1.1. Issue Analysis

1. FIGHTING POVERTY AND PROMOTING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FINANCE AND GENDER BUDGETING

More African women than men live in poverty, are unemployed or work in the informal sector.

1.1. Issue Analysis

In Africa, female labour participation is high in the majority of countries. Most women work in the informal sector as owners and employees. During the AWD, African countries made much progress in empowering women economically and promoting female entrepreneurship. However, gender pay gaps persist. The World Bank estimates that more than 70% of African women are unable to set up a savings or current account, loans or credit to meet their needs.475 More African women than men live in poverty, are unemployed or work in the informal sector. The incidence of poverty is higher in female-headed households, particularly among severely impoverished families, compared with households headed by men. Women also assume the responsibilities of the household and care work. In Africa, women spend 3.4 more time on unpaid care work than men and, consequently, spend less time on paid work.476

Although all countries, except for Sahrawi Republic (no data found) provide for maternity leave, 31 countries meet or exceed the International Labour Organization (ILO) standard of 14 weeks paid maternity leave. The number of countries that provide for paternity leave is also 31. Most commonly, paternity leave is three days or less. Five countries (Gambia, Kenya, Seychelles, South Sudan and South Africa) provide 14 days of paternity leave.477

Laws related to employment frequently exist in conflicting legal systems, which hinders the effective implementation of laws and ultimately the removal of discriminatory practices that preclude women from attaining economic empowerment, and thus weakens the fight against poverty.

The AU declared 2015 Year of Women’s Economic Empowerment.

Under the Maputo Protocol, Article 13 requires that States Parties shall adopt and enforce “legislative and other measures to guarantee women equal opportunities in work and career advancement and other economic opportunities.”478 The Article calls on States Parties to promote equal access to employment and the right to equal pay for work of equal value. States shall also ensure transparency in recruitment, promotion and dismissal of women and combat and punish sexual harassment in the workplace. Article 13 is notable in its scope. It declares the role of the State in creating opportunities and providing protection and social insurance for women working in the informal sector. The State shall also recognise the value of the work women perform in the home and guarantee adequate and paid pre-and post-natal maternity leave in both the private and the public sectors. To reduce poverty among women and provide women with a higher quality of life, States Parties shall promote women’s access to credit, training, skills development and extension services at the rural and urban levels (Article 19.d.)

To promote economic empowerment of women and entrepreneurship, fight poverty and increase access for women to financial resources, the AU Member States set up the following goals during the AWD 2010–2020: to attain decent work for women and equal opportunity in employment, promotion and movement towards parity at the workplace; and to create employment and services by supporting women entrepreneurs particularly in the informal sector, including small, medium enterprises (SMEs), and growing them to big businesses. During the Decade, African countries made progress in fighting poverty, advancing women’s economic empowerment and promoting gender equality.479 States have adopted laws that mandate equal pay, provide paid maternity leave and prohibit discrimination based on gender.

To further the AWD goals, African States, through the AU, have adopted strategies and plans. The AU declared 2015 Year of Women’s Economic Empowerment. The AU Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want aims to achieve full gender parity, with women holding half of managerial positions in the private sector,480 and to economically empower women by enhancing access to financial resources for investment.481 It also calls for the allocation of at least 25% of public procurement to be for women-owned businesses.482 However, these businesses have received less than 1% of procurement to date.483 The AU Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment 2018–2028 promotes economic empowerment and financial inclusion, income autonomy and social protection for more women and girls.484 Meanwhile, in February 2020, the AU declared that the AWD 2020–2030 would focus on Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion. The goals of the AWD 2020–2030 include making financial services available, accessible and affordable, especially for women in rural areas; developing market access by enhancing credit solutions for women; and improving and increasing access to infrastructure, technology and capacity-building.485