Voix du terrain

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #BreaktheBias. It’s a challenge to imagine a new world, one that is free from stereotypes and discrimination. It’s a big ask, but as development practitioners we seek to solve the most wicked problems around the globe. We know that a single program cannot fully address access to education, income inequality, or community cohesion – yet we set our sights on these lofty goals and work on moving the needle towards progress. Breaking the bias asks us to do the same, to imagine a more equitable world and then take steps towards making it a reality.

Bias and stereotypes prevent us from seeing all that an individual can offer, or even all that we ourselves can offer. For an organization, failing to recognize the value that staff of every gender (and race, sexuality, etc.) bring to the table means it cannot maximize performance or impact. Since we work with some of the most vulnerable communities around the globe it is paramount that we heed this call to action. For us the work is two-fold: we must address bias in our project design as well as in the implementation process, particularly in our work with local partners.

As you read how women from Creative’s global staff are breaking the bias in their communities and in the work they do, consider how their stories can help you #BreaktheBias aussi, both in and out of the office.

Susan Enchill
Associate Business Development Manager
Genre, Équité et inclusion sociale (GESI) Working Group Member

[image vc_single_image= »66090″ img_size= »complet » add_caption= »Oui »]

Kinda Jaradat

Monitoring and Evaluation Director

Programme d'assistance technique en Jordanie 

In what ways do you hope to “break the bias” for women? 

From a monitoring, evaluation and learning perspective, research is a key area where bias can be broken. I believe that incomplete data often generates biased decisions. When research is not gender sensitive and women are underrepresented, important data about the economic, political and social contributions of girls and women become incomplete or missing. When decisions are made and priorities are set, capacities of women and girls are often underutilized. It is important that research efforts monitor gender-differential implications and utilize gender-sensitive approaches to ensure that gender-based constraints are eliminated. 

What are the greatest challenges you see for achieving women’s equality in your country?  

Despite Jordan’s commitments to reforming the public sector and to the integration of equal opportunity and non-discrimination principles, many implementation challenges still prevail. Women’s weak representation in the public administration sphere and in senior positions in the private and public sectors relates to cultural norms. There is widespread belief that it is the responsibility of men to support women financially and that women’s work should have a secondary role in their lives.

[image vc_single_image= »66091″ img_size= »complet » add_caption= »Oui »]

Bethelhem Tesfaye Wordofa

Teacher Performance & Student Assessment Specialist

Ethiopia Read II 

In what ways do you hope to “break the bias” for women in your community? 

The most important tool to break this bias is to create more learning opportunities for girls to augment their participation in the social, economic and political space. When strong, educated women control the space, it motivates others to “break the bias” and become productive assets to the community. In the long term, informed investments on equity and access as well as community awareness will help break the bias. There are culturally embedded thought systems that hinder these efforts, but systematic and innovative approaches can help to unlearn or embrace the empowerment of women within the community. I will contribute to break this bias in my community by believing that girls can contribute to the economy if they are given an equal chance. 

What positive changes for gender equality have you seen in your country in recent years? 

En Ethiopie, we are seeing more women in higher political leadership positions and the cabinet is appointing women to higher positions more progressively. We are witnessing also a rise in the number of women in entrepreneurship and business spaces. Most of the successful start-ups in Ethiopia are the brainchild of more and more women founders. Ainsi, there is an improvement in creating a business and innovation eco-system to support more women into economic empowerment. The government is giving attention to gender equality through different policy reforms and frameworks, even though much more needs to be done going forward. The enactment of different laws such as family law, criminal law and the constitution has contributed a great deal in ensuring equality in marriages between men and women, as well as contributed to the reduction of early marriage, teenage pregnancy and abduction.

[image vc_single_image= »66088″ img_size= »complet » add_caption= »Oui »]

Karen Janeth Duarte

Chef de parti

Initiative régionale Amérique centrale 

In what ways do you hope to “break the bias” for women? 

The first step toward breaking the bias needs to be at personal level, which means breaking the bias in terms of how we think we need to be and how we lead programs, teams and organizations. Deuxièmement, we need to look at how we envision other women and men to develop their skills, ensuring that our own and collective bias are always confronted in order to promote inclusive spaces. 

What important qualities do women bring to the development sector?  

Women who come from diverse cultures, ethnic backgrounds, gender identifications, religions etc., bring their realities and experiences to the development sector. This helps us understand conscious and unconscious perceptions and biases, giving us a way to understand from an intersectional gender perspective what the needs, challenges and opportunities are that contribute to women’s equity and the sustainable development of communities.

[image vc_single_image= »66089″ img_size= »complet » add_caption= »Oui »]

Jennifer Emodi

Procurement and Logistics Officer

Centre de commerce et d'investissement en Afrique de l'Ouest

In what ways do you hope to “break the bias” for women in your field? In your country? 

For my part, I hope to break the bias in the procurement sector by contributing my effort to ensure my work environment is inclusive, so women don’t have to hide their motherhood and child-raising years just to be considered more serious about their careers. I will acknowledge and respect difference in the workplace, so no woman feels she must adopt a pattern of behavior to be accepted and make progress in her career path.

On a national level, providing childcare facilities and pregnancy support would go a long way toward enhancing women’s productivity and building their confidence. Aussi, providing flexible working schedules that allow employees to maintain a proper work-life balance. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world and has shown that working remotely does not reduce productivity but rather saves the organization’s recurring costs.  

What positive changes for gender equality have you seen in your country in recent years? 

I have seen positive changes over the years with more women working in organizations and holding key positions rather than just being the support units. Women have evolved significantly and are no longer afraid to be pioneers in any chosen field of endeavor.    

But the chronic and persistent underinvestment in gender equality has grossly affected women in my country. The greatest challenges in my country affecting women’s equality are financial inequality, low legislative representation and traditional beliefs. In my industry, there still exists a gender pay gap as well as fewer opportunities for females as you climb the corporate ladder. These factors have indeed affected the career growth of women in my country.

Bees are often seen as pests that are best kept at a distance. For smallholder farmers in Ghana who produce shea butter, soon the bees will be welcomed guests. 

Through a partnership called “SheKeeper,» 1,200 Ghanaian women shea farmers will receive training in beekeeping, allowing them to diversify and substantially increase their incomes, potentially by 10- to 20-fold. It is made possible thanks in part to a $2 million, three-year partnership among the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Ghana Mission, the USAID Commerce en Afrique de l’Ouest & Centre d'investissement et Burt’s Bees, un U.S.. company that sources shea butter and beeswax. 

The three-year partnership with Burt’s Bees and its shea and beeswax suppliers will introduce beekeeping and expand shea processing capabilities in shea-producing communities in the Northern Region of Ghana. This collaboration helps advance Burt’s Bees’ andl’USAID shared women’s economic empowerment and gender equalitypriorités. 

Sharon Cromer, USAID’s Ghana Mission Director, welcomed the partnership as a way to improve livelihoods for women by creating new business opportunities. 

“This partnership with Burt’s Bees will increase private investment and demonstrate that shea collectors can profitably produce and sell beeswax, shea and honey to meet growing demand for these commodities,” Cromer said. “Additional private investment by Burt’s Bees will create greater economic opportunities and a better quality of life for more of the 16 million women collecting and processing shea across 21 African countries.” 

Burt’s Bees is leveraging its grant from USAID/Ghana through the Trade Hub to introduce beekeeping and create efficiencies by supporting honey, beeswax and shea production. Crops like shea benefit from pollination from beehives.

Shea plants within a two- to three-kilometer radius of the hives increase yields up to 30 pour cent. This partnership will also upgrade a shea processing facility outside of Tamale, Ghana, that will significantly increase its capacity to produce hand-crafted shea butter and reduce its need for firewood, improving health and safety conditions for workers and mitigating environmental impact. 

En Afrique de l'Ouest, shea butter production is traditionally a women’s vocation. Une estimation 600,000 women depend on the industry as their only cash income. Burt’s Bees will select at least three women’s groups from within its shea supply chain to pilot this beekeeping project, providing equipment, entraînement, and export market linkages. Burt’s Bees’ suppliers will purchase and export all shea and beeswax sourced from these groups, giving farmers a reliable and sustainable buyer. 

“The USAID Burt’s BeesSheKeeper activity will foster community and commercial partnerships with shea-producing women’s groups by introducing the multi-generational practice of beekeeping,” says Shannon Hess, Burt’s Bees Director of Responsible Sourcing. “Beekeeping opens opportunities for greater economic empowerment of women and youth and increased biodiversity for future generations.” 

Through programming, USAID/Ghana and the Trade Hub expect to see the value of shea and beeswax exports, including to the United States, increase by at least $1 million through 2024. 

The Trade Hub catalyzes economic growth through co-investing with the private sector to generate new investment, create new jobs and increase the value of regional and international exports from West Africa. 

In partnership with the private sector, the Trade Hub aims to create at least 60,000 jobs across the West African region – with at least 50 percent of these new jobs dedicated to women. As a supporter of the U.S. government’sWomen’s Economic Empowerment Initiative, the Trade Hub not only focuses on the “quantity” of women in the workforce, but also the “qualitative” impact of women by working with businesses to update hiring practices and employ women in decision-making and non-traditional roles. 

Burt’s Bees, a dermatologist-approved natural skincare brand, uses formulas that are more than 95 percent natural origin, with responsible sourcing, recyclable packaging and no animal testing.