African Women Push for Gender-Just Economic Policies Amid Debt Crisis
Participants explored how current tax structures may disproportionately burden women or fail to generate sufficient revenue for social services that benefit women.
MAPUTO, Mozambique— As Africa grapples with mounting debt and economic challenges, a growing movement of women's rights advocates is pushing for macroeconomic policies that address gender inequalities across the continent, writes Winston Mwale.
At a recent regional convening organized by Christian Aid ahead of the 4th African Conference on Debt and Development (AfCoDD IV) in Maputo, activists and researchers gathered to discuss how current economic policies impact women and to propose alternatives.
"The policies we have in Africa are not just in the sense that they do not favor women, just because women face different challenges to men," said Joana Ching'amba, Economic Justice and Rights Officer for For Equality Africa in Malawi.
Ching'amba and other participants argued that women, who often bear a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work and face higher rates of poverty, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of austerity measures and budget cuts that frequently accompany international loans.
The discussions centered around four key areas: debt, taxation, the care economy, and gender-responsive budgeting.
Participants explored how these interconnected issues affect women's rights and economic opportunities.
DEBT AND AUSTERITY
Many African nations are facing a debt crisis, with high levels of borrowing from institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.
These loans often come with conditions that require governments to implement austerity measures, including cuts to public services.
"When we look at issues like budget cuts in the health sector, who is responsible for taking care of the sick when there aren't enough nurses or medicines at the hospital? It is always the woman," Ching'amba explained.
"This is an infringement on women's rights."
She cited examples of women traveling long distances to bring food or water to hospitalized family members, taking on additional unpaid labor due to gaps in public services.
CARE ECONOMY
Advocates at the convening emphasized the need to recognize and value unpaid care work, typically performed by women, in economic policies and national accounting.
"When we talk about care economy, we are talking about all the work that a woman does at home," said Ching'amba.
"Taking care of children, cooking food for the house, and taking care of the household. These are some of the things that are not recognized."
Proponents argue that if this work were accounted for in GDP calculations, it would highlight women's economic contributions and potentially lead to policies that support a more equitable division of labor.
However, some critics view this approach as challenging traditional family structures.
Ching'amba countered: "When we talk about tradition, that is where we go back to the word patriarchy. Our countries are patriarchal in the sense that we believe care work is only for women."
She advocates for a more equal division of household labor, arguing that this would allow women more time for paid work and contribute to overall economic productivity.
GENDER-RESPONSIVE BUDGETING
A key focus of the discussions was the concept of gender-responsive budgeting, which involves analyzing and structuring government budgets to address gender inequalities.
"If we were to have a budget that is gender-centered, we would be able to fund programs that may target women who are in abusive relationships, as well as programs specifically to address the gender issues that we have," Ching'amba explained.
Advocates argue that aligning national budgets with existing commitments to gender equality, such as those outlined in the Maputo Protocol, could significantly improve outcomes for women across the continent.
TAXATION AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS
The intersection of tax policies and women's rights was another crucial topic at the convening.
Participants explored how current tax structures may disproportionately burden women or fail to generate sufficient revenue for social services that benefit women.
"If a woman had more time for productive work outside the home, she would be able to go to the market to sell vegetables or do different businesses that would bring in more income," said Ching'amba.
"This would allow her to also pay tax, which would be added to the national GDP."
BUILDING MOMENTUM
The regional convening was part of a broader effort to bring feminist perspectives to macroeconomic policy discussions in Africa.
These conversations are set to continue at the upcoming AfCoDD IV, themed "Africa's Debt Crisis: Pan-African Feminist Perspectives and Alternatives," scheduled for August 28-30, 2024, in Maputo.
Organizations like For Equality Africa are working to build capacity among young people to engage with these complex economic issues.
Ching'amba described a recent project called the Young Scholars Fellowship, which trained 20 young people in macroeconomic policies.
"After we taught them the basics of macroeconomics, they went ahead to do research on different topics like care, austerity, and budgeting," she explained.
"We are also going to engage duty bearers so that we can advocate for some of the strategies that these young women have suggested."
CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD
Despite growing momentum, advocates face significant challenges in shifting deeply entrenched economic paradigms and social norms.
Resistance to changing traditional gender roles and the complexity of reforming national and international economic systems remain substantial hurdles.
However, participants at the convening emphasized the importance of collaboration in advancing their agenda.
"The key takeaway that we have taken from this convening is that we cannot manage to work in isolation," Ching'amba noted.
"It is our duty to collaborate with other organizations that are also focusing on economic justice so that we can move the agenda forward."
As African nations continue to navigate economic challenges and debt negotiations, these advocates are determined to ensure that women's rights and gender equality remain at the forefront of policy discussions.
Their efforts represent a growing recognition that addressing gender disparities is not just a matter of social justice, but a crucial factor in achieving sustainable and inclusive economic development across the continent.
The AfCoDD IV, which concludes on Friday, aims to produce a set of recommendations for African governments and international financial institutions to address the continent's debt challenges and promote sustainable development.