In connection with the International Women’s Day (March 8) celebration that Fairtrade Africa organized under the theme ‘Break the Bias,’ an experience and knowledge sharing program was held between coffee growers coming from Uganda, Kenya, DRC, Rwanda and Tanzania and floriculture companies operating in Ethiopia.
Recognizing the milestones and initiatives of women within the producer organizations have achieved in different spheres, good experience was shared among coffee growers and floriculture companies working in Ethiopia.
During the occasion held in Ziway, Batu Town, the Gender Coordinator within Fairtrade Africa Susan Limisi said that they are working towards gender equality that lies within its ethos and standards. They support producer organizations to come up with gender policies, implement the set policies accordingly to narrow the gender inequality gap.
She stated that they are working to ensure producer organizations comply with the Fairtrade’s standards by putting in place gender policies and establishing gender committees.
According to FAO, 70 percent of the agriculture workforce comprise of women. “Despite the important contributions women make in agricultural production across the globe, most of their work goes unnoticed and unrewarded, just because they are women.”
Limisi further highlighted those structural challenges that constrain women empowerment and their access to key services. Recent research conducted by Fairtrade Africa identified shortcomings in translating gender policies and laws into planning and implementation programs. This situation is made worse by systematic and cultural challenges that impede progress towards women empowerment.
She indicated that within Fairtrade Africa, they support the producer organizations in many ways to break the bias and narrow the gender inequality gap.
One way is building the capacity of producer organizations in different ways. Once they identify the skill gap that organizations need to undertake the gender initiatives, they have been able to support them in coming up with trainings that can elevate them, she noted.
Furthermore, she stressed that the other criteria of ensuring gender equality is putting gender policies, which are very sensitive to equal participation, in place. This is because that it is essential to involve everyone regardless of their gender to realize their potential in the business they are engaged in, according to her.
“We not make the producer organizations come up with gender policies, but we also support them to realize and implement those policies.”
The women school of leadership program is another initiative that they have. Susan noted that the leadership program was first commenced in Côte d’Ivoire but they are now implementing it in Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya and plan to scale it up to other countries.
Through the school program, women are empowered in terms of leadership skills, managing businesses and finances. Moreover, there are employees that they have started their own business, she added.
“It is really important that women have to break the bias. We want everyone to know that they are really equal to their tasks; and we want to make sure that they have what it takes to do, what they need to do in order to improve their livelihoods and the society”, she underscored.
Aiming to address gender based violence and sexual harassment that most women face, they have encouraged producer organizations to have gender committees and trained them how to deal and address gender issues.
Improving the livelihood of the workers, creating exposure and facilitating market linkage is the other major area where utmost priority is given, as to her.
On the other hand, she underlined that the government needs to closely work with rose farms as income that the organizations earn goes back to the country. In tandem with this, she stressed that government’s engagement in terms of taxes, encouraging citizens to buy local goods as well as providing technical experts is crucial.
Given the fact the government employs technical experts who are qualified enough to provide support for peer institutions, it has potential to provide technical experts that would bring about changes in various areas.
In the rose farms for instance, it can provide us with agronomist, gender and child protection experts, among others, she said.
She finally emphasized that breaking the bias is not a one man show and it cannot be won by merely the efforts of women who aspire to break the bias. Thus, it takes the effort of everyone.
“Since we all need to have equal access, and need; our voice should be heard and fully participate to make development a reality, she added that ‘breaking the bias’ needs the will of each individual to support women and even sensitize children.”
Batu Town Women and Children Movement and Empowerment Bureau Head Adey Zeleke said for her part that the knowledge and experience sharing program has a paramount significance in enhancing the capacity of women in flower farms. The town administration along with other government institutions has been exerting utmost efforts to safeguard the safety of employees; especially women.
Also, the administration has been partnering with relevant institutions to better serve the women’s interests. “We are ready to conduct awareness creation and capacity building programs to fill the gap that exists in the sector.”
As to Bodede Qitu, a woman with physical disability and an employee at Sher Ethiopia, the training that Fairtrade Africa provided for employees of producer organizations brings about essential progress in their work. “During my ten years of working experience, the training and material support, including assistive equipment that Fairtrade Africa has offered; helped me to nurture the ‘I Can’ attitude despite my physical disability.”
During the event, Fairtrade Africa recognized producer organizations with best practices and initiatives addressing gender inequality and women empowerment.
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 31 MARCH 2022
