Imani Development’s commitment to women’s empowerment in Africa has not wavered since its inception. As we celebrate Women’s Month in South Africa – dedicated to honouring the remarkable achievements of women across all ethnic, cultural, economic, and political backgrounds – it is worth reflecting upon the phenomenal work Imani has done to support women over the past 42 years.

Through several regional programmes and initiatives, we have actively contributed towards supporting the lives of women and marginalised communities across the continent. We want to share a selection of projects with you.

Gender Responsive Policy Review and Development for Tilapia Cooperative in Madagascar (2023-2024)

In a recent project, Imani Development, in collaboration with Norges Vel and NORAD, worked with Tilapia de l‘Est, a cooperative union working with small-scale tilapia cooperatives in Madagascar. This partnership involved conducting a gender and policy gap analysis and developing gender-responsive policies to ensure the integration of women’s rights and gender equality into the cooperative’s organisational framework. The project also involved creating and adapting parental leave and sexual harassment and prevention policies tailored to the specific local context and requirements. Involving TDE employees in the policy-making process guaranteed the relevance and effectiveness of the policies.

SADC Project on Industrialization and Women Economic Empowerment (IWEE) (2022-2023) 

Imani undertook an “Analysis of women entrepreneurship opportunities in SADC value chain sectors” under the SADC project on Industrialization and Women Economic Empowerment (IWEE). The principal aim of IWEE is to increase the participation of women-owned businesses and women entrepreneurs in selected regional value chains (RVC) of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (SISR).

In this scoping study, a brief stock-take to identify all relevant policies, strategies, and other initiatives that support women’s inclusion in SADC priority regional value chains was undertaken to establish the SADC framework. This was followed by a value chain analysis of six priority regional value chain sectors that present opportunities for women entrepreneurs to participate and where they can position themselves within these value chains, namely; Agro-processing, Mineral Beneficiation, Pharmaceuticals, Textiles and Leather, Tourism and Services and eventually developing guidelines to support an enabling business environment for women.

PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ethical Tea Partnership Climate Change Research Amongst Female Tea Growers (2022)

PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) under the FCDO’s Work and Opportunities for Women Programme (WOW), engaged Imani Development to conduct research on the impacts of climate change on female tea growers in Thyolo and Mulanje districts in Malawi, focusing on climate resilience and adaptation. This assignment involved conducting a series of participatory workshops and key informant interviews to understand the effects of climate change across the tea sector, at household level as well as community level.  The project also entailed assessing general risk and recommending strategies for climate adaptation and mitigation for female tea growers.

Legal Literacy Manual for Violence Against Women (2014-2015)

Imani Development, in collaboration with Action Aid International Malawi, developed a legal literacy manual to address Violence Against Women. This initiative aimed to empower women by educating them about their legal rights and procedures, ensuring their access to justice and support. The provision of comprehensive training materials to community facilitators by Imani Development contributed to the reduction of violence incidents, creating a safer environment for women and girls.

Support for Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Zambia and Kenya using ICT as a Tool (2012-2014)

Imani Development, supported by the World Bank, implemented innovative ICT-based interventions in Zambia and Kenya from 2012 to 2014 to enhance women’s involvement in Agro-enterprises. This project empowered women farmers and entrepreneurs by improving their access to market information, agricultural extension services, and opportunities for collective action. Through capacity development and direct engagement, women were equipped with the necessary tools and skills to succeed in Agro-enterprises, leading to significant economic empowerment.

Conclusion

Imani is a kiSwahili word which means faith and confidence, and this has been our approach to development initiatives that focus on uplifting women and disadvantaged groups in society. We believe that women empowerment is a fundamental pillar and driver to economic development, hence we continue to support initiatives that advance gender equality and social justice in Africa. We remain committed to pioneering new ways to empower women, building on our roots and drawing on the knowledge and expertise of our partners, staff, associates and global networks.

 

About Suellen

Suellen Tsikira is a Business Development intern based in our Cape Town office. She is currently completing her Master of Social Sciences in Social Development at the University of Cape Town. Suellen holds a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Politics and Public Management from Midlands State University. Her interests lie in the political economy of Africa, international trade, international relations, and human rights law, with a strong focus on women’s rights, gender empowerment, and social development.