What makes change happen in women’s lives?
Photo/Kwabena Danso
Pathways of Women’s Empowerment is an international research and communications programme established in 2006 which links academics with activists and practitioners to find out what works to enhance women’s empowerment. We are identifying where women are achieving real gains and discovering the positive and negative factors which have influenced their journey. Pathways is funded by UKAid from the Department for International Development and received additional financing from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that enabled the programme to expand to include countries in conflict, post-conflict and crisis situations.
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In this Picture there are No Women!
The remarkable revelation of the Egyptian revolution concerns women. It turns out that the women of Egypt are at the heart of our politics. Since January 2011 a new wave of recognition for women’s political leadership and dynamism has swept the country...On the first anniversary of the revolution Hania Sholkamy reflects on the political status of women in Egypt
Empowerment: A Journey not a Destination
We are pleased to announce the launch of 'Empowerment: A Journey not a Destination'. This Pathways synthesis report presents the findings and key messages from our research from 59 projects in 15 countries over 5 years.
We will be officially marking the launch of the report with both a day-long conference to be held at SOAS on 13 January and an evening event at the House of Commons on 17 January.
To read the report see Empowerment: A Journey not a Destination. For more information on the events see DFID Research for Development and IDS News
Pathways Policy Papers
To accompany our synthesis report 'Empowerment: A Journey not a Destination', we have produced a series of policy papers which provide deeper analysis of some of the issues we have researched and present key messages.
Women Engaging Politically: Beyond Magic Bullets and Motorways, by Mariz Tadros, looks at women's political participation and presents case studies from Brazil, Costa Rica, Pakistan, Sudan, India, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh and Ghana
How can Social Protection provide Social Justice for Women?, by Hania Sholkamy, focuses on the experience of the Conditional Cash Transfer pilot scheme in Egypt
Sexuality and Empowerment: An Intimate Connection, by Kate Hawkins, Andrea Cornwall and Tessa Lewin, demonstrates why sexuality is so important for women’s empowerment
Contextualising the Economic Pathways of Women's Empowerment, by Naila Kabeer, examines the findings from multi-country survey work into women's economic empowerment
What makes Domestic Violence Legislation more effective?, by Cecilia Sardenberg, draws primarily on the experiences of the implementation of the Brazilian Maria da Penha Law
Supporting Pathways of Women's Empowerment: A Brief Guide for International Development Organisations, by Rosalind Eyben looks at what empowerment means and how best to support it
Pathways Hub Reports
These reports from each of the Pathways regional hubs provide highlights of some the activities and research undertaken over the last five years.
Pathways Latin America Hub Report
Pathways Middle East Hub Report
Pathways South Asia Hub Report
Pathways West Africa Hub Report
Rights and Resources
The final report from this research which sought to clarify the conditions under which external financial support to women's rights organisations has a positive impact on women's empowerment is now available to download. The research focused on eleven case study organisations - five in Bangladesh and six in Ghana - and the report brings together the analysis and findings from the two country studies.
'Rights and Resources: The Effects of External Financing on Organising for Women's Rights', Maitrayee Mukhopadhyay and Rosalind Eyben with Sohela Nazneen, Maheen Sultan, Agnes Apusigah and Dzodzi Tsikata
Revisioning Women's Empowerment
Pathways South Asia held their closing conference from 26-28 July 2011 at BRAC Centre to mark the end of research funding from the UK Department for International Development and the transition into a Pathways network. The conference, which brought together academics, activists, practitioners, media professionals, policymakers, and development partners, showcased the work of Pathways South Asia over the last five years. Through plenaries, conversations, film screenings, panels and digital stories it generated debates around the research findings and their implications for the different actors working on women's empowerment. The Pathways South Asia Hub Synthesis Report, focusing on some of the highlights of the research, was launched at the conference.
Revisioning Women's Empowerment conference programme
Photo/Blessings Photos
Threads: Changes and Continuities in Ghanaian Women's Lives
Pathways West Africa held a three-day photographic exhibition from 24-26 August 2011 at the Teacher's Hall Complex in Accra, showcasing photographs taken as part of their three generational research with Ghanaian women in Tamale, Northern Ghana. The very popular exhibition was staged alongside the Pathways West Africa Closing Conference which marked the end of research funding from the UK Department for International Development. Among those attending the conference was Sierra Leonean politician Hon. Dr Bernadette Lahai.
“Across the globe women seem to rise above the most challenging circumstances” but we are less clear “about the pathways to empowerment” Professor Takyiwaa Manuh
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