorest, and hence form the overwhelming majority of the target group for poverty-targeted microfinance.
Gender justice
When gender justice is done, equity and equality between men and women will be achieved, but also self-determination of women, and respect for their different and combined roles in child-rearing and economic, social and cultural responsibilities. It implies:
- Just economic conditions for men and women (taking into account formal and informal working hours, conditions, property ownership etc.);
- Social and cultural justice from ending violence, to sharing power and responsibility, to transformational strategies);
- Equality and justice in civil and political participation, with the goal to achieve transformational leadership at different levels of society by and for women and men;
- Self determination of women of their sexuality, reproductively and lives/lifestyles.
Gender and microfinance
Microfinance is recognized in the world as an useful tool to increase women's income levels and control over income leading to greater levels of economic independence. Research studies recognize that loans to women have helped to improve women's social position with a significant impact on their quality of life. Improving the economic position, microfinance programs can contribute to building their confidence and ultimately their social and political roles.
Yet, what is currently missing from the agenda of many MFIs is the specific focus on the needs of women Customers, their usage of the loans, and the impact of financial services available. Even MFIs that focus on women Customers know little about the impact of loans on their Customers’ lives beyond the impact on the Customers’s business. With the consensus that availability of loans does not automatically mean empowerment, there is apparently space for the improvement of services and products that would indeed support women empowerment and gender mainstreaming agendas.
To learn more about gender: http://www.genfinance.info/
WEMAN initiative: http://www.wemanglobal.org
Gender in SPM: Gender Working Group at Social Performance Task Force: http://sptf.info/sp-task-force/working-groups#5
