The impact of self-help groups on pastoral women’s empowerment and agency: A study in Nigeria

Abstract

While women in pastoralist communities are key stakeholders in the production of milk and dairy products for income generation, they are largely ignored in other areas of development such as health. The need to involve women self-help groups, in pastoralist areas in both animal health and human health development programmes, is essential, particularly given the high incidence of zoonotic diseases in these communities (Maudlin I, Eisler MC and Welburn SC, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364 (1530): [2777][2778][2779][2780][2781][2782][2783][2784][2785][2786][2787] 2009). Understanding the process and impact of social networks on livelihoods is essential for any development programme that aims to prevent and control zoonotic diseases. This study examines the roles and responsibilities of women self-help groups in Kachia Grazing Reserve and Bokkos, Jos Plateau, Nigeria. The findings show that groups promoting social, physical and psychological health strongly motivated women's involvement in self-help groups. Self-help activities showed commitment to effect a change in their livelihoods, despite constraining environmental, cultural and social factors. Engagement of women's self-help groups in livestock development programmes offers a powerful instrument for driving forward the One Health practice in pastoralist communities, promoting human, animal and environmental health and well-being.

Benefits and Risks of Smallholder Livestock Production on Child Nutrition in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…Eleven observational studies discussed women's empowerment in the context of control and use of income. Some evidence suggests that women may have more control over income from small ruminant, poultry, and dairy products ( 99 , 101 , 114 , 115 ). Some evidence suggests that as a livestock production activity becomes more lucrative, the dynamics of control between men and women change, with more control shifting to men ( 107 , 116 , 117 ).…”

The Influence of Women’s Empowerment on Poverty Reduction in the Rural Areas of Bangladesh: Focus on Health, Education and Living Standard

“…Given the broad scope of concerns surrounding empowerment, scholars have examined many topics across a wide range of contexts [ 33 ]. Studies have examined many topics, including educational attainment [ 37 ], political participation [ 38 ], gender-based domestic violence [ 39 ], resource control [ 40 , 41 , 42 ], entrepreneurialism [ 43 ], well-being [ 44 ], household decision-making [ 45 , 46 , 47 ], time poverty [ 48 ], and health [ 49 , 50 ]. While women’s empowerment is intrinsically important, studies in developing countries have shown that empowering women can also improve children’s health and education [ 51 ], decrease child mortality [ 52 ], improve the organizational effectiveness of businesses [ 53 ], increase agricultural productivity [ 54 ], and increase economic growth and reduce poverty [ 55 ].…”

Les conflits pour la terre

“…146 Badejo describes how self-help groups led to positive empowerment changes for pastoralist women in Nigeria and Ibrahim argues that pastoralist women in Chad play dynamic, empowered roles in redefining Mbororo cultural identity. 147 Women in pastoralist communities do in some cases form and participate in economic associations or cooperatives (as has been noted in Guinea 148 and East Africa 149 ). To a minor degree, women pastoralists have even begun organizing at an international level -best exemplified by the 2010 Mera Declaration of the Global Gathering of Women Pastoralists, which included participants from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, and Niger among others.…”