Enhance economic empowerment of women, youth and marginalized groups (GHAN0001)

Commitment ID

GHAN0001

Commitment Title

Enhance economic empowerment of women, youth and marginalized groups

Problem

In Anloga district, out of the total population of the district, about 20.0 percent formed the youth cohort (15-25 years). Additionally, females also formed the majority of the people. Interestingly, most of the youth and women are currently unemployed due to inadequate skills training. Again, 7.2 percent of the total district population are people with disabilities most of who are very marginalized. The low participation of women in the political life of the district is not encouraging.  Currently, there are three (3) Assemblywomen who are government appointees to the district Assembly. Considering the role women play in both the local and national economy, the low representation and participation of women in the decision-making process of the district Assembly means that their views would not be fully reflected in development activities, and this has serious implication for the overall development of the district.

Empowering people therefore, is critical for achieving poverty eradication. They need to be made aware of their rights and entitlements, equipped with skills to make informed choice and negotiate for their rights and have access to resources for their development. When people are empowered, they are equipped with skills and knowledge with which they will be able to earn a living. In this way, they will both be able to get paid employment or start up a business and earn an income. Earning income is the first step towards poverty eradication.

Status quo

The Anloga District has over the years made significant efforts at reducing poverty and improving the lives of its citizenry. Over the past years, the local economy has seen a significant effort in the area of Agriculture and social sectors. The sector had seen the implementation of the following activities geared toward boosting the local economy;
- Implementation of the government-initiated Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty program (LEAP);
- Provision of cash, income generation items, capacity building, education, and health support schemes to extremely poor households and PwDs;
- Establishment of a Gender Desk responsible for championing, advocating, sensitization the public on women's empowerment issues;
- Training in technology improvement and packaging, welding and fabrication, masonry, carpentry, decoration skills, Soap making, and processing skills among others in selected communities for women and the youth;
- Vocational Skills training in dressmaking and hairdressing for women
- Provision of machines and equipment to women in dressmaking for women
- Construction of animal pens for animal rearing at Tegbi, Woe and Anloga for the youth
- Provision of start-up kits to selected artisans among others.

In spite of the progress made in tackling poverty, citizens are still faced with high levels of poverty and unemployment. At the same time, there are challenges in meeting the needs of the people mostly due to lack of resources.

Action

In order to address the above, the Assembly has over the years mainstreamed the issues of women, children, and marginalized groups into its Medium-Term Development Plans and Budgets.  The following activities have been programmed in the plans and budget of the Assembly for implementation;
- Empower vulnerable groups particularly women and persons with disabilities through sensitization, training, and capacity-building programs on human rights, local governance, and decentralization in order to encourage them to participate in the governance process at the local level.
- Support the PWDs with skills, funds, and logistical support in order to mainstream them into society.
- Vocational training programs for women, youth, and PwDs in relevant skills such as dressmaking, hairdressing, soap making, and animal rearing among others.
- Create an enabling environment for the representation of women, PwDs, and youth groups in the governance process such as preparation of plans, implementation, and monitoring, and also provide a platform for easy access to information.
- Provision of machines and equipment to support vocational programs of women and youth.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?

A growing body of research shows that enhancing women’s economic participation improves national economies, increases household productivity and living standards, enhances the well-being of children with positive long-term impacts, and can increase women’s agency and overall empowerment. Women who are usually under-represented in the decision making process through this commitment will have fair representation in the decision-making process across all levels.

In summary, the implementation of this commitment will contribute to meeting the following;
- Increased participation and inclusion of women and persons with disability in public engagements, local governance and decision-making.
- Empowered women, youth, and persons with disabilities economically.
- Reduced discrimination among gender and vulnerable groups.

What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?

The Commitments relate to the National Development Policy Framework i.e., Agenda for Jobs (2022-2025) which is the long-term Open Government strategy for Ghana and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for which the Assembly is aligned. Specific themes include the following:
- Promote job creation and decent work (SDG Targets 4.4, 17.9)
- Promote equal opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in social and economic development (SDG Targets 4.a, .4.5, 16.3)
- Promote economic empowerment of particularly women
- Attain gender equality and equity in political, social, and economic development (SDG Targets 3.8, 4.5)

Primary Policy Area

Civic Space, Inclusion

Primary Sector

Private Sector, Security and Public Safety

What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?