Women's Empowerment Initiative Aims to Tackle Gender Inequalities
The WAA Business Shower aims to improve women's adaptability by positioning them as "active, effective promoters and agents of mitigation and adaptation."
GABORONE, Botswana- The Women Achievers Award 2024 (WAA2024) Business Shower, a recently launched concept in Botswana, aims to empower women economically and address the gender divide prevalent across Africa, writes Raphael Mweninguwe.
"The truth is Women's participation in economic activities seems predominant only at the consumer stage, their participation at the production and distribution stages is low. Our Vision aims to change that narrative through this concept," said Dr. Gaolapelwe Badumedi Matsetse-Mpete, founder of WAA2024-Botswana.
The WAA2024 Business Shower Cohort intends "to encourage women to reclaim their power and leverage that power for their advancement in the economic space," with a goal of launching eight women-owned and led businesses across Africa before the end of 2024.
Matsetse-Mpete highlighted the challenges women in Africa face, including economic dependence on male counterparts, which makes them susceptible to gender-based violence (GBV).
"We are committed to changing that norm. The WAA Business Shower aims to address women's economic dependence through setting up their own businesses," she said.
The initiative is designed to drive women's economic empowerment, ultimately addressing poverty, financial dependence, GBV, limited access to opportunities, and lack of decision-making platforms.
"When women are empowered economically, they become equal, active and effective players in the economy, subsequently changing their status in society and their overall self-worth," Matsetse-Mpete explained.
She believes slavery and colonialism are partly to blame for the erosion of traditions and rights that initially granted women esteem and equality in Africa.
On climate change, Matsetse-Mpete said women are more vulnerable due to their dependence on threatened natural resources.
The WAA Business Shower aims to improve women's adaptability by positioning them as "active, effective promoters and agents of mitigation and adaptation."
"When women are economically empowered, they will be in a better position to acquire knowledge, skills and resources related to mitigating the effects of climate change," she added.