Women’s Contributions to Development in West Africa: Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Lives (Globalization, Urbanization and Development in Africa)

This book examines women’s participation in social, economic and political development in West Africa. The book looks at women from the premise of being active agents in the development processes within their communities, thereby subverting the dominate narrative of women as passive recipients of development. Foreword Praise for Women’s Contributions to Development in West Africa Contents List of Contributors Acronyms List of Tables 1: Introduction: A Dichotomy of Development—Women’s Empowerment and Women’s Inequality A Dichotomy of Development: Women’s Empowerment and Women’s Inequality Part 1: The Role of Women in Social Development in West Africa Part 2: The Role of Women in Economic Development in West Africa Part 3: The Role of Women in Political Development in West Africa References Part I: The Role of Women in Social Development in West Africa 2: I’ll Find a Way or Make a Way: A Case Study of BASICS International’s Social Community Development Work in Ghana, West Africa Conceptualizing Social Development Social Development Practice Community Development as a Social Development Investment Strategy Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) as Agents for Social Community Development Research Questions Methodology for Data Collection and Analysis Case History The Community of Chorkor Findings from the Case of BASICS International Investments in Human and Social Capital Investments in Promoting Decent Work and Employment Through Micro Social Enterprises Investments in Social Protection Investments in Social Planning Challenges Outcomes Implications for Research, Policy, and Practice Conclusion References 3: Women Traders at the Elmina Fishing Harbor: Harbingers of Ghana’s Social Development Introduction Women in Informal Markets in Ghana Women’s Role in Social Development Methodology Data Analysis Procedure Findings Power and Control Social Protection Security and Maintenance of Community Integrity Conclusion References 4: Women’s Organizations on the Frontline: The Peacebuilding Project and the Fight Against Ebola and COVID-19 Introduction The International Response to Ebola Field Sites and Selection of Organizations Emergence of Women’s Organizations as Part of the Liberal Peacebuilding Project Sierra Leone Guinea The Role of Women’s Organizations in Guinea and Sierra Leone During Ebola Sierra Leone Guinea The Role of Women’s Organizations in Guinea and Sierra Leone During COVID-19 Professionalization of Civil Society and Implications for Democracy References Part II: The Role of Women in Economic Development in West Africa 5: Women and Microfinance in The Gambia: A Path to Empowerment and Financial Inclusion Introduction Microfinance in The Gambia Government Role in Microfinance in The Gambia Microfinance as a Vehicle for Financial Inclusion and Empowerment Barriers to Accessing Financial Institutions for Women in The Gambia Facilitating Women’s Empowerment and Financial Inclusion: Presenting Three Microfinance Institutions The Social Development Fund Village Savings and Credit Associations Supersonicz Financial Conclusion References 6: Informally Formal: Women’s Mutual Aid Organizations in the Informal Sector of the Economy Introduction Women in International Development Discourses The Informal Sector of the Economy Street Markets and Street Vendors Defining and Mapping Civil Society Ethnography of a Women’s Organization Founders’ Story Organization Private Self-governing Non-compulsory Non-distribution Constraint Conclusion References 7: The Role of Market Associations in Facilitating Women’s Informal Political Participation and Economic Development in Ghana Introduction Formal Political Participation Stimulants to Women’s Political Participation Barriers to Women’s Political Participation Informal Political Participation The Role of the Market The Market as Power Data and Methods Findings Discussion and Implications References Part III: The Role of Women in Political Development in West Africa 8: The Invisibility Syndrome: Gambian Women in Politics Background Political Participation Women and Politics in The Gambia Women and the Evolution of Political Parties Electoral Makeup of The Gambia African Women in Politics Quota Systems as a Path to Political Visibility Improving Women Participation References 9: Gender and Politics in Ayawaso West Wuogon: Women Standing for Parliament Introduction The Constituency The AWW Members of Parliament: Brief Introductions 1996: The Constituency’s First Woman MP 2004: New and Unsettling Party Primary Procedures, Frema Osei-Opare 2012: The Obstacles for Political Outsiders, Afia Appiah 2019 By-Election: Violence Along the Widow’s Path And 2020: Elections in the Time of a Global Pandemic, Ms. Lydia Alhassan The Lessons References 10: Relative Peace in the Midst of Unrest: Guinean Women’s Peace Advocacy During the Mano River Wars Introduction Crises at Guinea’s Border Political Context History of Women’s Activism Maternal Framing and ‘Apolitical’ Work Regional Organizations Bolster Domestic Activism Impact of Women’s Organizing Conclusion References 11: Redefining Liberian Women’s Political Activism: The Legacy of the Women’s Peacebuilding Movement Introduction Background Women’s Peacebuilding Activism During Conflict Women’s Activism Maternal Activism Women’s Roles in the Liberian Post-War Era Women and Reconstruction Negative and Positive Peace Women’s Political Participation Gendered Electoral Violence Case Studies: Liberian Women Activists Methodology Political Activism Strategies Women’s Political Activism Strategies Maternal Activism Is There Peace for Women After Conflict? The Evolution of the Women’s Movement Women’s Political Participation and Electoral Violence Conclusion: Translating Women’s Political Activism into Political Development References 12: Conclusion: Promoting Development By Women, For Women References Index