CARE’s work with collectives to build group conscientization and collective empowerment is an important pathway to address the deep structural power and relational barriers that create and reinforce gender and socioeconomic inequalities. To better understand the role that collectives play in CARE’s work to create gender transformative food and water systems, CARE, with support from the Cornell Atkinson Partnership, carried out a wide-ranging qualitative investigation of its work with agricultural collectives in Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Georgia, and Bangladesh.
The SOAR III project, which uses the UDAAN model, integrated Youth Savings and Loan Associations (YSLAs) into education programs to help girls overcome financial barriers to schooling and foster a savings habit. As a result, out-of-school girls re-enrolled in education, started businesses, and gained confidence in their potential as leaders. Gender-transformative impacts were driven by community sessions promoting gender dialogue, girl-led collective action, and the involvement of fathers, religious leaders, and teachers to support girls’ education and raise awareness of gender-based violence. Read More
The SHOUHARDO III project implemented by CARE in Bangladesh integrated VSLAs to enhance food security and resilience in poor rural communities. It empowered women by increasing their decision-making power, mobility, and household income while reducing gender-based violence. Gender-transformative impacts were achieved through initiatives like couples' counselling, men's engagement networks, EKATA groups, and community-led actions aimed at shifting social norms. Read More
The Advancing Women Economic Empowerment in Vietnam (AWEEV) project, led by CARE in partnership with local governments, CSOs, and the private sector, worked with VSLA members in poor rural and ethnic minority areas to increase women’s participation in paid economic activities. Key factors contributing to its gender-transformative impact included deep reflection on gender through Social Analysis & Action groups, gender dialogue at multiple levels, and engaging men as allies. Social norm change activities focused on reducing unpaid domestic work and promoting equal decision-making. As a result, women have reduced their unpaid domestic workload, are making economic decisions at home, and are starting businesses, joining production groups, and collectively advocating with power-holders. Read More