This round table addressed a central issue: women’s economic empowerment and the role that the Social and Solidarity Economy can play in strengthening it.

The contributions of Mylène NOUBI TCHATCHOUA, President of Femmes leaders pour le développement in Cameroon, and Nicolas MEGELAS, Bénin ESS Tour, explored this issue from two complementary perspectives. The first highlighted the links between economic dependency and intimate partner violence, as well as the importance of providing women with the material means to build their autonomy. The second examined the role of cooperatives in access to productive resources, improved incomes and women’s participation in decision-making.

The discussions thus showed that economic empowerment is not limited to access to income: it also requires the ability to access resources, exercise decision-making power and participate fully in economic and social life.

Key takeaways

1. Economic empowerment as a lever for emancipation

Having their own economic resources enables women to strengthen their independence and their ability to make decisions about their lives.

This autonomy is particularly important for women experiencing intimate partner violence. A lack of resources or economic alternatives can make it more difficult to leave a violent situation.

Access to economic activity, income and resources of one’s own is therefore one of the essential dimensions of economic and social emancipation.

2. Economic dependency can increase vulnerability

Mylène NOUBI TCHATCHOUA’s contribution particularly emphasized the links between economic dependency and violence against women.

When a woman does not have resources of her own, alternative housing or opportunities for professional integration, her ability to act when facing a situation of violence can be considerably reduced.

Economic empowerment must therefore be combined with other forms of support, particularly psychological, legal and social support.

3. Access to productive assets is crucial

Economic autonomy does not depend solely on income. It also requires women to be able to own or control productive assets, such as land, capital or the equipment needed for their activities.

Access to these resources can strengthen their decision-making power within the household, as well as their position within economic organizations and their communities.

The experiences presented from Benin illustrate, in this respect, the value of collective and cooperative forms of organization.

4. Cooperatives can strengthen women’s economic power

Cooperatives can facilitate collective access to equipment, resources and economic opportunities.

The experience of the Cooperatives for the Use of Agricultural Equipment (CUMA) presented during the round table notably showed changes in women’s access to land ownership, equipment and income.

However, discussions also showed that economic progress does not automatically translate into equivalent participation in community or political decision-making spaces. Economic empowerment must therefore be accompanied by efforts to strengthen representation and governance.

Inspiring experiences and initiatives

1. Supporting women experiencing violence

Mylène NOUBI TCHATCHOUA, President of Femmes leaders pour le développement, presented the work carried out in Cameroon with women experiencing intimate partner violence.

Her contribution notably highlighted how economic dependency can limit women’s ability to leave a violent situation.

The organization has developed an approach combining several forms of support: psychological support, emergency shelter, legal assistance, training and financing for economic projects.

The objective is therefore to act simultaneously to ensure women’s immediate protection and strengthen their capacity to progressively rebuild their economic autonomy.

2. Measuring economic empowerment in concrete terms

Nicolas MEGELAS, Bénin ESS Tour, proposed approaching economic empowerment through women’s ability to act, make decisions and control productive assets.

This approach makes it possible to move beyond an assessment based solely on income levels and also examine changes in women’s decision-making power, both within the household and in their economic and social environment.

It therefore provides an analytical framework for more accurately assessing the effects of projects and policies designed to strengthen economic empowerment.

3. CUMA as a tool for accessing productive resources

A study presented on Cooperatives for the Use of Agricultural Equipment (CUMA) in Benin illustrated the effects of cooperative organization on women’s economic situation.

According to the findings presented during the round table, women who are members of these cooperatives have better access to equipment and income and are more involved in household decision-making. Changes have also been observed in their access to land ownership.

However, the study highlights one limitation: this progress within the household and in economic activity does not necessarily translate into equivalent recognition in community decision-making spaces.

Recommendations

1. Strengthen women’s access to productive assets

Target groups: public authorities, financial institutions, cooperatives and rural development organizations.

Access to income alone is not enough to guarantee sustainable economic autonomy.

Recommendation: develop mechanisms that facilitate women’s access to land, credit and productive equipment so that they can exercise greater control over their economic activities and the resources they generate.

2. Strengthen women’s participation in decision-making bodies

Target groups: cooperatives, local authorities and community organizations.

Economic progress must be accompanied by greater decision-making power.

Recommendation: promote women’s effective participation in cooperative governance bodies and community decision-making spaces so that their economic empowerment also translates into better representation.

3. Better measure the different dimensions of empowerment

Target groups: researchers, SSE organizations, NGOs, public institutions and funders.

Programme evaluation should not be limited to the number of activities created or changes in income.

Recommendation: develop tools that also measure access to and control over resources, decision-making power, participation in governance and changes in women’s position within the household and the community.

4. Integrate spaces for information and dialogue within cooperatives

Target groups: CUMA managers, local organizations and community health stakeholders.

Cooperatives can also provide spaces for addressing social issues that directly influence women’s autonomy.

Recommendation: where this responds to needs expressed by members, develop spaces for discussion and awareness-raising, particularly around family planning, in order to encourage the sharing of experiences and access to information.

Speakers’ quotes

“Women’s economic empowerment is a central and urgent pillar in the fight against violence against women, because a woman who can provide for her own needs is a woman who can leave.”

Mylène NOUBI TCHATCHOUA, Femmes leaders pour le développement, Cameroon

“In this struggle for dignity, women’s associations play a central role because, despite limited resources, they are driving change, even when the State is largely absent.”

Mylène NOUBI TCHATCHOUA, Femmes leaders pour le développement, Cameroon

Keywords

Women’s economic empowerment · Violence against women · Cooperatives · Access to productive assets · Decision-making power · Gender equality · CUMA

Further reading

EMES Network: https://emes.net/

Femmes leaders pour le développement: https://aswomenleaders.org/

L’Envol: https://www.lenvolbj.org/

Article by Nicolas Megelas – Cooperatives and women’s economic empowerment in West Africa: https://ceci.org/fr/blogue-des-volontaires/les-cooperatives-et-lautonomisation-economique-des-femmes-en-afrique-de-louest