Nov 29, 2017 | Project

WAD (Women's Action for Development)

Socio-Economic Training and Community Development

Republic of Namibia

Amount: € 197,120.00

Overview

The WAD (Women's Action for Development) project focused on improving the socio-economic situation of vulnerable, rural women in the Kunene, Kavango and Oshikoto regions of Namibia. The objective of the project was to contribute towards poverty alleviation and to empower young, marginalised Namibian women. This was achieved by enhancing the income generating capacities of 2819 San and Ovahimba women. Interventions included training on social issues and women’s rights, vocational skills training in a myriad of vocations varying from computer skills to welding. Reproductive health and HIV/AIDS training as well as addressing harmful cultural practices via community mobilisation were similarly undertaken.

Key results

  • The business and vocational training provided to women from the San and Ovahimba communities from the Kunene, Kavango and Oshikoto regions of Namibia, built upon their existing capabilities. These capacity building initiatives mollified their future employment prospects, thereby contributing towards local economic development and the beneficiary’s self-independence.
  • Women from the San and Ovahimba communities from the Kunene, Kavango and Oshikoto regions of Namibia benefited from a micro-business, kick-starter fund which distributed € 32,300.00 worth of start-up capital for a variety of income generating projects. The project manager and coordinator carefully allocated this disbursement to provide opportunities to the most vulnerable women from the San and Ovahimba communities.
  • WAD provided training to 2735 women from the San and Ovahimba communities in Namibia. Vocational and occupational skills training across a cornucopia of vocations, varying from basic computer skills to bread-baking were provided. The training in various farm and off-farm income generating activities empowered the women by providing them with the necessary skills to generate an income for themselves and their families, thereby reducing their dependency on others for their well-being.
  • 733 women from the San and Ovahimba communities in Namibia received training on social issues and gender-related laws. The topic of gender-based violence was addressed and the women were educated on the rights and actions they are afforded under the Namibian constitution. The training helped the women to identify the precursors to violence and provided them with the information that would help them to leave an abusive relationship.
  • 84 women from the San and Ovahimba communities in Namibia attended a workshop on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS training. The workshop stressed the importance of contraception use and taking preventative measures to avoid HIV/AIDS infection. The workshop provided a place for the women to talk about a topic considered taboo in their communities, thereby facilitating the breakdown of cultural barriers preventing communication about HIV/AIDS in the San and Ovahimba communities.