Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme female participants in Thyolo District have praised the initiative for empowering them to assume decision-making roles in committees that oversee catchment conservation efforts.
Speaking on Monday, Thyolo district gender officer Gerald Zgambo said there is need to equip women with leadership skills, adding that participation of women in the programme helps to raise awareness on catchment management and other climate-smart- related practices.
“This not only benefits the programme, but also strengthens community participation in catchment management,” he said.
Group village head Samson said the programme has proven that women are capable of leading and taking responsibility in community-level decision- making structures.
“When women are elected into leadership positions, their inclusion benefits fellow women and the entire community because they prioritise real needs of the vulnerable population,” he said.
Malita Stafford, 37, said in an interview that being in the management committee has given her a newfound influence in her community over environmental conservation.
Another participant from the same catchment, Chrissy Wajomba, said many women in the area now have a say on how household finances should be managed as a result of the programme’s orientation on gender roles.
The Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme, which is being implemented with funding from the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund, has seen an enrolment of 9 676 women in Thyolo, representing 54.3 percent of the programme’s participants
