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Research Activities

Research is one of AAWORD’s fundamental missions. It can be initiated by the Secretariat or by the national chapters, on themes of their own choice.

Since March 1989, the AAWORD Secretariat has been financing a research programme, which is being carried out by the national chapters

  • Research achieved

    • 1989 - Women as Agents and Beneficiaries of Development Assistance

    Women as Agents/Recipients of Development Assistance : The Sierra Leone Case

    Staneala M.BECKLEY,

    (Sierra Leone)

    Women, Agents and Beneficiaries of NGO Action

    Seynabou GUEYE-TALL

    (Senegal)

    A Study ofSselected Voluntary Development Organizations in Ghana

    Takyiwaa Manuh

    (Ghana)

    1992 - Women and reproduction in Africa

    Market Women and Children in Nigeria : Some Notes from Lagos

    Wambui Wa KARANJA,

    (Kenya)

    Reproduction strategies of the Inegalitarian Sexual Order : Mother/Son Dyad analysis.

    Alya BAFFOUN,

    Tunisia

    African Women and Reproduction of Knowledge through Formal Schooling : A Case study of Zambian Female

    Maigenet SHIFFERAW

    Education in Secondary Schools

    Maigenet SHIFFERAW

    (USA)

    Production/Reproduction or the Quest for a New Identity for Moroccan Women

    Fattouma Benabdenbi et Souad Filal,

    (Morocco)

    Female Circumcision in the Sudan : Change and Continuity

    Amna Elsadik BADRI

    (Sudan)

    1992 - Women and the Mass Media In Africa

    Women in Mass Media in Togo

    K.D. HOUENASSOU-HOUANGBE

    (Togo)

    Ideology, Women and Mass Media : A Case Study in Kano, Nigeria

    Ayeha M. IMAM (Nigéria)

    Women in Communication : Popular Theatre as an Alternative Medium : The Mkambalani Popular Theatre Workshop

    Amandina Lihamba et Penina Mlama

    (Tanzania)

    Women in Francophone West African Women Writings

    Pierrette HERZBERGER-FOFANA

    (Senegal)

    1999 - Articles written by the young participants of the leadership Training Program

    Youth and Employment in Senegal : The Need for a Gender Approach

    Aminata Niang

    (Senegal)

    The African Youth and the Job Market : Legal aspects

    Mame Coumba GUEYE

    (Senegal)

    Gender and Youth Employment in Cameroon

    Odile J. ASIM ( Cameroon)

    Providing Education to Girls : Insufficient Efforts.

    Maimouna NDOYE

    (Senegal)

    Gender and Education in africa : The Root causes of Gender Inequality

    Marième KA

    (Senegal)

    Education in Africa : How to Reduce Disparities ? The Case of Togo

    Massan D'ALMEIDA

    (Togo)

    Threats to Madagascan Biodiversity Tianjanahary RANDRIAMBAVONGY,

    (Madagascar)

    Gender and Environment in Senegal

    Ndèye Matty THIOMBANE,

    (Senegal)

    AIDS and Youth : The Role of the Youths in Kinshasa

    Solange ELENGE-MOLAYI

    (Democratic Republic of Congo)

    AIDS and Treatment in Tunisia

    Héla HOCHBATI (Tunisia)

    HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health

    Ndèye Matty SARR

    (Senegal)

    Globalization and African Integration : Youth Contribution

    Corinne Marie Edith SEMDE,

    (Cote d'Ivoire)

    The education of girls in Ghana

    Mariama MOHAMED

    (Ghana)

    Youth and HIV/AIDS : the case of Kenya

    Irène S. DARYA

    (Kenya)

    Shattered dreams : the young nigerian confronted by unemployment

    Anthonia AHONSI-YAKUBU

    (Nigeria)

    Wwomen and land rights : the tanzanian example

    Rose UBWE (Tanzanie)

    2002 - Gender, Economique intégration, Governance and Methods of contraceptifs

    The Implication of Economic Reforms on Gender Relations : The Case of Poor Househols in Kisumu Slums

    Eunice KAMAARA, Kaendi MUNGUTI, Edith KABUI, Mabel ISOILO

    (Kenya)

    Gender and Governance : An Analysis of Moroccan Men's and Women's Political Behaviours: About a Field Survey

    Malika BENRADI

    Houria ALAMI M'CHICHI

    (Maroc)

    Informal Economy : What Orientations for Development Policies ?

    Marieme BABA SY, (Mauritania)

    Contraceptive Use Among School Age Adolescents in Edo State, Nigeria.

    Sylvia, Osayi OSEMWENKHA (Nigeria)

    Gender and Financial Market Liberalization

    Nogaye DIOP

    (Senegal)

    Increased Social Economic and Gender Inequality under Globalization : The case of Women in the Informal Sector

    Astronaute Rutenge Bagile,

    (Tanzania)

    Libéralization and Poverty Alleviation : The Impact of Cooperatives on Rural Nigerian Women

    Stella Y. ERINOSHO et Piping FAWOLE

    (Nigeria)

    2003 - Gender and HIV/AIDS in Africa

    The challenges of communicating with female Adolescents : A case study of Kenya

    Wambui KIAI, Susan KIUNA, Njeri MUHORO

    (Kenya)

    Report and recommendations : On the findings of the Commissioned filed Research on HIV/Aids & child-labour in Subsaharian Africa : A case of Zambia

    Martina KUNDA, Peter TZMBO, Owen DAKA

    (Zambia)

    La negociation sexuelle et le rapport de pouvoir auprès des jeunes filles de 19 à 25 ans

    Solange Elenge MOLAYI

    ( Republic Democratic of Congo)

    Caretakers of Non-Hospitalized AIDS Patients Tanzania : Issues and challenges

    Rosalia S. KATAPA & Fabia F. SHUNDI

    (Tanzania)

    Rapports de genre, négociations sexuelles et prévention du VIH/SIDA dans les campus des universités Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar et Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis

    Aminata NIANG, Maïmouna NDOYE, Solange BANDIAKY

    (Senegal)

    2005 - Women and violence in Africa

    Genre et violences : analyse de la situation au Maroc à

    travers les interventions des centres d'accueil et de conseil

    Par Prof. Alami M'Chichi Houria et Prof. Malika Benradi

    Summury in english

    Community Conflicts and violence against women in Nigeria

    .rof. Jadesola Akande, Dr. Keziah Awosika and Dr. I.O Albert

    Community Conflicts and violence against women in

    The Acholi region of Northern Uganda

    Ms Christine Lalobo-Lubwa et Ms. Betty Jawoko

    How the perpetrators of Violence against Women and

    Children Escape - A study of ''escapes'' from the Time of the

    Violent Act, through a Formal complaint, to Prosecution

    Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Esi Atwotwi et Angela Dwamena Aboagye

  • Ongoing Research Program 2006

    • RESEARCH PROJECT ON:

    The perceptions and Representations of African men and women of the equality between men and women

    Methodological note

    Everywhere in Africa, for some years now, the theme relating to the right of equality between men and women appears as a recurrent issue in the speeches of both political authorities at different levels and the civil society which tends increasingly to provide the right setting for feminine claims. At the same time, in a certain number of African countries, some positive steps are being taken by the State in this regard.

    These different speeches seem to be indicative of some profound questions and positions over the concept of the respective model and social roles of men and women.

    How does Africa in the diversity of its peoples, cultures and development levels grasp this issue which is that of equality in the social relationship between men and women? Is Africa now faced with a new approach to these relationships or is it specifically positioning itself based on contexts that are historical, socio-cultural, political and economic? Does the fact of the changing and progressive realities of different African countries present transitional phases or changes that justify these new speeches and approaches over the issue of social relationships between men and women and on the need to base them on the principle of equality? What is the concept of gender equality to citizens of these countries on the whole? What meaning do the different strata of African society impart to it? How do Africans of different socioeconomic levels see themselves and apply equality in the relationships between men and women in this continent within the context of all its perspectives and specificities?

    It is relevant to broach the reflection on the issue of gender equality in Africa through prior analytical and exploratory work. This analytical approach is likely to help in the appreciation of the changes at work which transform social roles.

    This approach will be efficient only if the research is documented from data and statistics by sex on the issue of equality. Twelve groups identified among members of the Association will undertake the research.

    The selective choice of twelve countries convenient, from a technical and financial feasibility point of view of this survey, should be carried with a view to establishing a comparative approach, methodologically determined and, objectively established in order to arrive at a summary and overall interpretations relating to the scope and directions of perception and representations of the right to equality in men-women social relationships.

    It will also make it possible, on one hand, to identify the elements likely to drive gender relations towards equality between men and women and, on the other hand, the components that perpetuate the inequality.

    I - The set objectives

    By constantly emphasizing a comparative study of the differences between Men and Women in the different fields of social life selected for the study, the analysis should aim at the following objectives which summarize the key issues involved:

    - To review the trends by identifying the level of inequalities and socially orientated sexual discriminations relating to the socio-culturally established roles and specified in the different countries concerned with the survey

    - To evaluate the level of progress made in the area of equality in both private and public social relationships between men and women as well as the resistances which perpetuate men-women inequalities by identifying the obstacles.

    This survey should, at a final stage, clearly define:

    - The points of convergence regarding the equality between the different African countries probed, i.e. to measure the trend with regards to the equality existing in each of the different African countries of the study and the general common trend which characterizes all these countries,

    - The different obstacles by identifying the blockages peculiar to the local realities of each country and to global obstacles, and those that can be deemed general to all the countries studied.

    The basic issues concern the representations of the right to equality and the links that individuals and groups establish with other concepts such as citizenship and democracy. These issues will be explored in the different fields that affect the lives of the citizens:

    - Rights and obligations;

    - Freedoms;

    - Democratic practices such as voting and representation;

    - The rule of law.

    II- Methodology

    The methodological approach recommended for conducting this study rests fundamentally on:

    - a bibliographic and analytical study

    - a field research

    - interviews

    - focus groups

    II -1 Fields of study

    The analysis of the changes that take place in the perceptions of the role of women and men should be carried out through four fields of study by addressing the issue in relation to the interactions of the private sphere, together with public life and the current roles and statuses assigned to men and women within these two areas.

    It is worth defining the manifestations of equality/inequality in the relationships that link men and women in these two aspects. The different rights on which equality is based should be examined through the perceptions and experiences of the different categories of the population questioned:

    - Economic rights: legitimacy of women's work, hierarchy in professional relations, the impact of women's wages on social relationships…

    - Political rights : legitimacy of the role of women and men in the public sphere, women's vote, voting for women, women in decision-making;

    - Family rights: what concepts predominate in the private sphere, demarcation of the roles of each man and woman, sexuality, violence…

    - Socio-cultural rights (right to education and health): what differences between men and women in the area of education and training, what differences between men and women in the field of health? Perceptions of certain diseases such as AIDS and men-women relationships.

    II-2- Survey

    To answer these questions it will be worth proceeding by random sample surveys in identified countries..

    II-3 The sample

    For the sake of convenience and in order to facilitate the conduct of the study, this public opinion survey will be carried out with a random sample of 500 persons per country.

    The basic tool will be a questionnaire which will be addressed to a representative sample of the men/women population, of the 18 plus age group, all socio-economic categories.

    II-4 Method of analysis:

    Within the framework of the millennium development goals, the method of analysis will be the gender approach, one of the undeniable advantages of which is to make it possible to evaluate and notice the disparities between men and women and offer possibilities for a better understanding of the cultural, historical and sociological underpinnings which explain these disparities.

    In a wider perspective, the approach also makes it possible to clearly define the elements of feminine and masculine citizenship and demarcate its contours. Finally, it makes it possible, over and above the established facts, to thoroughly identify the resistances and mechanisms which explain why the subordination of women in relation to men continues to be perpetuated.

    III- Stages of the research

    Each team, headed by a coordinator, will be required,

    1-at an initial stage, to undertake a critical and analytical examination of the existing documentation on:

    '' The international commitments of States in relation to the issue of equality between men and women,

    ''National legal texts related to the issue ;

    '' The state of knowledge in statistical observations : collection of available data, the measurement of inequalities between men and women, identification of key issues;

    '' The state of knowledge in research: books, studies, articles, data…

    ''The political statements of leaders, political parties and the elite;

    '' Reactions of the civil society as they appear in various organized events.

    This stage should in particular focus on the analysis of the reservations made by the different African countries in their international commitment, their speeches and legal standards, in the name of cultural specificity, and to examine the concrete consequences on the right to equality.

    2- The second stage should be devoted to the preparation by national groups of the questionnaire which should be subjected to a sample/test of .....50 persons aged 18 years and above: i.e 10% of the total sample envisaged.

    .....The questionnaire should comprise several components:

    - The first aspect will focus on socio-demographic characteristics: sex, age, place of residence, level of education, marital status and professional ...activity.

    Some questions should be prepared on the activity of the person interviewed, as well as the spouse, where necessary and the parents (the father and mother).

    These questions should make it possible to locate the persons according to their social milieu in order to better understand the influence of the milieu on opinions

    - The 2nd component should measure the ''cognitive dimension'' of the place

    ...of women in the Neighbourhood:

    - Knowledge of legal status;

    - The situation of women in political, administrative, and representative

    ...fora;

    - Perception of skills.

    - The 3rd component will evaluate the dominant opinions on the issue of the right to equality.

    This is the evaluative dimension. The key issue of this component should be to clearly define the right to equality as expressed. It should of necessity, take account of the conception that they both establish their relations in the family.

    In addition to the questionnaire, interviews, focus groups will be conducted in order to better examine, correct and complete some data

    The questions to ask are as follows:

    - What gender relations dominate within the family?

    - What conceptions of the right to equality exist between married partners?

    - What awareness of the differences exists between formal equality and real equality?

    - What outlines and what content of the concept of equality between men and women exist in relation to the different ''spaces'' of life?

    - The last part will focus on future perspectives and address the issue relating to the evaluation of the issue of the right to equality (the level).

    It should in essence, tackle:

    - Issues in suspense regarding the subject of equality ;

    - The degree and level of acceptance or rejection ;

    - The uncertainties, doubts.

    The dominant vision of gender relations should be addressed. It should be focused primarily on:

    - The progress made,

    - The weaknesses

    - The achievements.

    At the end of this phase, a ''stage'' report (i.e report on the stage reached) should be produced.

    3- The third stage will deal with the administration of the reviewed, corrected and reformulated questionnaire. The analysis of the questionnaires .....will be conducted by computer processing techniques.

    4- Finally, at the level of each country, the last phase will be devoted to the analysis of the results of the questionnaires and the preparation of the .....final report.

    IV- Synthesis

    In conclusion, a summary or synoptic report concerning the countries involved in the survey, will constitute the final stage of the study. To this end, it is necessary to provide for a coordinator, whose task will be to draft this report from national reports.

    V. Recreation sessions

    Each group will organise a recreation session at the national level, in view of providing researchers, decision makers, with data and a global analysis of issues related to equality in the view of African men and women.

    Besides, an international conference will be organised on the theme in order to share the research results with other partners.

    The budget for this conference will be sent at a later date.