"As a group we can break down gender barriers"

SWISSAID is a pioneer in gender equality work. In the 1980s, the NGO was one of the first to set up a women’s department, systematically assessing women’s needs and implementing these findings in projects. Is SWISSAID still at the cutting edge today?

Absolutely. SWISSAID is involved in an area that is de facto a female domain, but where women continue to face discrimination: the global domain of smallholder farmers. At SWISSAID, we take immediate needs into account, but we also pursue long-term goals. Women’s lives should improve in the short term. For example, we train women in agroecology or provide them with shovels, rakes and watering cans so that they can harvest more and sell the surplus at the market. In the long term, we analyse the structural reasons for discrimination and seek solutions.

Can you give an example?

In many countries, women have very few rights: they are not allowed to own land, they do not receive loans, and they have no say in their villages. Some women are not even allowed by their husbands to go to the market alone to sell vegetables. We support women in changing this. We help them gain access to land and microloans. And they learn in workshops how to raise their voices with confidence. Here we work with groups, as it is easier to break down gender barriers and expand scope when working collectively.

Many women are initially reluctant to attend a workshop on gender equality on their own. But when a large proportion of the female village community is already participating, husbands run out of arguments to dissuade their wives. In these workshops, participants learn, among other things, what rights they are entitled to and what arguments they can use to convince their husbands or parents to grant them more freedom. If they also achieve financial success – for example, by successfully selling vegetables at the market – this further strengthens their position within the family and community.

What is the focus of gender equality work today?

When we develop projects at SWISSAID, we automatically consider the gender equality aspect. In a project on food security for a village community, for example, we focus on women because we know that feeding the family is in the hands of women. When we support women, the whole village automatically benefits. Gender equality is a component that runs through all projects. The aim is to strengthen the voice of women in the community so that they can have a say in important processes and decisions.

Giving women a stronger voice means that men have to relinquish power. How can SWISSAID contribute to achieve greater equality?

This is indeed a major challenge. SWISSAID got men on board back in the 1990s. There are specific workshops that promote change in men’s behaviour. We are achieving success in this area, but this takes a lot of time and patience. It is important that we start with young men, preferably at school, so that structures that have become entrenched over centuries can be broken down.

SWISSAID is active on three different continents. Are there cultural differences?

Yes, there are. Although ‘macho’ culture remains deeply rooted in many countries in South America and Africa, it is possible to openly address gender issues in certain contexts. In Colombia, for example, we can discuss with indigenous groups the roles assigned to each gender and topics. However, such discussions are not possible everywhere. It is crucial to develop workshop materials and discussion approaches that are specific to the context, taking into account cultural norms, local dynamics and the realities of daily life. Only in this way can sensitive topics such as gender roles, power relations and even domestic violence be addressed.
However, what applies in all contexts is that trust must first be established. Only then can more sensitive and controversial topics such as gender roles or power relations be constructively addressed and changed.

Do the coordination offices in the partner countries exchange information?

Yes, the exchange is institutionally promoted and guided. In workshops, experts from the various coordination offices in our partner countries can exchange information about different working approaches, difficulties and successes. In addition, the expertise of our local staff is absolutely essential. Our experts are the ones who bring their knowledge to each project.

Which success are you particularly proud of?

Thanks to the projects in India, numerous child marriages are prevented every year. Girls can finish school, some can pursue job training, and they are more free to decide when they want to marry. In addition, more and more families are foregoing dowries at marriage, thereby alleviating the problem of having to ruin themselves financially. In Colombia and Ecuador, thanks to workshops, more and more men of all ages are publicly speaking out against violence women. Across generations, a real change in mindset is gradually taking place.