Making markets work for women smallholders in Tanzania

As we launch the findings of our research on Women’s Collective Action in agricultural markets, Global Research Adviser Martin Walsh, who helped to develop the methodology for the case studies, summarises the results and recommendations of the Tanzania study. Women are, quite literally, the backbone of agriculture in Tanzania. But all too often they don’t own the land they work …

Home truths: climate change lessons from Britain’s shores

Sea level rise and  more frequent and intense storms have made the Outer Hebrides increasingly vulnerable to coastal flooding. Daniel Morchain recently travelled to the area to see how techniques, ancient and new, play a role in combating soil and dune erosion.  A few weeks ago I joined a team from the Oxfam Glasgow UK Poverty Programme and the University of …

Men at work for gender equality

Gender & Development editor Caroline Sweetman introduces the latest issue of the journal with a call to challenge damaging gender stereotypes of all kinds. I have twin sons, and I’m bringing them up to be feminists. And anti-racist, and pro-gay rights. Their father is Ethiopian, and they’ve experienced being called racist names from time to time at primary school in …

We give Greening a green light on growth (well, amber, anyway…)

As the UK Secretary of State for International Development outlines plans for tackling poverty through growth, we welcome her focus on addressing land and gender injustices.  Justine Greening has usefully highlighted DFID’s approach to economic growth and the role of business in international development. And we’re happy to see some key issues make her agenda. Critically, the issue of land …

Women and girls: the smart choice and the right choice

Oxfam’s Deputy International Director Sue Turrell reflects on the Secretary of State for Development’s Speech on women and girls. When Justine Greening was made Secretary of State for Development in the summer – a surprise to all and possibly most of all to her – it was anybody’s guess what her focus would be.  Unlike her predecessor Andrew Mitchell who …

Getting it right: the final push to negotiate a strong Arms Trade Treaty

Advocacy officer Helena Whall on the forthcoming historic opportunity to create a binding robust treaty that will regulate the international trade in arms.  More than 1,500 people lose their lives as a direct result of armed violence each day. That is one person, per minute, each and every day, in every continent of the globe.  For more than a decade, …

What will it take to end violence against women?

Fresh from the Commission on the Status of Women meeting in New York, Daniela Rosche argues that there is too much rhetoric and not enough action in the struggle to end violence against women. Right now, at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), governments are negotiating a set of policy recommendations (known as agreed conclusions in CSW-speak) to …

A taste of honey – reaching marginalised women in Ethiopia

At Oxfam, much like Hannibal from 1980s cult classic, the A-Team we love it when a plan comes together, which is why we are so pleased that our research into Women’s Collective Action (WCA) has revealed that NGO interventions really can make all the difference when trying to reach the most marginalised women and households. At first glance, the honey sector in …

Women making change in Nepal

In January, Dow Punpiputt met some of the women leaders who took part in the Raising Her Voice project in Nepal.  Here she gives a personal response to the impact of meeting with these inspirational women. After a few hours along the curvy road in Surkhet district, we finally reached Chhinchu village, tucked away down the slope. I was blown …