Improving access to finance for the empowerment of rural women in North Africa : good practices and lessons learned

Abstract

Unless they are able to exercise their own rights, women will not move forward, and this is especially true in the case of rural women whose social and economic rights are often neglected, which further complicates the situation and issues concerning rural areas where gender inequalities are tougher, and more noticeable at all levels. According to FAO, reducing gender inequalities regarding access to resources, services and employment could develop the agricultural production of these countries by 2.5 to 4 per cent, and globally help to reduce the number of people suffering from hunger by 100 to 150 million. It is increasingly recognized that the effective empowerment of rural women implies comprehensive strategies to overcome the persistent obstacles they face. This paper aims at identifying the difficulties and discriminations that women face regarding their access to and control of funding resources, at highlighting best practice and analyzing the prospects for a better adjustment of strategies to enhance rural women’s access to finance, in order to promote their rights and role as development players. This study also raises the issue of how to develop rural areas through integrated development programs, in order to help stabilize women - but also educated rural girls - in their home environment, to root them deeply in that environment particularly by improving its economic attractiveness.