EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa is calling on women to take a more central role in the regional integration process if they are to enjoy tangible benefits of the same.
The Speaker made the remarks when she opened the African Women’s Economic Policy Network Alumni Forum (AWEPON-WEEP) in Kampala, Uganda today. She reiterated that women’s contribution in development was paramount and central to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Speaker hailed the AWEPON Program for its laudable contribution to development and requested the leadership of the organization to woo the Republics of Burundi and Rwanda to its membership so that the entire EAC region can be fully on board. .
‘It is pleasing to learn that the major objective of AWEPON is pegged on enhancing productive capacities of African Women as a means to their economic empowerment and the eradication of feminized poverty’, Rt. Hon Zziwa noted.
The Speaker lauded AWEPON for the successes realized so far, with regards to economic empowerment of women.
‘ I am reliably informed that the project has benefitted over 30,000 women, five times more than was anticipated and there is an unrecorded tremendous multiplier effect at the grassroots level within the last three years’, Rt. Hon Zziwa noted.
In attendance were representatives from six countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroun, Lesotho, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and hosts, Uganda.
The Speaker appealed to the organization to explore avenues of self-sustainability in the long-run, adding that the establishment of a program on micro-finance and skills training was a step in the right direction. At the moment, the program is supported by DANIDA.
AWEPON Executive Director Florence Kasule stated that AWEPON was committed to enhancing voices of women against economic injustices. ‘ 80% of women are producers but they stay in the value chains. We need to move them to be at the centre of value addition’, Ms. Kasule noted.
Vicky Kisarale, a board member noted that the Pan-African based organization would continue to look into the plight of African women in the continent to ensure their progress.
The two day meeting aims at sharing of experiences and challenges following the end of phase one of the project.
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For More Information, contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer; East African Legislative Assembly; Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036; Email: bodiko@eachq.org Web: https://www.eala.org Arusha, Tanzania
