Improving the economic status of women in Zambia
The Gender Empowerment and Development to Enhance Rights project is designed to improve the economic status of 57,400 women and girls in the Luapula province. It does this by supporting community-based organisations and government.with:
- small grants and microloan management training
- increased access to comprehensive HIV and AIDS services
- policy and systems influence that support girls’ and women’s health and economic empowerment
This project, in partnership with Caritas Mansa, a faith-based organisation, uses volunteers to identify and educate key members of the community, who in turn address support groups on the issues of HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and economic empowerment activities.
The project runs in the Luapula province of Zambia and covers two districts: Chembe and Samfya. Since the project started, VSO has been able to build the capacity of 2,372 intermediate primary actors and further reached out to 78,557 primary actors with empowerment services.
The project has positively impacted the lives of the impoverished and marginalised accessing Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and HIV/AIDS information and services. It has also economically empowered people using group savings and lending, revolving fund mechanisms, and business training strategies.
We plan to scale up activities in the other two district of Mansa and Inchelenge which have high health challenges and poverty levels among adolescents and women.
Contact
Levy Sakala: Health and livelihood manager, VSO Zambia Office
Location: VSO Zambia Program Office,
P.O Box 32965, Lusaka
4th Floor Mukuba Pensions House,
Dedan Kimathi Road,
Lusaka – Zambia.
Tel: +260 211 224965/69/71
Fax: +260 211 225160