Women Empowerment: Palapye Admin Authority-Botswana

The Council is in the Central district of Botswana.The Palapye Administrative Authority s location presents prospects for economic growth considering where is situated size and population as well as and historical sites it is highly endowed with natural resources with potential investment opportunities mainly based on availability of raw material such as minerals.

This program was created to empower the community after the department of social welfare conducted an assessment, which established that poverty, and gender issues were interlinked and need to address together.

The assessment showed that women more than men, were terminated from their jobs. In Lerala-Maunatlala constituency, 17 women had their employment terminated, in comparison to 8 men. Because of this, the Lerala-Maunatlala constituency was then chosen as a focus area. In the aforementioned area Ipelegeng, employees are allowed to work for a period of 12 months to enable the administration to assist them in building homesteads. The beneficiaries save a portion of their salaries for future use in starting building projects. Brigades assist with labour as well as private partners.

There are currently 12 beneficiaries who contribute P400 each, which will accumulate into P52000 in 12 months. For monitoring purposes, the gender focal person gives regular feedback on the progress of the project through record keeping.

The council has noticed that a significant number of women feel empowered by being self-reliant, since the program is not handouts. The council also believes that economic empowerment reduces gender-based violence significantly and there are motives to replicate their program nationally through strengthened collaboration with various stakeholders