Microfinancing: The Key To Reducing Poverty

Everyone is aware we are in for some hard economic times ahead. Businesses are closing, employees are being laid-off and the federal government has been in a non-stop debate over various bail-out plans. While we in the United States and other developing countries are shocked by this sudden economic recession, people across the world have been living in a permanent depression, with many surviving off as little as one dollar per day. There are thousands of organizations attempting to lift Africa out of poverty by donating money, food or political support, and while these intentions are good, they are not solving the problem in the long-term. Perusing the internet this past week, I found many blogs and articles discussing microfinancing, a concept I believe is one of the best solutions to ending this extreme lack of capital. In general, it involves loaning small amounts of money to people, usually women, who want to start or improve a small business. Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi banker and economist, brought the idea of microcrediting to the world's attention after he founded Grameen Bank, (pictured to the right), which provides this type of financial support to people in need. Poor women, who often do not have a source of income due to lack of education or capital to start a business, and who are therefore unable to apply for a normal bank loan as they do not have an account or credit history, are candidates to receive small loans of $15-75 dollars as long as they have an existing business, or ideas for an intended one. The money is used to buy supplies for their trade, which most commonly involves the selling of groceries or hand-made crafts such as bowls, blankets, clothes or accessories, as illustrated by the picture below of a woman who used her loan for a clothing business. Recipients of microfinancing are expected to repay the loan with a small interest rate. This is an impressive and ingeniously simple concept for two reasons. First, women hardly default of their loans, and secondly, the interest can be used toward a loan to another small-business owner, making the program almost self-sufficient. It is my opinion that microlending is one of the most successful ways to afford people the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty and make a long-term change in their lives. In my search of the internet, I found two other bloggers who also felt strongly about this topic, and enjoyed reading what they had to say as well as commenting on their posts. Laura Mehes, a volunteer for the nonprofit Apoolo Na Angor, promotes and explains her Ugandan microlending project in her blog, Lau, while Robin, author of Direct From Dakar, is currently traveling around Senegal to study first-hand the "impact of small loans on financial development" in the country. Robin's blog discusses what she hopes to find and how she plans to conduct her research. I left a comment of my thoughts, questions and opinions on each of their blogs but included them below for convenience. It will be interesting to see where the microcredit industry takes Laura, Robin and the world in the future.



Lau: Financing Microfinance

Hi Laura,

I came across your travel blog while researching microlending and felt compelled to comment. It was interesting to learn that Apoolo Na Angor, a group I was not familiar with, is a "completely self-sustaining, volunteer-run organization," and is developing a microfinancing program that will also be self-sufficient and able to "regenerate the funds needed...while simultaneously improving the lives of rural women." In my opinion this is a very effective way to help those in poverty since it provides the skills needed to build a better life in the long-term. In other words, it is the idea of "teaching one to fish, rather than giving one a fish." I found it especially intriguing that ANA's microlending project is made up of "cells" of thirty-five women and sub-groups of five, with loans made only to women in sub-groups so that they "can support one and other in their income generating activities, as well as build a support system in case of defaults on loans." You also mention that because of these groups, "they can pressure each other to make payments and also help each other make payments if one of the group members is struggling." I think the idea of teaming people up to increase accountability is good, however, I have questions about how it works in reality. For example, if one woman does not make a payment, why will the rest of her group members pressure her to do so? Is it resting on the belief that people will do so because it is the right thing to do, or is there a punishment for the whole group if one falls behind in payments? Since no consequence is mentioned, it seems as though it functions on "peer pressure," which I'm not sure would be entirely effective. Also, when women repay their loan with interest you note that they must contribute part of their profits to the group account as well. It seems to me that those in this program are expected to repay a lot (the loan, interest and contribution) when most microfinancing organizations only require a payment on the loan plus interest. What percent of their profit must they return to this group account? And what if they cannot afford this additional expense? Despite my questions, I admire the thought behind this approach, and understand and appreciate that the interest and contribution make this program completely self-sustaining and ever growing, though am uncertain how groups will truly account for each other and afford the extra contribution payment. In all, I think microlending is a wonderful way to really change people's lives and wish you luck with your project. I look forward to hearing from you at my blog, www.devonvdemars.blogspot.com.

Direct From Dakar: Microfinance in Senegal and a Long Technical Blog Entry

Hi Robin,

It appears you have an exciting and challenging task ahead of you! I also am researching how the microcredit industry works, though unlike you I will have to base my information on only secondary research. It will be interesting to see what you discover while out in the field! Although you plan on learning how microfinancing "impacts women's financial and social situation in rural Senegal" as well as their communities and gender roles, I was wondering what your thoughts are on these topics before beginning the study? I would like to know if you have a hypothesis or certain expectation, as it can make final results fascinating when they prove your supposition true or false. To give you my own opinion on those topics, I strongly believe that microlending can significantly impact a female’s financial and social situation over time because with her own capital she can be independent, which I believe is vital to improving her overall condition. With independence, she does not need to stay with a man who mistreats her or her children, can demand rights or an education and will eventually achieve more power and status in society. In time, females may attain equality. Some argue that women’s empowerment in Africa should be achieved diplomatically by applying international pressure or requesting governmental action, however much has shown that even where males and females are given equal rights under a nation’s constitution, it is not always practiced in reality. It is my belief that programs providing educational, vocational and financial opportunities to women will be the most successful way to truly improve the lives of women and their communities. To that end, I expect your research will find that communities as a whole benefit from this gendered-microfinancing. Women are often the backbone of the African community, and when they are better off, the whole community is better off. For more information on how a whole village can be positively affected, I suggest looking at www.Camfed.org. How powerful do you imagine this lending scheme will be in changing the situation of women? And do you think this will be one of the best ways to help solve poverty, or just one of many ways? I am eager to hear your current thoughts and opinions as well as your future findings. You can reach me at www.devonvdemars.blogpsot.com with questions or comments. Good luck with your study!

The Land of Sewn Women: Ending Female Genital Mutilation

In this week's post I decided to follow-up on my previous entry regarding maternal mortality by addressing one of its contributing factors: female genital mutilation (FGM). This practice, which is prevalent across Africa, may seem like old news to those who are aware of African issues and culture, but to the estimated 8,129 girls it will affect today, it is a very real and terrifying future. The United Nations expects three million women and girls will undergo the tradition each year, and estimates 100 to 140 million females have already had the brutal procedure. To give some perspective, that is about four to five times the entire population of Kenya, or both Germany and France combined! Since the 1970's, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and countries outside the continent have called for an end to FGM, and while a few African countries now have laws prohibiting the act, which shows a step in the right direction, most governments continue to allow it. Even where there is legislation against it, the mutilation still exists, proving laws are not enough! Because ending FGM means "changing the very fabric of African social tradition," campaigns against the practice must have the support of the government, but should also have a long-term educational component taught by fellow Africans who are sensitive to and understanding of the culture but condemn this harm against women. It is my belief that this community outreach and education approach will be the most effective at eradicating this injustice and protecting the health and lives of women throughout the continent.

There are several different forms of FGM including clitoridectomy, excisions and infibulations. The first is the least invasive and the rarest and involves the removal of the clitoral hood. Excisions, the removing of the clitoris and labia minora, account for about eighty-five percent of circumcisions, according to a publication by the Wallace Global Fund (WGF). The most severe and health-damaging form of mutilation is infibulations, which are the excision and removal of the labia majora, and then the stitching together of the two sides. The result is a smooth seal with only a small opening to allow urination and menstruation. A report by the Commissioner for Human Rights found that in some cases, "the artificial opening is sometimes no larger than the head of a match," and this practice is so prevalent in areas like Somaliland that anthropologists call it "the land of sewn women." In some countries, Amnesty International cites that ninety-eight percent of women have undergone infibulation. The statistics in other countries are generally around fifty to ninety percent of women who have had any of the three forms of cutting. Pictured below is the aftermath of a ceremonial mutilation, which generally takes place in the bush or other non-clinical and unsanitary settings, and is usually done with no anesthesia by a female elder. What is worse, the circumcision instruments are often unsterilized and may be anything from a knife, razor or scissors to broken glass.

The risk of excessive bleeding, infection, shock, infertility and death during childbirth of both the mother and child, is increased dramatically, a serious problem pointed out by Edna Adan Ismail, a medical worker mentioned in my last post, who listed FGM as one of the six main causes of maternal mortality. She reported that ninety-seven percent of women at her prenatal clinic have some form of mutilation. This does not even take into account the psychological consequences incurred. For what purpose are females subjected to such harm? In many African cultures women who are uncircumcised are considered "unclean" and therefore "unmarriageable outcasts" says the report by WGF, which additionally explains that the mutilation is also believed to protect a woman from illnesses, assure fertility and safe childbirth, and is used as proof of virginity and prevention of rape. In reality, FGM accomplishes the opposite of the traditional beliefs. It makes women less clean by making hygiene difficult during urination or menstruation, as females often have infections or hematocolpos due to the build up of urine or menstrual blood when it is difficult for the fluids to pass through the small opening. Therefore the cutting does not protect them from illness, but rather subjects them to it. The procedure can also make a woman infertile, cause serious complications during childbirth, and does not necessarily prevent rape. Consequently, the only purpose it serves is to prove virginity, which shows the custom has no practical use but rather preserves tradition and women's subordination to men. Because of these damaging effects it has on females, FGM needs to be stopped.

Some African governments, such as Eritrea and part of Uganda have outlawed the genital cutting of girls, punishable with a fine and imprisonment. Kapchorwa, the district of Uganda that banned the act, has requested that the law be enacted nationwide. Obviously some progress has been made, but there are still over twenty countries that are yet to create similar legislation, and even if or when they do, I agree with UN agencies that say "traditions are often stronger than law and legal action by itself is not enough to tackle this." Others who have been taking action against the practice are nonprofits, NGOs and the few women who have survived the mutilation and are brave enough to speak up. These groups have succeeded in bringing the topic of FGM into the world conversation and have made its discussion less taboo, and may have some impact on lessening the practice, but they themselves are not powerful enough to affect significant change in the culture and customs of the continent the way a local African leader or group could. The image to the right shows local women speaking out against female cutting, they are the genuine voices that should be heard in order to stop the practice. International organizations do not have the credibility or cultural insight necessary to gain the trust and following of these people who are often suspicious of the outsider's motives and ways. The report, Eradicating Female Genital Mutilation: Lessons for Donors, supports this idea by stating that, "projects are most effective when initiated and carried out by in-country activists whose occupation and high status give them credibility within communities." The best people for this position would be local leaders (both religious and traditional), African aid workers, teachers, nurses and other medical personnel. Some villages in West Africa have already started this process, by joining together to discuss and abolish FGM, according to BBC News. If this trend continues, we have a real chance of stopping this dangerous mutilation of women and girls. Governments can create laws and NGOs can attempt to convince people to change their ways, but it is my belief that when African governments enact legislation protecting women from genital cutting, combined with education and community outreach programs led by fellow Africans rather than outside organizations, areas that perform female mutilation will begin to alter their opinions and act against this harmful custom. It may take years or even decades to create significant change, but ultimately this approach is the most likely way we can succeed in protecting future generations of women from the pain and trauma of FGM.

Where Pregnancy May Be Life or Death: Maternal Mortality in Africa

Everyday E! News or US Weekly seems to be reporting on a new pregnant celebrity and what she is craving, how she is preparing the nursery or how she plans to get that "pre-baby body" back. Expectant women in the U.S. have the normal fears that a mother would have; will the baby be healthy? Will I know how to do everything right? Do I have a good doctor? But in Africa, pregnancy is much more frightening. On the continent where there is a general lack of health care, (especially for women and children), death is a realistic concern when it comes to giving birth. This specifically caught my attention when the Washington Post wrote an article in October that followed a Sierra Leone woman through her life-threatening delivery and resulting stillbirth. When browsing the internet this week, I realized this sad circumstance has also caught the attention of other bloggers who are upset that these preventable deaths occur. The first blog I encountered, RH Reality Check, has a post written by Edna Adan Ismail, a lady involved in the medical field in Somaliland. Her entry, titled, "On Maternal Mortality, Why Africa Falls So Far Behind" tells the story of a patient who had given birth and remained at home for five days, while near death from a complicated delivery including bleeding, infection and dehydration before finally entering a hospital. From the perspective of a health care professional, Ismail is able to discuss the situation from an educated view, and lists six main factors that are contributing to this disheartening problem. The picture to the right is of Ismail at work on a project called "Safe Motherhood" that focuses on providing prenatal and delivery care to women. The Partners in Population and Development's (PPD) blog has a recent entry, "MP's Want More Investment in Maternal Health" by Evelyn Lirri that describes the event in which members of parliament from 13 African countries met to "deliberate on health issues affecting the continent." Lirri, part of PPD, focuses on the group's discussion of issues relating to pregnancy, and included statistics and quotes from the conversation to illustrate the grim realities that expectant mothers face. I left my comments and questions on each of these blogs as well as posted them below.

RH Reality Check: On Maternal Mortality, Why Africa Falls So Far Behind

Hi Edna,

Thank you for providing information and stories from the perspective of an educated woman in Africa's medical field. We often hear reports of such circumstances through journalists or media, but not directly from the people involved such as yourself; and in this manner your account provides sincerity and authenticity unmatched by reporters. Your explanation of maternal morality and its causes presents deep insight and builds an emotional connection for your readers while also offering objective facts. I appreciate your work and these aspects of your blog. I do, however, have a few questions. You mentioned that the patient was able to be treated "free of charge," but as many women do not come to hospitals or clinics because of the cost, why this case was free? Is that option available at Edna Adan Maternity Hospital for others who cannot afford maternal health care, or was it done only for her situation? From what I have read in other reports, it seems very difficult for expectant mothers to pay for prenatal or delivery care throughout Africa. Do you know of any hospitals, clinics, nonprofits or governments attempting to fix this problem? If such offers are available, pregnant ladies and their families must be made aware of the option. Also, you stated that, "poverty is a strong factor that prevents women from seeking help" but even if they were to seek assistance, medical centers do not have adequate staffing or equipment. Furthermore, many articles I've come across such as the Washington Post's report "In Sierra Leone, Every Pregnancy is a 'Chance of Dying'" find that even where there are doctors or nurses, they are not properly trained or at least not trained in all fields for which their help is requested. (For example, the Post story mentions a trained ophthalmologist serving as a de-facto obstetrician.) Do you think this lack of education among medical staff (including midwives) is of serious consequence to the health of women who are with child? I fear it is a huge obstacle to overcome, and that educated doctors, nurses and midwives may be the key to preventing pregnancy complications. All in all, your reasons for why "Africa falls so far behind" are sound and logical, and lend good information to the cause, and I look forward to hearing from you at www.devonvdemars.blogspot.com.

Partners in Population and Development: MPs Want More Investment in Maternal Health

Hi Evelyn,

It is great to hear that so many African governments are actively addressing the issue of maternal health. Your post was very informative and professional, and I appreciated the addition of quotations and numbers (such as the facts on how many women die during childbirth, as portrayed in the picture to the left,) to enhance the report. I believe that if governments start recognizing the lack of care for pregnant women, positive changes will start to occur and create a safer maternal experience. Another blog I've commented on, called RH Reality Check with a post titled "On Maternal Mortality, Why Africa Falls So Far Behind" states that "In 1948, the constitution of the World Health Organization was passed, with its first article stating, 'Health is a fundamental Human Right.'" It is my opinion, and I presume yours, that governments must begin protecting this right and getting females the correct maternity care that they need. Some governments are taking steps toward progress, an example being the availability of the Misoprostol tablet you mentioned in your entry. In regards to the drug, how obtainable is it for women who need it? Will it be commonly found in health centers or only in a few? As many people who are pregnant do not realize their health options, I worry they might not be aware of this new development. Your post also stated that, "cases that necessitate a cesarean can significantly be reduced through access to prenatal care, skilled attendance at birth and emergency obstetric care," but is there any governmental plan to provide those things, or only talk of it? Additionally, I'd be interested to know what this "roadmap to accelerate the reduction of maternal mortality" includes. I'm glad to know governments are putting more priority on this issue, and I hope it will continue to be a topic of importance in the political conversation. Thank you for your entry. I've included a link to my blog at www.devonvdemars.blogspot.com.

What Women Want: The Truth About Inheritance Rights

While we in the United States are currently debating the estate tax in the upcoming presidential election, laws regarding property and inheritance are also under scrutiny right now in most African countries where women have little or no rights regarding such issues. Despite the fact that many of the continent's constitutions recognize that both sexes should be treated equally, most countries also employ customary (tribal) law, which is more gender biased, for issues such as marriage or land therefore depriving females of fair treatment in these matters. While I first believed it was considerate and even wise that governments have attempted to make a legal policy incorporating different ethnicities' customs and traditions, I have realized that in certain cases this combination of law is causing harm to women as many cultures do not consider them equals. Therefore, it is my opinion that governments must find a different way to blend societal mores and constitutional policies so that they are not contradictory and females receive the inheritance rights they deserve.

It is encouraging to note that some nations, whose federal or statutory laws say that both sexes must be treated the same, have actually gone so far as to create legislation enforcing these rules. For example, in Botswana (the orange-colored country just above South Africa on the map) marriages must be registered, men may not marry more than one wife, and "men who are married under statutory law do not have marital power over their wives[...]a man may not sell or mortgage property without his wife agreeing in writing, and she must be there when he does this," according to the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE). However, this does not apply to men married under customary law, which is further discussed below. Similarly, in Ethiopia the Family Code says that girls cannot marry before they are 18, all marriages must be registered, husband and wife must make joint decisions about property and women living with men without being married still have rights. In this case, statutory law overrides customary law, but the situation is unfortunately reversed when it comes to inheritance. Furthermore, Ghana, which is generally a progressive country in terms of inheritance rights, has specifically covered the passing-down of estates in its constitution. Article 22 states that "spouses shall have equal access to property jointly acquired during marriage[...a] spouse shall not be deprived of a reasonable provision out of the estate of a spouse whether or not the spouse died having made a will." I believe that more countries should copy Ghana's document, which does not make an exception for customary law, unlike the previous examples of Botswana and Ethiopia. Moreover, the legal administration of customs and traditions may be used for any issue in South Africa as long as it does not go against the Bill of Rights, but many local judges follow cultural mores regardless of whether or not they comply with the constitution.

Besides creating legislation, most of these African countries and others have also signed and/or ratified international agreements on women's rights. The most important agreements are the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, which all generally say in total or in part that women should be treated the same as men, that both should have the same rights in marriage and inheritance, and that everyone should have proper housing. Although many governments have signed on to these agreements, I have found throughout my research that there still remains a significant difference between written code and what is actually happening. The main reason for this disconnect is that despite the equality provided in the constitutional or federal law, "land use, housing, and the transfer of land and housing between generations is regulated by customary law, which largely excludes women from property ownership and inheritance," says the Human Rights Brief (HRB). These issues are very deeply embedded in the culture and therefore difficult for legislation, international agreements or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to change. As previously stated, several governments allow customary law to rule in certain cases, such as in Botswana where a man married under customary rather than statutory law does not have to adhere to legislation requiring his wife to have the same rights. Botswana has even created the Customary Courts Act, which directs courts to apply "the customary law of that tribe or tribal community so far as it is not incompatible with the provisions of any written law or contrary to morality, humanity, or natural justice." I find this damaging for women because male tribal leaders who generally find in favor of men, regardless of constitutions or agreements, often lead customary courts. Furthermore, in summarizing the country's Administration of Estates Act, the HRB writes, "every person belonging to an ethnic group, which essentially applies to every native citizen of Botswana, will have their property devolved according to the customs and practices of their particular ethnic group." Therefore, although Botswana (and many other African countries with similar situations) have agreed to make males and females equal, the practice of customary law renders the notion of complete equality useless. This is further shown in Zambia, which also passed the Local Courts Act that puts local and traditional courts in control of all customary and even some statutory law. I think it is obvious that as long as customary law has authority over the issues of marriage and inheritance, women will continue to lack power over their own economic security.

In theory, combining statutory and customary law is a good idea. It eases tension between the people and their government, creates a sense of mutual understanding and does not support or promote government oppression. History has shown that a government will not succeed and its actions will perhaps result in bloodshed or revolution if it does not recognize the culture, needs and wants of its governed. For these reasons, the dual system of law in many African countries is created with good conscience. But unfortunately in reality, legitimizing the old tribal rule by national government is allowing harmful acts of gender bias, and because of this women are suffering from a lack of rights and several other related problems as illustrated in the picture above. Additional stories of widowed women can be found at Human Rights Watch that give personal accounts of a life of homelessness, beatings, forced intercourse with social outcasts and shame resulting from the lack of inheritance rights.

To end this contradiction of law, it is my belief governments must enact new policies. First, customary law must not be allowed jurisdiction over marriages, land or inheritance, though it may still exist for other purposes. Second, governments should honor and recognize all marriages whether they are statutory or customary as one and the same. Women must have the same marital power as men, and be left most of the entitlement to the estate should her spouse die. Moreover, boys and girls ought to inherit the same amount of their parent's property, regardless of whether their parents wed or not, and everyone, including judges, government officials, and females in particular must be educated about women's rights. While I understand it is not easy to change the customs or traditions of a society, governments have begun and must continue recognizing the equality of females. With the adherence to international agreements and changes to this contradictory dual system of law, I am confident African countries can eventually succeed in establishing inheritance rights for women and more equality in the future.

A Common Cause: Online Exploration Regarding the African Condition

Though my past entries have been written with the intent to inform and promote discussion on topics pertaining to women in Africa, this week's entry is instead a collection of respectable Web sites and blogs I have found helpful for enhancing my own research and for providing quality links of interest to my readers. Using the criteria set forth by Webby and IMSA, I evaluated twenty sites that are not only about African women, but also about the continent's general news, gender issues around the world, human rights and international humanitarian organizations. The links can be found in my Linkroll to the right, as well as below where I've evaluated each Web site or blog.

The first three of my selection deal exclusively with female issues in Africa. Gender and Women's Studies for Africa's Transformation is a suitable site for those looking for in-depth backgrounds on African feminist thinkers and a vast amount of related scholarly essays, though some links lead to blank pages and there is little to no interactivity; an important criterion of Webby. On the other hand, Feminist Africa encourages interactivity as the online journal "provides a forum for progressive, cutting-edge gender research and dialogue focused on the continent" and asks for reader responses and contributions to past and future issues. The journal also offers a strong selection of information in each online issue, however with its severe lack of visuals or graphics it is boring to the eye. Lastly, the Association of African Women Scholars suffers from a need for updated material in the AAWS page that describes the organization (for example, the newsletter is from 1998!) but otherwise information is neatly arranged in categories such as health and human rights, women, literature and youth that each supply a multitude of easy-to-access resources.

A few online African news sources I found useful are the Sub-Saharan Informer, (its main page shown to the right), Pambazuka News and All Africa. Strong in content, the Sub-Saharan Informer presents the reader with several articles on a variety of topics, however the design is unappealing with miniature summaries of each report covering the main page and there are very little pictures to supplement them. The few images that do exist are weak and too small, which is similar to Pambazuka News, a Web site with zero visuals though it also has good content with stories on every subject a person could think of; from elections and governance, to LGBTI, environment, corruption and technology just to name a few. All Africa gets high marks in functionality for its convenient links to other sites, but because it has advertisements surrounding every side of the page, the appearance is cluttered and it is hard to distinguish between which links lead to ads or articles.

Additional sources of news may be found in online magazines or blogs, such as Africa Renewal, a magazine that "provides up-to-date information and analysis of the major economic and development challenges facing Africa today" though it is created by the United Nations' Department of Public Information and therefore includes public relations pieces such as press and news releases, media advisories and links to other UN programs. The visual design, structure and navigation are wonderful but there is nothing that engages the reader to interact with the site. When gathering research through blogs, one must employ a critical eye as many blogs have an agenda or may appear as a news site at first glance. Africa News does just this, as it can be easily mistaken for a news page. It does not disclose information about the blogger, which is an important criterion of IMSA, although it does offer a link to almost every African country for more information and is actively posting current articles. In contrast, the PoliGazette, which writes about current events in Africa, makes it very clear who the blogger and editorial staff is, but could benefit from more frequent posts. Two very academic blogs are ODI Blog and Concerned Africa Scholars. The ODI Blog (Overseas Development Institute) is made up of extremely in-depth and knowledgeable posts with topics ranging from health, economics and international aid, and although it is meant to be scholarly, it would be helpful to the reader to include more images and graphics to make the reports less daunting and to enhance understanding of the concepts. Quite the opposite and enjoyable for its visually supportive design as well as its up-to-date collection of research, Concerned Africa Scholars is frustrating when links do not lead to the whole story, but rather a small section. A small criticism, because readers can eventually find the complete report by then scrolling down and clicking "read more", but the blog would be more easily navigable and appealing if links went directly to the entire story the first time.

Facts and statistics may be useful for some looking for more direct and succinct information. In those cases, recent census statistics (in areas such as population, women and men in families, health, education, work and political decision making) for different continents and countries can be found at WIDNET (Women in Development Network). Besides being a valuable source for numbers, the site is very functional but it lacks in appearance and interactivity. Africa Development Indicators (ADI) is another similar resource created by the World Bank that has more than one-thousand indicators on fifty-three African countries. The indicators focus more on developmental goals, for example infrastructure, disease and agriculture rather than census information. A good amount of information can be downloaded, but other important documents cannot be accessed online and must be purchased, which is unfortunate. To find summaries of African charters and systems, explore the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa Web site. While the site is not appreciated for its aesthetics (it is not attractively designed and some pages are left blank) it has easy-to-follow explanations of legal issues surrounding the African Union, the rights of the child and much more.

The last six of my selections are sites of international humanitarian funds, organizations or non-profits. UNIFEM (United Nations Developing Fund for Women) and Women Watch (United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality) both have beautiful presented pages, (though the latter may be a bit wordy,) and both are rich in content and demand the visitors interactivity. Nevertheless, UNIFEM's fact sheets are complicated and not "reader friendly" as they should be to invite people's interest to the cause, and Women Watch could be improved by cleaning up the page so it isn't quite as busy. USAID: Sub-Saharan Africa gives a good overview of the United States foreign assistance with links to budget, initiatives, success stories, FAQs, related documents and recent updates in a visually pleasing and easily navigable format, but it doesn't provide a very transparent budget analysis. A budget for each country is accessible, though there is no study of what is or is not working and what should be done monetarily to improve the programs in the future -- something many taxpayers like to see. The Carter Center, a non-profit founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President Jimmy Carter that promotes peace and health around the world, has an interactive-encouraging Web site that is also well designed and easy for the visitor to follow. It is hard to critique this site, though a small complaint is that otherwise "hard" information such as the analysis of the Carter Center's projects and budgets appears to be written as a public relations piece with more fluff and photos than a more sincere, concise and informative report. It was also difficult to find fault in Camfed's Web site (Campaign for Female Education) which is creative and unique with its quick introductory video for those who are new to the organization. Many sites do not make use of videos, which can be extremely user-friendly and an interesting medium to discuss information. If anything, Camfed's Web page could include a stronger news and press release section with more frequent updates that catch reader and media attention -- an important factor for many non-profits. On the other hand, it is easy to critique the loud orange and black color scheme of CARE which is a bit jarring, and contributes to an overall feeling of disorder when combined with the multiple links. The picture shown above, to the left, is nice when is separated from the rest of the halloween-looking page. But to it's credit, CARE's Web site insists that you become involved by giving upfront options on how to donate or spread the word, and suggests that you engage in the organization's blog.

Where Women Rule: Rwanda's Parliament

On September 16, 2008 a big event happened in Africa. For the first time in history, a country elected a female-dominated government. Where did this happen? In a small country in the middle of Africa: Rwanda.

Women now hold 44 out of the country's 80 parliamentary seats, which sets a second record for Rwanda for having the most women in parliament. Rwanda's outgoing parliament was 48.8 percent women, the highest rate at the time, but the new parliament is 55 percent. This may be due in part to a new constitution adopted in 2003 which ensures women at least 30 percent of seats in parliament and other governmental institutions. But because the constitution only guarantees 24 parliamentary seats for women, many women won seats without help of the quota system -- a huge step toward legitimizing women's place in politics where some doubted female MP's qualifications and claimed women only held those positions because of the quota, not because they deserved them.

Rwanda, which has traditionally been a male-dominated culture, has gone through tremendous growth after the 1994 genocide in terms of gender issues. According to Speciosa Mukandutiye, the president of the Forum of Rwandan Women Parliamentarians, "Gender equality is not deep rooted in our culture. Traditionally, women were supposed to be housewives. Their role was to take care of their husbands and produce children. It was a shame to appear in public and make your comments...Our current policy is that that has to change: women have to contribute to national income. That is among the priorities of our forum: to make women come out and show their talents and leave behind this behavior of depending on others and to build their spirit of self-reliance."

Women became more prominent in Rwanda after the genocide which left several thousand women widowed and created a population that was 70 percent female. "Women immediately assumed roles as heads of household, community leaders and financial providers, meting the needs of devastated families and communities," according to a 2003 case study on women in Rwanda. Furthermore, Rwanda's ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) has been committed to gender equality as many of its members were once exiled and are therefore sensitive to issues of discrimination. The party was also a former rebel group, a situation which forced them to understand the power of women on its side.

Besides finding news articles I explored the blogosphere and found several blog posts commenting on this extraordinary occurrence. One blog, called The Poor Mouth by Jams O'Donnell comments on the amount of female representation in government in Rwanda compared to the rest of the world. I found it extremely interesting to see where many of the leading democracies and developed countries stood in comparison. (Many were far behind Rwanda.) The second blog that caught my attention was the more controversial feministing.com, with a post written by Samhita. The purpose of the second blog is to discuss and create awareness for women's issues around the world. The particular post naturally holds a very pro-feminine outlook on the event in Rwanda and discusses how and why it occurred, and what it might mean for the future. My comments on these blogs may be found through the provided links and are also copied below for convenience.



The Poor Mouth: Women Outnumber Men in Rwandan Parliament
Comment:

Thank you for your post about women in Rwandan parliament. I am happy to see that people around the world are interested in the situation in Africa and the improvements being made. So often we hear sad stories about the continent and it is refreshing that there is finally attention focused on the good in Africa, and in this case, the increasing empowerment of women in Rwanda.

As you mentioned that the election of 44 female MPs is “an important landmark” and partly due to the quota system, do you feel that the quota system is a legitimate force? In other words, I’ve heard some argument that because 24 seats in Parliament have to be reserved for women, many of the women are not as qualified as their male counterparts who won their seats in the direct election. I am interested to see how people around the world react to this news; whether they disregard it as women who didn’t technically “deserve” the seat, or whether they praise this new development.

I appreciate that you listed the amount of female representation in politics by nation, as it shows how immense of an accomplishment Rwanda has made compared to other nations and how far the world in general has yet to come. Many consider gender equality a “Western” idea implemented in developed countries, though you have shown this idea to be false. It is shocking that a newly-developing country, such as Rwanda, can be so much further ahead in integrating women in politics than developed democracies such as Ireland or the United States. I would like to note again that 55% of Rwanda’s Parliament is female compared to 19.5% of MPs in Britain, about 16% of Senators or Congressmen in the US, and only about 13 of the TDs in Ireland. By comparing the amount of women in politics around the world, you have created a different angle to these reports and have included the whole world in this pursuit of gender equality.

Thanks again for your information. I have included a link to my blog which focuses on women’s issues in Africa. Cheers!



Feministing: Rwandan Women Voted in as Majority in Parliament
Comment:

Your post about women in Rwanda’s Parliament made a lot of great points. I agree in part with the statement, “It is correct that this [women dominating Rwandan politics] should be so,” because while I believe it is correct women should have power in the government, I do not think it is 100% right that Rwanda should have the highest percentage of women in parliament in the world. You explain why Rwanda should have the highest percentage making a case that Rwanda needs a “woman’s touch” in these times of reconciliation and reconstruction, but since men had a huge part in the 1994 genocide (as both perpetrators and victims) it is good for them to be involved in the healing of the country as well. By no means am I diminishing the importance of women in politics, I think that is essential, though I do believe political power should be equal between men and women.

You also mention that women are fit for this position in Rwanda, “…in part because they have not been implicated in the violence that has marked the country's murky past to the same extent as men.” However, there may be more reasons behind the Rwandan women’s ascent to power. Some will acknowledge that because the population was 70% female directly after the genocide, women were forced to take on the duties of both men and women. Women became responsible for not only their families, but their communities, livelihood, income, and so on. Women became leaders during this time as they “stepped up to the plate” to help Rwanda survive. For that reason, women were positioned to take on more power. It is also important to note that the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), which took control after the genocide and has remained in power, has been a gender sensitive party. This is perhaps due to the fact that as exiles (before the genocide), they understood discrimination, and since they were a rebel group they were aware that including women would double their numbers. So, while women may be in power partly because they were not as involved in the violence (though that is still debatable) there are other reasons behind this extraordinary case of women holding a majority of political seats.

I do agree that this is a great opportunity for women -- I hope that more of the international community will hear the news and follow suit! Thank you for your thoughts on this interesting topic. I have included a link to my blog I have just started which focuses on women’s issues in Africa.

The ABC's: Is it Helping Women in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS?

There are many battles African women are facing today, ranging from limited political rights to raising a family in poverty, but the greatest and most threatening battle facing these women may be against HIV/AIDS. The "AIDS epidemic," a term of which many are familiar with, has increasingly become a disease disproportionately affecting women, where in Zimbabwe twenty-one percent of women are living with HIV as opposed to fifteen percent of men. This trend is occurring not only in Zimbabwe, but throughout many other Sub-Saharan countries as well. (Swaziland and South Africa are among the other significant examples. In Swaziland, thirty-one percent of women are HIV-positive compared to twenty percent of men. And in South Africa, young women account for ninety percent of new HIV infections, according to the UNAIDS 2007 AIDS epidemic update.)

In effort to quell this epidemic among both men and women, and reduce new infection rates, several countries and organizations have stuck by the "ABC's," a slogan that has been long considered a cardinal rule in the fight against HIV. The ABC's stand for:

Abstain
Be faithful
Correct and consistent use of condoms

The ABC campaign has been considered a success since what is believed to be its first debut in the late 1990's in Botswana. (The picture to the right shows a billboard in Botswana promoting the ABC's.) Not long after, the slogan was used by other organizations and initiatives such as PEPFAR and UNAIDS, and has been credited with reducing HIV/AIDS in Uganda. According to the Guttmacher Report on Public Policy, when many Ugandan's began practicing A, B, and C at the same time, the infection rate declined from fifteen percent in 1991 to 5 percent in 2001. Young people in Uganda were waiting longer to have sex, more people were practicing monogamy, and condom use increased. The report also states that the ABC's are succeeding in Zambia. But how well do the ABC's really work in reducing the prevalence of HIV throughout Sub-Saharan Africa? And how well does it help protect women from the virus? As I see it, not very well.

The most significant problem with the ABC campaign is that it only skims the top of the social causes behind the spread of HIV. It is true that abstaining from sex, being monogamous, and using condoms will reduce infection rates, but what is the reality that these practices will be followed? For African women, following the ABC's may not be an option; they may be forced or expected to engage in into sexual relations at a young age, and may not have control over the faithfulness of their partner or whether condoms are used. Essentially, the ABC's do not take into account cultural or social norms and gender inequality.

In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that in Africa, forty-two percent of women between the ages of 15-24 had been married before the age of 18. The CDC also concluded that because poverty is prevalent in Africa, women are married at a young age to older men who can afford to pay her dowry. The husband, who has likely had multiple sex partners in part because of his age, may be infected with HIV and pass it on to his young wife who is expected to engage in sexual activity for pleasure and to become pregnant. Since being fertile and producing children is an important part of many African cultures, many young wives, such as those pictured below with their children, may increase their sexual activity in order to produce offspring. Consequently, the "abstinence" element of the ABC's may work for singles, but does not apply to married individuals.

The ABC program may also fail when women who are faithful to their husbands or partners cannot be certain of their husband or partner's fidelity. Both the CDC and The Duke Global Health Institute have concluded that men are continuing to have multiple sexual relationships, explaining why there are increasing reports of HIV among monogamous women. Social norms may affect this as the CDC stated that men in Africa are expected to have more partners and be more sexually experienced, and furthermore that wives, who are often dependent on their husbands, are in no position to demand his fidelity. No matter how faithful a woman is, if she has an unfaithful partner the ABC's will not protect her.

Additionally, because women in Africa are often dependent on men, (due largely to lack of education, financial security and equal rights), they do not have the ability to demand the use of condoms. Women may fear refusal, embarrassment or violence, and are expected to be passive and submissive in regards to sex. Even if a woman does feel empowered to request that a condom is used, African women often lack access to health education or products such as condoms, making it harder for them to enforce such requests. As a result, the "condom" component of the ABC's may not help women protect themselves against HIV, and consequently the ABC's fail again by missing the deeper social, cultural and gender standards in Africa.

Though the ABC strategy does some good, it will not fully succeed until it addresses gender difference and discrimination. Since women represent the majority of people infected with HIV in Africa, women need an updated campaign that gets to the root causes of the spread of HIV by focusing on protecting them. Out with the old ABC's and in with a new strategy to promote gender equality in the battle against HIV/AIDS.