Beyond the observable transformations in the nonprofit sector and our initial exploration of AI in business development, project management, and more, AI is also silently presenting a potential revolution in a less anticipated yet profoundly significant domain: the battle against gender-based violence (GBV)

This article aims to glimpse the future and explore AI\’s potential in the nonprofit sector.

AI Chatbots: A New Frontier in GBV Response

AI chatbots could be designed to simulate human conversation to support NGOs and other groups working to prevent GBV and support survivors. These chatbots can provide round-the-clock support, offering immediate responses when human services are unavailable. They can also provide a safe and anonymous space for survivors to seek help and access resources, a critical feature given the fear of stigma or retaliation many survivors face. This could also be an easy way to present the referral pathway and guide through the available services mapping.

One example is the AI-powered chatbot discussed in a UN Women article, which helps women seek information without fear of judgment. Similarly, an Asian Development Bank blog post highlights how chatbots can be programmed to anticipate the information and referral needs of women and girls at risk.

Moreover, AI could be a potent tool that case managers and social workers could use to seek immediate technical support and explore different ways to ensure that they are compliant with the IASC guidelines and case management best practices. Chatbots could also contribute to the capacity building of case managers by role-playing different cases and situations, preparing case managers for various scenarios.

The Future of AI Chatbots in GBV Prevention

Beyond providing support and resources, AI chatbots can also play a role in GBV prevention by using it in education and awareness, reaching a global audience with critical information about GBV. They can help users understand the complexities of GBV, its root causes, and its impact on individuals and communities. By fostering a better understanding of GBV, chatbots can contribute to a culture of prevention and intervention.

In addition, as highlighted in a World Bank discussion, chatbots can also be used to tackle GBV across different cultures and regions, adapting to each area’s unique challenges and contexts. This adaptability makes them a versatile tool in the global fight against GBV. UNESCO and UN Women have also highlighted the potential of AI chatbots in addressing GBV, further emphasizing the growing recognition of this technology\’s role in this critical area.

The potential for AI chatbots in GBV prevention and response is vast. With advancements in natural language processing and understanding, future chatbots could be equipped to handle crises, provide immediate guidance and support to distressed individuals, and direct the referral pathway and service mapping. The integration of the GMV IMS and AI could also collect anonymized data about user interactions, providing valuable insights for NGOs and policymakers about the prevalence and nature of GBV in different contexts. I also think Chatbots and AI integration in online platforms can help address risks of extortion and online harassment or at least reduce that.

The Imperative of Community Involvement

In the fight against GBV, community involvement is paramount. AI chatbots, while a promising tool, should be integrated into a broader strategy that includes community engagement and participation. Communities play a crucial role in shaping norms and attitudes towards GBV, and their involvement can help ensure that interventions are culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate.

Community members can provide valuable insights into the specific needs and circumstances of GBV survivors, which can inform the design and implementation of AI chatbots. By fostering a sense of ownership and involvement, we can enhance the effectiveness of these tools and ensure they truly serve the community\’s needs.

Ethical Considerations: Navigating the New Frontier

As we embrace the potential of AI chatbots in GBV prevention and response, we must navigate the ethical challenges that arise. Ensuring the privacy and security of sensitive user data is the top priority. Survivors are often in vulnerable situations, and any breach of their privacy could have serious consequences.

In this context, a survivor-centered approach is paramount. This means prioritizing the survivor\’s rights, needs, and wishes, ensuring their safety, and providing access to appropriate care and support. AI chatbots must be designed and programmed always to respect these principles.

We must also be mindful of the risk of re-traumatization. Interacting with an AI chatbot about one\’s experiences with GBV can be a distressing experience, and it\’s crucial to ensure that these interactions are handled with the utmost sensitivity.

Lastly, we must be aware of the potential for misunderstandings or miscommunications. AI chatbots, while increasingly sophisticated, are not infallible, and communication errors could lead to harm. As we move forward, these ethical considerations and the commitment to a survivor-centered approach must guide our development and use of AI chatbots in GBV prevention and response.

A Tool, Not a Replacement

Using AI and AI Chatbots could help us deliver better services and play a key role in preventing and responding to GBV, but it\’s important to remember that they are a tool, not a replacement for human support services. They can complement existing services by providing additional support and resources but cannot replace human service providers\’ empathy, understanding, and nuanced response.

AI chatbots are emerging as a promising tool in the fight against GBV. But like any tool, they need to be used responsibly and ethically. With careful development and thoughtful implementation, they can provide valuable support to survivors of GBV and contribute significantly to prevention efforts.

So, let\’s embrace this technology, not as a solution or replacement, but as a powerful ally in our ongoing effort to combat GBV and create a safer, more equitable world.

The Value of Diversity

Diversity in leadership is more than just a buzzword—it is a strategic advantage. Various perspectives can lead to improved decision-making, increased innovation, and a more inclusive organizational culture. When we talk about diversity, we are not just talking about gender. We are talking about diverse experiences, skills, and perspectives that can enrich our understanding and approach to our work.

In the context of donor organizations, women in leadership roles can contribute significantly to the diversity of thought. They bring their unique experiences and perspectives to the decision-making process, which can lead to more comprehensive and effective strategies for funding NGOs.

Diversity extends beyond just strategic advantages. It is also about fostering an organizational culture that values inclusivity and equity. In a diverse leadership team, every decision is the result of a multitude of perspectives coming together. This can lead to developing more inclusive policies and guidelines, ensuring a fair and equitable distribution of funds.

Women\’s Leadership Style

When discussing leadership styles, it is important to remember that they can vary from person to person, regardless of gender. However, research has shown that women leaders often exhibit certain characteristics that can be particularly beneficial in the context of donor organizations.

Women leaders are often noted for their ability to build relationships and foster collaboration. In the context of donor organizations, this can translate into stronger partnerships with NGOs, leading to more effective and impactful funding initiatives.

Additionally, women leaders often excel in empathy and emotional intelligence. This can be particularly valuable when making funding decisions, as it allows for a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges faced by NGOs and the communities they serve.

Women leaders also tend to be highly effective communicators. They are often skilled at articulating their vision and inspiring others to join them. This can mean more effective communication with NGOs, stakeholders, and the public for donor organizations, leading to increased support and engagement.

Furthermore, women leaders often demonstrate a commitment to mentorship and talent development. This can help donor organizations cultivate a pipeline of future leaders, ensuring the organization\’s continued success and impact.

Impact on Donor Engagement

Women leaders often excel in building relationships and fostering collaboration, leading to stronger partnerships with NGOs. This can result in more effective and impactful funding initiatives, as these partnerships allow for a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges faced by NGOs and their communities.

Furthermore, regarding state authorities, women leaders are just as effective. They are great communicators and relationship builders, which can lead to better coordination and cooperation between donor organizations and state authorities. This means more aligned funding strategies and more effective support for NGOs and their communities.

But it does not stop there. Women leaders can play a crucial role in engaging with other donors. Their unique perspectives can help to highlight the importance of funding NGOs that focus on issues often disproportionately affecting women, such as gender equality, education, and healthcare. This can lead to increased support for these NGOs from other donors.

Reducing Bias in Decision-Making and Policies

Promoting more women into leadership roles within donor organizations is not just about representation—it is a significant step toward reducing decision-making and policy development bias. Women leaders, with their unique experiences and perspectives, can challenge the status quo and bring fresh insights that can help to reduce gender biases that may exist within the organization.

This shift can have a profound impact on the organization\’s operations. With more women in leadership roles, the organization can benefit from a broader range of perspectives in decision-making processes. This diversity of thought can lead to more balanced and inclusive decisions, which better reflect the diverse needs and challenges of the NGOs and communities that the organization serves.

More women in leadership roles can also influence policy development within the organization. It can create more equitable and inclusive policies, ensuring all voices are heard and considered in the organization\’s operations. This can ultimately lead to more effective and impactful funding strategies, benefiting NGOs and their communities.

Setting an Example for NGOs and Other Organizations

Donor organizations play a significant role in shaping the nonprofit sector. They set the tone for how NGOs operate, what issues are prioritized, and how funds are allocated. As such, the decisions made within donor organizations can have far-reaching impacts.

By promoting more women into leadership roles, donor organizations can set a powerful example for NGOs and other organizations in the sector. It sends a clear message about the value of gender diversity and the importance of women\’s perspectives in decision-making processes.

Moreover, it can inspire NGOs and other organizations to follow suit. Seeing women in leadership roles within donor organizations can motivate NGOs to promote more women into leadership positions. This can lead to a ripple effect, promoting gender diversity across the entire sector.

However, it is not just about setting an example. It is also about creating a more equitable and inclusive sector. By promoting more women into leadership roles, donor organizations can ensure that the needs and perspectives of all community members are taken into account in decision-making processes. This can lead to more inclusive and effective interventions, ultimately benefiting the communities that NGOs serve.

The nonprofit sector is a world of change and progress; it is time for our leadership to reflect that. It is not just about having more women leaders but about what these leaders can bring.

The psychological toll of working in conflict zones can be significant because they may experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Exposure to violence, the pressure to deliver aid under challenging conditions, and the impact of witnessing suffering and trauma can all contribute to mental health challenges. Furthermore, they may face a constant cycle of crisis and recovery, which can add to their stress levels. Providing adequate mental health support to address these mental health challenges is essential. This support can include access to counselling, debriefing sessions, and other forms of psychological support. NGOs should prioritize mental health support and provide aid workers with the necessary resources to address their challenges. Aid workers need access to the support they need before, during and after their missions.

Encouraging open communication about mental health issues is another important aspect of promoting a supportive organizational culture. This includes creating a safe and non-judgmental space to discuss mental health challenges and seek help when needed. Creating a culture of openness and support can reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and encourage aid workers to seek the help they need.
NGOs can also support their staff by providing training and resources to help them cope with the stress and trauma of their work. This can include training in stress management, resilience-building, and other coping mechanisms that staff and volunteers can use to manage their challenges. Unfortunately, mental health issues are often stigmatized and taboo in the humanitarian sector. Greater recognition of mental health issues is needed to reduce stigma and encourage aid workers to seek the help they need.

Self-care is essential for staff and volunteers working in conflict zones and remote areas, and practising self-care can help them cope with the challenges of working in conflict zones and maintain their mental health and well-being. This can include practices such as mindfulness, exercise, and regular breaks. Moreover, it is important to provide training on self-care techniques to help aid workers in building resilience and managing stress.

Donors can also be important in supporting aid workers\’ mental health and well-being. Greater investment in mental health support for aid workers can help to reduce the risk of mental health challenges and to promote the well-being of aid workers. Donors can also support efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues in the humanitarian sector and to reduce stigma. Donors can also support research on the best practices for mental health support in the humanitarian sector.

We all can take steps to manage our own mental health and well-being while working in conflict zones. In my experience working in conflict zones and hard-to-reach areas, I found that establishing a routine, setting realistic goals, and prioritizing self-care were crucial to managing my mental health and well-being.
Establishing a routine gave me a sense of structure and stability, which helped me maintain control during times of uncertainty. Setting realistic goals allowed me to focus on what I could achieve at the moment rather than becoming overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. Prioritizing self-care, whether through exercise, meditation or simply taking a recharge, helped me manage stress and maintain a positive outlook. It is important to note that while these strategies can be effective, they are not a substitute for adequate mental health support.

As aid workers, we know that working in conflict zones is a challenging yet rewarding experience. However, the psychological toll of this work can be significant.
We need to create a culture of openness and support to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and encourage aid workers to seek the help they need.
It is time for NGOs, aid workers, and donors to unite to prioritize mental health support for those who risk their lives to provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable communities affected by conflict.

The origins of the cycle of violence theory can be traced back to the 1970s, one of the most influential studies being that of Lenore Walker, who developed the concept of the cycle of violence. This suggests that people who have been abused, particularly in childhood, are more likely to abuse themselves. This idea is often used to explain the prevalence of gender-based violence and why it can be difficult for people to break free from abuse in relationships. Walker\’s study found that abused women often experienced repeated escalating tension, explosive violence, and reconciliation (Walker, 1979). Other researchers have highlighted the role of patriarchy and gender inequality in perpetuating cycles of abuse. In many African societies, women and girls are marginalized and disempowered, leaving them vulnerable to abuse. This can lead to a cycle of abuse in which women who have experienced violence use violence to assert their power and control. However, recent research suggests that the cycle of abuse is not as simple as once thought.

One of the most prominent African scholars to address this issue is South African psychologist Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela. In her work, she argues that there is a strong link between experiencing trauma and becoming a perpetrator of violence (Gobodo-Madikizela, 2009). This is because trauma can result in a loss of empathy and an inability to recognize the impact of one\’s actions on others. She also notes that perpetrators of violence often have a history of being abused themselves, suggesting that a cycle of abuse needs to be broken. According to a 2019 meta-analysis, while there is a correlation between being abused and becoming an abuser, the relationship is not as strong as previously believed (Assink, 2019). Other studies have found that individuals who have been abused are no more likely to become abusers than those who have not experienced abuse (Kaufman & Zigler, 1987). These findings suggest that the cycle of violence may not be a reliable explanation for why gender-based violence occurs.

Since Walker\’s study, the cycle of violence theory has been widely accepted and applied to many types of abuse, including child and sexual violence. However, the concept has been criticized for being overly simplistic and ignoring the complex social, cultural, and psychological factors contributing to gender-based violence. For example, research has found that individuals exposed to violence in their communities or who have experienced other forms of trauma are more likely to become abusers than those who have not (Holt, Buckley, & Whelan, 2008).

Despite criticism of the cycle of violence theory, it remains a popular explanation for why gender-based violence occurs. This can have negative consequences for victims of violence, who may feel stigmatized and responsible for their experiences. In addition, the theory of the cycle of violence can reinforce harmful gender stereotypes and perpetuate the notion that violence is inherent in particular communities or cultures. Similarly, Nigerian sociologist Jacob Olupona has studied the relationship between trauma and violence in African societies. He argues that the trauma of colonialism and slavery has contributed to a culture of violence in Africa, as traumatized people often seek to regain power and agency through violence. Olupona notes that traditional African cultures historically had mechanisms for conflict resolution and violence prevention, but these mechanisms have been weakened by colonialism and modernization (Olupona, 2004).

Preventing abuse requires a holistic approach considering the historical, cultural and structural factors contributing to violence. This means addressing issues such as gender inequality, trauma and the erosion of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms. It also means providing support and resources to abuse victims and addressing the root causes of violence. Whether victims of abuse become perpetrators themselves is a complex and differentiated question that needs to be carefully considered. Scholars have made significant contributions to this field, highlighting the role of trauma, patriarchy, and cultural factors in perpetuating cycles of violence. By taking a holistic approach to addressing abuse in African communities, we can work to break these cycles and create safer and more equal societies for all.

References

Assink, M., van der Put, C. E., Meeuwsen, M. W., de Jong, N. M., Oort, F. J., Stams, G. J. J., & Hoeve, M. (2019). Risk factors for child sexual abuse victimization: A meta-analytic review. Psychological bulletin, 145(5), 459.

Gobodo-Madikizela, P., & Van der Merwe, C. N. (Eds.). (2009). Memory, narrative and forgiveness: Perspectives on the unfinished journeys of the past. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Holt, S., Buckley, H., & Whelan, S. (2008). The impact of exposure to domestic violence on children and young people: A review of the literature. Child abuse & neglect, 32(8), 797–810.

Kaufman, J., & Zigler, E. (1987). Do abused children become abusive parents?. American journal of orthopsychiatry, 57(2), 186-192.

Olupona, J. K. (Ed.). (2004). Beyond primitivism: indigenous religious traditions and modernity. Psychology Press.

Walker, L. E. (1979). Battered women: A psychosociological study of domestic violence.

Unfortunately, even young children exhibit acts of gender inequality in their behaviours and utterances in schools, playgrounds and places of worship. I always asked myself, \”who told the three years old boy he is stronger than his elder sister because he is a male\”? What makes that young teenager believe he is the sole heir to the family inheritance? What can we say about the Darwinism origin of species and natural selection? Is this also in place? Can we also put into perspective Bandura’s social learning principles? All of these put the burning concerns about the default settings of patriarchy over matriarchy. In my quest for specific answers, I discovered it all started in the “family”, right in the home.

Our parents unintentionally taught us that “males are superior to females” by their actions and words. Gender inequality has been practiced and passed down from one generation to the other. Ashley Montagu, a great British anthropologist, said, “the family is the basis of the society, as the family is, so is the society”. The family makes up society.

It begins from birth. In Nigeria, parents celebrate a male child\’s birth more than a female child. Parents provide more tender care to the male child and go as far as telling the female siblings that the male child is the bearer of the family name and future. The household chore is seen as the female’s domain, so the girl is given more work in the house because she is told that “she is a home keeper and will grow up to be a housewife”. The girl child is already conditioned for marriage right from childhood. Adichie wrote, “we condition girls to aspire to marriage, but we don’t condition boys to aspire to marriage, so there is already a terrible imbalance at the start”. Girls are told and conditioned to compromise everything for their male partners. Then the males are prioritized in education. The boys go to school while the girls help their mothers at home, farm or market. The boys are encouraged to build interest in politics and take up leadership roles, while the girls are told they are followers and cannot lead. Even in nursery and primary schools, the class/house captains are primarily boys. From a tender age, the boys have the freedom to go anywhere at any time, while the females are not allowed to leave the house at any time. A male folk is told to protect his sisters even though he is the youngest of them all. Parents share information and consult with the male children in making decisions in the family but neglect the females. The action of parents naturally communicates the message of patriarchy to the children.

 Unintentional stereotyping of one gender through words is very common in Nigeria and is seen as casual, but it makes an everlasting impression in the hearts of the boys and girls. Statements like “why are you crying like a girl”? Quite a pathetic way of describing actions as weak and aligning such actions to the feminine gender, describing the female gender as an emotional piece that needs succour. “Why are you behaving like a girl”? Questioning the nature of one’s behavior as a strategy to make one wake up from a weak feminine associated state. “Don’t you know you are a man? You are worthless for letting a girl come top of the class”, as though academic prowess is meant for men alone. These statements begin to shape the thought pattern and behavior of the male child towards dominance and the females towards weakness. It all begins right from the Home.

 The human system is not devoid of learning, especially in children at this stage of development. Anything the parents do influences the children either consciously or unconsciously. The human mind is adroit and takes cognizance of everything placed on it. Parents must do more if we need to take this challenge to bring equality to our society. Most importantly, start by showing equal love to your children, eliminating any form of gender roles in the home, and then giving them an equal opportunity as they all have equal rights. Parents should discourage patriarchy and promote gender equality in the best possible ways.

According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, the aggregate findings of the most recent World Values Survey reveal only minor differences in voter turnout between men and women, which means that both men and women almost equally exercised their right to vote in their countries. For example, in Kenya’s 2017 national election, the total number of registered voters was 19 611 4234 (about 9.1 million female and 10.6 million male), and voter turnout was approximately 79 per cent, with roughly 15.2 million valid votes cast. However, although the turnout for female voters was high, women were still unable to gain the constitutionally mandated 33 per cent representation in elective office (NDI and FIDA, 2018).

Women play a paramount role when they vote. First, they promote genuine democracy by exercising their right to vote. One of the fundamental principles of democracy is citizen participation. Elections are free and fair when both men and women participate equally in the electoral process. Also, through civic education provided during the electoral process, women learn about their electoral and constitutional rights and how to advocate and fight for their rights.

Female voters significantly increase the number of women in leadership positions when they support their fellow women who vie for political positions. This increases women in power and leadership positions and ensures the realization of two-thirds gender rule in Kenya. For example, in Bomet county, during the 2017 national elections, women supported and voted for the Late Governor Joyce Laboso, who won the gubernatorial seat to become the first woman governor in Kenya.

Women\’s political participation promotes gender equality by challenging the social and political structures that maintain a culture of subordination of women in both the private and public spheres. Involving women in politics has both political and economic benefits. Politically, it increases the number of women in parliament, reduces corruption, improves policy outcomes, and promotes minority group inclusion in public spheres. Economically, it views women as development actors, encourages women\’s labor-force participation, and promotes economic and development growth (Asiedu et al. 2018.) For instance, significant policy and legislative changes in favor of women were made during this time and sponsored by female Members of Parliament (MPs) as the number of women in parliament increased, especially in the 9th and 10th Parliaments. These include laws addressing children\’s rights, employment, sexual offences, and tax exemptions for diapers and sanitary towels. Not to be overlooked is the parental leave, which was extended to four months (Anyango et al. 2018).

Female voters create opportunities that allow them to engage in public decision-making. Women are not a homogenous group. Depending on their geographical location, age, social status, level of education, or marital status, they have very different life experiences that lead to different priorities and needs. During the electoral process, women receive civic education that creates awareness of the importance of electing credible leaders.

Their needs, interests, and wants are considered when they vote for credible leaders who articulate their issues. This, in turn, affects the level of development in the country.

Female voters create opportunities for women\’s organizations to play a crucial role in empowering women in politics. For example, choosing qualified candidates, facilitating women\’s nominations and elections, supporting younger women seeking to enter politics with capacity-building and training, encouraging collaboration between women from various social sectors both inside and outside of politics, raising resources and funds for campaigns, and developing networks (Asiedu et al. 2018). For instance, the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Kenya, 2021, started a campaign to encourage the participation of women in political leadership at the county and national levels. The \”#VoteADada\” campaign, supported by the Kenyan Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA), Diakonia Kenya, the Swiss Embassy in Kenya, and Womankind Worldwide, aims to start a conversation about achieving the constitutionally required two-thirds majority in elective and appointed positions.

Women constitute half of the registered voters in Kenya and therefore play a crucial role in ensuring the increase of women’s participation in power and decision-making positions, that democracy is upheld, and that leaders who will steer the country into sustainable development are elected.

References

Anyango, B , Alupo, B & Opoku, M. (2018). Women in Politics in Kenya: an Analysis of Participation and Barriers. Multidisciplinary Journal of Gender Studies. 7. 1505-1530. 10.17583/generos.2018.3179.

Asiedu, E., Branstette, C., Gaekwad-Babulal, N., & Malokele, N. (2018, January). The effect of women’s representation in parliament and the passing of gender sensitive policies. In ASSA Annual Meeting (Philadelphia, 5-7 January). https://www.area web.Org/conference.

Abdurashid, S. (2016). Voter turnout trends around the world. Stockholm: International IDEA.

BRIEF, POLICY BRIEF POLICY. \”Strengthen Girls’ and Women’s Political Participation and Decision-Making Power.\”  Deliver for Good.

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Kenya), (2018) A Gender Analysis of the 2017 Kenya Elections.

Unpaid care work encompasses all services provided for free within a household for its members, including housework and volunteer community service (OECD, 2014).  It entails caring for children, the elderly, and the sick. It also includes laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, and cleaning. Women and girls devote a disproportionate amount of time to unpaid care work compared to men. This is because gender norms reinforce the notion that women\’s and girls\’ roles are limited to the home.

Although unpaid care work is critical for households and economies to thrive, it remains invisible and undervalued. According to Global Citizen, the total value of unpaid care work is estimated to be between 10% and 39% of the Gross Domestic Product. When recognized, it will have a greater economic impact than sectors such as manufacturing, commerce, and transportation.

The burden of unpaid care work aggravates women’s time in poverty, severely limiting their ability to participate in various political, social and economic activities. Time poverty is a lack of discretionary time brought about by inequitable gender-biased allocation of unpaid labor and it mostly affects women. When women devote their time to unpaid care work, they lose valuable time that could be used to increase sustainable productivity, learn how to assert their rights, and participate in decision-making. Not only does time poverty limit women as individuals, but it also prevents the community and country from benefiting from the talents and productivity that women would bring to the formal sector. Women in Kenya\’s informal settlements and rural areas bear the burden of unpaid care work and lack time for personal or leisure rest and sleep, which harms their health.

Many care-related tasks are performed by women in the morning between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m., which is considered the best time to find paid work. To balance their care burden, women are frequently forced to accept perilous, flexible, and low-wage work. (Action aid). Thus, poor rural women and women living in urban informal settlements face several barriers to finding fair and reasonably paid work. As a result, gendered jobs emerge, and the wage gap between men and women widens.

Once women join the paid labor force to gain economic empowerment, they face a triple burden: balancing household childcare and elder care with paid work responsibilities and engaging in community work. This frequently leads to women and girls foregoing their fundamental rights to education or furthering their studies, health care, decent work, and leisure time. This perpetuates the cycle of dependency, primarily on male family members, and can exacerbate gender inequality and violence against women. This keeps women and girls disproportionately vulnerable to poverty.

Children\’s well-being is seriously impacted by the unequal gender distribution of unpaid care duties. It restricts girls\’ time for leisure, personal growth, and learning, depriving them of equal possibilities to succeed. These limitations and missed opportunities will affect a girl\’s life well beyond childhood, possibly affecting her socioeconomic prospects, choices, and accomplishments as an adult — as well as the welfare of her children, should she become a mother. They are also likely to have an impact on boys, as they may adopt a skewed perception of the value of girls\’ versus boys\’ time and develop into limited roles as fathers and caregivers.

There is still work to be done to guarantee that Kenya completely tackles the disparities caused by unpaid care work and advances gender equality, even though various interventions have been made to recognize, lessen, and redistribute the burden of unpaid care work.

References

Actionaid International. Unpaid care and domestic work: who it affects and why it\’s a problem.

Ferrant, G., Pesando, L. M., & Nowacka, K. (2014). Unpaid Care Work: The missing link in the analysis of gender gaps in labor outcomes. Boulogne Billancourt: OECD Development Center.

Rodriguez, L. (2021). Unpaid Care Work: Everything You Need to Know. Global citizen

Oloo, R., & Parkes, A. (2021). Addressing unpaid care and domestic work for a gender-equal and inclusive Kenya. OXFAM.

We often discuss healthcare on a macro level. Why are the local clinics miles away? Why are the clinics not well-developed infrastructure wise? Why are the doctors and nurses overworked, underpaid, and are not provided for basic PPE? Why can we not find crucial medicine in our pharmacies and what is that about the blood bank again?

Today, however, let’s stray from the norm. Just today. At least until we are ready to speak more about this issue. Let’s think of the caregivers like Dr A has. No, not the nurses and doctors, although we respect them, the ones who are as shocked as you are at a sudden or chronic illness and take the time to be by your side feeding you, assisting you with normal easy tasks you are now finding difficult like bathing, walking, using the toilet or even just sitting up in bed. To many of us, it is just a spouse, or a parent, or a child, or a relative. In truth, at that point where you are not functioning at a hundred, they are your caregiver. I know you are probably wondering, “This is Gender Ink, exactly what does this have to do with gender?”

What are the Statistcis?

From a gender lens, most research, and statistics you can find on informal caregiving particularly in African countries mostly rotate around HIV/AIDS or care for the elderly. While it locks out other major conditions that are more caregiver demanding like cancer, cataracts, keratoconus, Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy or even old age, we can use it as a sample to dive deeper into the engendered aspect.

In several research studies around caregiving, it was found that of the informal caregivers in low- and middle-income countries, approximately 57%-81% were women. Bhan, Rao and Raj (2020) measured psychosocial well-being by asking their respondents, the caregivers, to self-rate their health based on how they felt about their stress levels, the level of difficulty of their task, etc. While they give great statistics, and if you do have time, feel free to read more on this great research, citation provided, it is the conclusion that the “long term effect of informal caregiving being associated with worse health outcomes, particularly greater mental health burdens, affect both men and women, but maybe more prominent in women” (Bhan, Rao and Raj, 2020), that catches my eye.

Exactly Why Do We Have More Women Caregivers?

We must have heard or even used the tag line, “We are Africans and Africa is our business,” when speaking about culture, politics, beliefs, economic, social, and other aspects of our lives. In the majority of our African societies, women take the role of nurturers and that alone has made them default informal caregivers. Of course, that does not mean that their gender triple roles are reduced by any measure. It is crucial to note that in recent years, more men are taking the informal caregiver roles, and soon we will be including discussion of men, especially in post-partum situations.

Can More Be Done to Support Informal Caregivers?

 Absolutely. With Africa’s network coverage increasing, we can develop tools like mobile apps and websites tailored specifically to address caregiver roles in particular illnesses, including how they can help loved ones accept and express themselves in the wake of a difficult illness. Mental health support specific to caregivers can also be explored. In some instances, educating a caregiver on the disease state and progression may also be of comfort to caregivers as they know what to expect instead of making those conversations exclusive for the rich relatives who only show up to drive them to the hospital once a month.

Unfortunately, our informal caregiver gems are rarely appreciated or recognized from a healthcare perspective. Let’s be honest African children. We contribute towards hospital bills, offer our prayers, and well wishes to the sick and visit them and completely neglect the caregivers’ existence and needs.

How many times have you picked up a packet of sanitary towels or a shaving blade for the caregiver while you stop by the supermarket to bring some Ribena or Lucozade for those ailing? Do we even genuinely ask how they are really doing and see beyond the “I am fine” response or usual pleasantries? How about in the event of death of whoever they are taking care of after years of their life being defined by their caregiving role? Are there resources for them to feel supported? Peer groups, mental health, education, and career? Anything anyone? We need to do better by our informal caregivers. Let’s all begin by recognizing they exist and that while it is not paid labor, it is work. Difficult work.

The Future of Caregiving

Of course, we cannot project the future with certainty, as COVID has taught us all. However, we can certainly start planning based on some facts. 200 million youth in Sub-Sahara Africa means obviously, in some 50 years we will need someone to take care of us because with old age, comes health complications. Already, around 45 million people in the region are living with diabetes, approximately 60% of dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer’s Disease, do we need to discuss arthritis cases rising?

Unlike previous generations, we will not have the luxury of our children being full-time caregivers given that life is becoming more expensive, meaning everyone is more focused on the productive role of life. Already, a lot of people are delaying parenthood anyway. Finding home managers is a challenge, so do not count on that either.

Part of our generational focus should be on how to transform the informal caregiving role into something more formal. We can learn a thing or two from our fellow earth occupants. We are already witnessing brain drain as more of our counterparts explore the western world healthcare industry where they need more people to cater for their ageing population and emerging diseases. Home aide health, certified nurse assistants, and personal care aides are areas that should certainly be developed. Not only will it offer relief to the informal caregivers by giving them a chance to take a day off or chase their dreams instead of pausing it, but also create employment. It is time to rethink those ridiculed “changing adult diapers” roles. As far as cost goes, we may want to start saving or change our attitude and policies towards insurance. Let’s selfishly plan for the future of the continent. We are no longer leaders of tomorrow. Tomorrow is here.

Reference

Nandita Bhan, Namratha Rao, and Anita Raj. Journal of Women’s Health. Oct 2020. 1328-1338. http://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2019.7769

Most available data focus on rural women who inform research data that gets funding. Women\’s issues have been bundled up to the rural setting, and little attention is given to the urban woman. It does not mean that rural women should be left out, far from it. For the longest time, rural women have been disproportionately marginalized because of the physical location, economic status and level of education. However, it is fair to consider that with changing times, women in urban settings are facing discrimination just as the women in the rural setting.

In urban areas, women are becoming the majority, and many people live in female-headed households. Women\’s experiences in cities differ based on their circumstances and profiles, such as age and living space, which are primarily determined by income, education levels, household profile, networks, and health (Tacoli & Satterthwaite, 2013).

In the urban setting, the focus shifts to women and girls living in an informal settlement (slums). The gap, however, is that women and girls in the slums are more marginalized but then again, the women in \’rich\’ environments are as marginalized as the people in the slum area.

Women who are viewed by society to have \’made it\’ get the societal pressure to have it all figured out. They should be good wives, be leaders in their respective organizations, be a good sister and most importantly, wear the veil of motherhood with uttermost appreciation. However, is this even feasible? Let us look at a scenario of a woman in an 8am -5 pm work environment. She ought to be up early, get the children ready, have the husband peppered out, have breakfast ready before she takes care of herself and be at work on time. In the evening, get home on time, ensure the children have done their homework, and serve dinner. This is worse if the woman is pregnant. Society expects nothing less. Besides, an educated woman is supposed to build a community, isn\’t she?

Women are viewed differently from men. Ruth Shays states: “The mind of the man and the mind of the woman is the same. But this business of living makes women use their minds in ways that men don\’t even have to think about”. Gender disparities are felt in many facets of everyday life, including access to decent job opportunities, increased workloads due to the dual responsibility of earning a living and caring for others, access to financial assets and housing protection, equitable tenure rights, access to services, wealth accumulation, involvement in public government processes, and personal security, the latter due in part to inadequate infrastructure. (Chant & McIlwaine, 2016).

In the urban setting, the focus is on sexualizing and politicizing the woman\’s body. The pressure for the urban women to achieve their reproductive, productive and community roles leaves them vulnerable to the ‘society police’. Women are frequently urged to fulfill the roles of ego stroking girlfriend, stoic wife or nurturing mother. Not forgetting Gender-based violence which has a significant impact on women\’s economic empowerment, especially in urban settings where gender norms may be challenged.

In specific ways, changing gender roles in urban environments would necessitate greater community engagement and, in some cases, collective action to support group priorities and entitlements. (Moser, 2016).

When women have increased wealth accumulation and diversified asset portfolios, coupled with supportive structural policy initiatives and tools, they can increase their empowerment and agency to make decisions and manage assets – this can lead to a transformation of gender power relations and more gender equality (Moser, 2016).

Understanding the intersection of poverty and gender roles in urban environments involves a multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral lens. This approach will illustrate how urban prosperity does not always favor women and how they are marginalized in income poverty, asset poverty, time and power (Chant & McIlwaine, 2016).

References

Chant S. & McIlwaine C. (2016) Cities, Slums and Gender in the Global South. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge

Moser, C. (2016) Introduction: towards a nexus linking gender, assets and transformational pathways to just cities. In Moser, C (Ed.) Gender, Asset Accumulation and Just Cities: Pathways to transformation (pp. 12-37). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Tacoli C. & Satterthwaite D. (2013) Editorial: Gender and Urban Change. Environment and Urbanisation. Vol. 25, 3-8. Retrieved from: http://eau.sagepub.com/content/25/1/3.full.pdf+html. DOI:10.1177/0956247813479086.

Women\’s economic well-being has highly been affected since the pandemic in March due to disruption of formal employment and informal income generation. Due to the imposed lockdown as a measure taken by most governments to control the spread of the virus, most companies were forced to shut down either temporarily or permanently. Most employees were laid off, for example, those working in the hospitality service industry such as spas and salons. Most companies reduced employee\’s salary due to low profit.  People were forced to shut down their informal jobs, such as street food vending, second-hand clothes business, and childcare services; most of these jobs are women-dominated. This has greatly affected the income rates, leading to an increase in people living in extreme poverty globally. Research done by UN WOMEN shows that by 2021 the pandemic will push 96 million people into extreme poverty, 47 million women and girls (Aczona, 2020). This means that globally, the number of women living below the poverty line has increased by approximately 435 million worldwide.

The double burden has also been one of a challenge that was escalated by the imposed lockdown. Women faced additional workload since children were not going to schools, and they were also forced to work from home. They met with the burden of balancing full-time childcare, school responsibilities, formal employment, family caregiving. Due to the caregiving roles, women were predisposed to contracting COVID-19 to care for sick family members.

Most countries, especially underdeveloped countries, have recorded high rates of Gender-Based Violence during the pandemic. Sexual violence is at its peak. Women and girls were raped during the lockdown by close relatives and by strangers. In Kenya, teenage pregnancy rates and intimate partner violence rates are alarming. Harmful cultural practices such as child marriages, female genital mutilation was also high.

According to a report by Israeli start-up L1ght up, reports of cyberbullying increased rapidly during the lockdown. The incidences increased by 70% between March and April last year. As schools across the world were closed to stop the spread of the virus, classes were moved online; hence more time online created more opportunities for harassment. Victims of cyber harassment suffer mental health issues, low self-esteem, depression and stress. Research shows that women experience far more sexualized harassment than men.

Victims of Gender-Based Violence are exposed to contracting sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS. Women\’s mental health has also been greatly affected due to drastic changes, lack of finances, marital conflicts, and loss of loved ones. Maternal health care was also greatly affected. For example, it was difficult in Kenya to access transportation to the hospital past curfew hours due to the imposed curfew hours.  Female doctors and nurses have also been predisposed to contracting the virus as they deal with the patients directly.  They and their immediate families are more likely to suffer psychological distress. This includes; depression, stress, fear, anxiety, insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder. Some have succumbed to the virus after contracting it during the line of duty, for example, Dr Doreen Adisa in Kenya.

Persons living with disabilities are at a greater risk of contracting COVID 19. This is due to the barriers to accessing hand washing facilities or performing hand washing tasks due to their impairments. They face challenges in exercising social distancing due to their dependence on caregivers. People living with disabilities, especially women and girls, are at a disproportionate risk of sexual violence during COVID 19 pandemic due to factors such as location, age and type of disability. People with mental impairment are likely to be regarded as \”mad\” once they report an assault. Those with physical impairment cannot run or fight to protect themselves from a perpetrator. During the lockdown, most institutions that support persons with disabilities were forced to close down.

In response to these effects, governments imposed various coping mechanisms, and they include:

• Child protection in response to alarming teen pregnancy rates.

• Awareness-raising on Gender-based violence. This includes the provision of family planning services, guidance and counselling programs.

• Awareness creation on health, hygiene and sanitation. Women taught their children the importance of handwashing and hygiene to ensure their safety.

• Formation of women and youth groups in response to the sex trafficking for sanitary towels helped eradicate period poverty during the lockdown.

• Women came up with creative ways to make money after losing their jobs, for example, beadwork, vlogging (YouTube channels), blogging, online businesses, and marketing. Awareness creation on health, hygiene and sanitation.

• Food assistance programs. For example, the World Food Program increased cash assistance to hundreds of thousands of Kenya\’s urban poor, hardest hit by the pandemic.