Water, Health & Women's Empowerment- Guinea Bissau

Women Empowerment in Guinea Bissau through agro-economics

Project Overview:
The Women Empowerment Project in Guinea Bissau is focused on enhancing social and economic opportunities for women, particularly in rural areas. Through a series of interventions aimed at improving access to resources, skills training, and income-generating activities, the project seeks to foster gender equality and empower women to become active participants in their communities. This report focus on Oio area, where we are currently working in 12 villages. 

Project Activities & Achievements:

1. Rice Grinding Machines Installation:
   In collaboration with local communities, the project successfully installed 4 rice grinding machines, which directly benefit 1,200 women across 12 communities in Guinea Bissau. These machines have significantly reduced the time spent on manual rice milling, allowing women to dedicate more time to other productive activities. The machines were strategically placed to ensure equitable access, and training on their use and maintenance was provided to ensure sustainability.

2. Women-Led Market Gardens:
   In support of economic independence, women-led market gardens were established in key locations. These gardens provide women with an opportunity to cultivate crops for sale, increasing their financial autonomy and improving household nutrition. Training on sustainable agricultural practices, including organic fertilizer use and climate-resilient techniques, was provided to ensure the long-term success of these initiatives. The recent harvest resulted in 3975 Kg of vegetables -  a new source of income and nutrition. 

3. Skills Training and Capacity Building:
   The project offered various training programs for women in mechanics, health, and leadership, aimed at boosting their technical and entrepreneurial skills. These workshops have empowered women with new skills that enhance their ability to contribute economically and socially. Additionally, young women were trained in mechanical repairs, which not only provided a marketable skill but also encouraged their participation in non-traditional sectors.

4. Community Awareness and Gender Equality Workshops:
   Gender equality workshops were conducted in all project areas, focusing on raising awareness about women’s rights, domestic violence, and the importance of women's participation in decision-making processes. These workshops have helped challenge traditional gender norms, and local communities are showing increasing support for women’s involvement in leadership roles.

5. Health and Sanitation Initiatives:
   In partnership with local health organisations, the project promoted women’s health through education on hygiene, sanitation, and maternal health. Well construction and the installation of latrines have also improved access to clean water and sanitation, further contributing to the well-being of women and their families.

Challenges:
While significant progress has been made, challenges remain in ensuring consistent access to resources, particularly in remote areas. Limited infrastructure and transport options have occasionally delayed the delivery of materials and services. Additionally, cultural attitudes toward women’s roles in agriculture and leadership remain a barrier, though awareness campaigns are gradually shifting these perspectives.

Next Steps:
The next phase of the project will focus on scaling up the women-led market gardens, expanding training programs to more women, and strengthening local leadership structures to ensure continued empowerment. We will also continue advocating for policy changes that promote gender equality and women’s economic rights in Guinea Bissau.

Conclusion:
The Women Empowerment Project has made significant strides in promoting gender equality and economic empowerment for women in Guinea Bissau. The support for women’s agricultural initiatives, skills development, and health has had a measurable impact on their social and economic status, laying a strong foundation for continued growth and empowerment.

Links:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKQX-6tIf1A&t=147s

During the rainy season in Guinea-Bissau, women often face numerous challenges as they work to sustain their livelihoods. The season brings heavy rainfall, which can lead to flooding, soil erosion, and other environmental issues that complicate their daily tasks. Women, who play a central role in agriculture, particularly in small-scale farming and market gardening, must navigate these challenges to provide for their families.

Heavy rains can lead to waterlogged fields, making it difficult for women to work and maintain their crops. This can result in crop damage, reduced yields, and even total crop loss, directly affecting their food security and income. The rains can also cause soil erosion, degrading land quality. Poor soil health makes it harder for women to grow crops, requiring additional effort to amend the soil and protect it from further degradation.

Transportation is another challenge, as heavy rains can wash away roads and make paths muddy and impassable. This limits women's access to markets where they sell their produce, leading to potential income loss. The rainy season also brings an increase in waterborne diseases like malaria and cholera, which disproportionately affect women and children. The additional health burdens can limit women's ability to work and provide for their families. Additionally, women must balance agricultural work with household responsibilities, such as fetching water and caring for children, which becomes more strenuous during the rainy season.

WellFound, an organization focused on water and sanitation, helps alleviate these challenges by supporting women in Guinea-Bissau with sustainable market gardening initiatives. Their programs focus on training and education, providing women with knowledge on sustainable agricultural practices that are resilient to heavy rainfall, such as soil conservation techniques, crop diversification, and the use of organic fertilizers. They also help women build water management systems, like rainwater harvesting and drainage systems, to reduce the impact of flooding and ensure a consistent water supply for irrigation during dry spells.

In addition, WellFound facilitates access to tools, seeds, and other resources to help women cultivate gardens that can withstand the rainy season's challenges. They also connect women to local and regional markets, helping them sell their produce more effectively and maintain their income even during difficult seasons.

Through these interventions, WellFound helps women in Guinea-Bissau maintain and improve their livelihoods despite the difficulties posed by the rainy season, promoting both economic empowerment and food security.