Africa

Although knowledge and technologies exist in Uganda to better enable households to be food secure, agricultural sector programs are not promoting them as effectively as they could. Likewise, programs exist in the health and social welfare sectors to support HIV-affected households, but these do not generally incorporate the kinds of nutritional and agricultural know-how required to meet affected households' food security needs. This report provides recommendations on how these technical sectors, agriculture, health and nutrition, can be better integrated within communities to improve food security.

Does women's lack of property rights increases household poverty and their vulnerability to HIV infection? Would securing these rights mitigate the impoverishing impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic? This paper seeks to answer these questions and further examine the links between HIV/AIDS and women's property rights.

The Justice for Widows and Orphans Project (JWOP), based in Lusaka, Zambia, is an example of a network approach to strengthening widows’ and orphans’ property and inheritance rights. ICRW, in partnership with the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS (GCWA) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) , supported the development of this case study as part of its initiative to reduce women’s and girls’ vulnerability to HIV/AIDS by ensuring their property and inheritance rights. Lessons learned from JWOP, outlined in this report, can be helpful to others using a network approach to address HIV/AIDS and other development issues.

Working with partners in Ethiopia, Kenya, Peru, Tanzania, and Thailand, ICRW undertook a series of studies to explore how to increase intake of iron, vitamin A and iodine by combining women's productive and reproductive roles. This report summarizes the findings from the intervention research project implemented in Kenya, where new varieties of sweet potatoes rich in beta carotene were introduced to women farmers.

Working with partners in Ethiopia, Kenya, Peru, Tanzania, and Thailand, ICRW undertook a series of studies to explore how to increase intake of iron, vitamin A and iodine by combining women's productive and reproductive roles. This report summarizes the findings from the intervention research project implemented by Mahidol University's Institute of Nutrition in Thailand.

Working with partners in Ethiopia, Kenya, Peru, Tanzania, and Thailand, ICRW undertook a series of studies to explore how to increase intake of iron, vitamin A and iodine by combining women's productive and reproductive roles. This report summarizes findings from Ethiopia, where a trial intervention aimed to improve vitamin A status among women and young children.

This study focuses on lessons learned in the provision of business development services (BDS) that assist business growth for women-owned enterprises. The study consists of two parts. The first chapter is a review of the existing literature on the international experience in BDS and the major findings of research on lessons learned in BDS as they apply to women clientele and growth in their enterprises. The second part concentrates on deriving lessons from two local BDS initiatives, Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) Sericulture Program and Independent Business Enrichment Center (IBEC) Enterprise Training Program in South Africa.

ICRW conducted an analysis of programs in developing countries as well as a field-based assessment of selected programs in three countries: India, Kenya, and Colombia that integrate adolescent reproductive health and livelihoods concerns, with a view to offering recommendations for more effective strategies and approaches. This brief aims to assess the challenges and potential effectiveness of integrated programs, highlight innovative approaches, and define gaps that exist in designing interventions.

ICRW, along with a consortium of organizations, led the Parliamentarians for Women's Health project, which sought to assist select parliamentarians in East and southern Africa to more efficiently improve women's and girls' access to health services, particularly HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention, care and counseling.

Other publications in this series:
Guide for Community Assessments on Women's Health Care
Networking Proves Vital Strategy to Improving Women's Health Care
Parliamentarians Use Local Assessments to Connect with Their Communities
Workshops Bolster Parliamentarians as Leaders on Women's Health

Assessments in Kenya and Namibia Arm MPs with Firsthand Knowledge of Women and AIDS

ICRW, along with a consortium of organizations, led the Parliamentarians for Women's Health project, which sought to assist select parliamentarians in East and southern Africa to more efficiently improve women's and girls' access to health services, particularly HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention, care and counseling.

Other publications in this series:
Guide for Community Assessments on Women's Health Care
Parliamentarians for Women's Health, Project Paves the Way for Change
Networking Proves Vital Strategy to Improving Women's Health Care
Workshops Bolster Parliamentarians as Leaders on Women’s Health