African Women and Development Challenges

In addition to analyses based on statistics, studies, surveys, and reports from various UN organizations, this book offers reflections that—while not new—remain highly relevant for a better understanding of the overlapping nature of development processes. Grounded in a combination of theory and a deep knowledge of political, economic, social, and cultural realities, our hope is that these insights will help stimulate debate around emerging challenges. These new challenges are tied to the evolving roles that women play in social and economic life. In Africa, most notably, inherent social, economic, and political issues make equal opportunity in economic development problematic. For equality to be achieved, women must be recognized as active participants in the development process. As demonstrated by gender and development analysis, this requires taking into account not only practical needs and strategic interests, but also the awareness and transformations of women within African societies.