Promoting gender equity and empowerment among nomadic women: A preliminary report on an extension program

Nafisatu D. Muhammad
National Commission for Nomadic Education

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     Last modified: September 11, 2006
     Presentation date: 11/01/2006 2:30 PM in NT Portland B
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Abstract
A key design objective of the extension program of the National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE) is the empowerment of nomadic communities through adult and non-formal education to enable them demand and assert their basic rights, including right to education. An integral part of this extension work is the promotion of gender equity and empowerment of the nomadic women by improving both their productive and income levels through diverse income generating activities, and mobilizing skills to facilitate a more enduring support and sustained mechanism for ensuring the inclusion of the nomadic girl child in basic education.

This paper examines some of the major gains and outcomes of the gender equity and empowerment component of the extension program in the areas of critical awareness, literacy, resource management, increased participation of nomadic girls in school and collective empowerment of the nomadic women. The paper also highlights some the challenges and constraints that are involved in providing services and building the capacity of largely illiterate and socially marginalized groups.