This case study report formed part of CARE’s 2015 ... · This case study report formed part of...

ThiscasestudyreportformedpartofCARE’s2015strategicevaluationintoourWomen’sEconomicEmpowermentprogrammingintheMekong.TheevaluationwasjointlyfundedbyCAREandtheAustralianGovernmentthroughtheAustraliaNGOCooperationProgram.

Thisreportisoneofthreereportstoemergefromthisevaluation,theothertworeportsbeingtheEvaluationSynthesisreport1andtheVietnamCountryCasestudyreport2.

ThisreportwasauthoredbyGeorgiaTaylorofWiseDevelopmenthttp://wisedevelopment.com/

TheviewsinthisreportarethoseoftheauthoraloneanddonotnecessarilyrepresentthoseofCAREAustralia,itspartnersortheAustralianGovernment.

TheEvaluationTeamwouldliketothankJosieHuxtablefromCAREAustraliawhoplayedanessentialroleinthisevaluation–organisinglogistics,approvingtechnicalapproachandundertakinginterviews,collectingstoriesofchangeanddoingfocusgroupnotetaking.WewouldalsoliketothanktheresearcherteamfromEnterpriseandDevelopmentConsultants(EDC);theCARELaostaffinDakCheungwhoorganisedthelogisticsontopofalreadyverybusyworkloads;andinparticularChrisWardlewhogaveahugeamountofsupporttotheteam;andtheCARELaoteaminVientianewhosupportedbycontractingtheresearchersandtakingpartinthefinalevaluationpresentation.Andfinallywewouldliketothankthenumerousmenandwomeninthevillageswhotookpartinthefocusgroupsandinterviewsandweresoopenwiththeiropinionsandexperiences.

1https://www.care.org.au/what-we-do/lessons-impact/2https://www.care.org.au/what-we-do/lessons-impact/

Women in Lao ethnic communities have limited income earning potential due to restrictive gendernorms,heavyworkloadsandlackofmobility.CAREInternational inLaoshasbeenworkingwithethniccommunitiesinthepoorestprovincesinnorthandsouthLao.

Thisex-postevaluationcovers5projects inadeskreviewofevaluationdocumentsanda fieldstudyoftheDakCheungFoodSecurityProject.Fourofthedeskreviewprojectsaimedtoimprovefoodsecurityandnutritionthroughalivelihoodsapproach.ThefifthprojectcombinedUXOclearancewithalivelihoodsapproach.Everyprojecthadsomeactivitytoempowerwomen,andtheapproachevolvedovertimefroma targeted to amainstreamedapproach,with themost recent twoprojects integrating gender equalitythroughouttheproject.

The evaluation found that a combined approach that increases women’s inclusion in income earningactivities while at the same time decreasing women’s workload and promoting social norm changearound gender roles has been successful in increasing women’s economic empowerment. Action toimprovewomen’s agricultural knowledgeand capability,was combinedwithapproachesbringwomentogethertoidentifyandaddressproblems.Thishasledtoanincreaseinwomen’sconfidence,abilitytonegotiateandproblemsolve.Womenandmensuccessfullyworkingtogethertoproducecoffeeandrice,tomarket theirproduceand tomakedecisions togetherhasbeenachieved through jointactivitiesandgendertraining.Changesinthecommunitieshaveresultedinrespectforwomen’scontributiontofamilyincome and inclusion in family and village decisionmaking. There also appears to be some impact onwomen’sandmen’sdesiretohavefewerchildrenandtoincreasetheageofmarriage.

To strengthen the impact of CARE Laos’ programming to promote women’s economic empowermentfutureprojectsdesignshouldbebasedonan in-depthgender contextanalysis.Projects should includemorecomprehensiveapproachestoprivatesectordevelopmentthatimprovewomen’saccesstomarketsandbuildupmarketingknowledgeandconnections.Theyshouldalsostrengthen technicalagriculturalsupportandtrainingwithamorelongtermapproachappropriateforwomen;enablewomen’saccesstofinancialservicesandstrengthenfinancialliteracyandbusinessmanagementskills;strengthenwomen’scollaborativeworkwithinandbetweenvillages;supportandstrengthengenderequalitychampions;andanalyse and monitor risks associated with alcohol abuse and violence against women. Programmesshould consider whether and how to address structure and enabling environment barriers to genderequality.

Monitoring and evaluation of future projects and programmes should be based on appropriatemixedmethods approaches – including appropriate measurement of income and expenditure and goodquantitativeandqualitativebaselineandendlinedata.

Summary

CISS CAREsanitationprojectinDakCheung

DFSP DakCheungFoodSecurityProject

FGD FocusGroupDiscussion

ICRW InternationalCentreforResearchonWomen

KII KeyInformantInterview

LaoPDR LaoPeople’sDemocraticRepublic

MSME Micro,SmallandMediumEnterprise

NTFP Non-TimberForestProducts

PARUA PovertyAlleviationinRemoteUplandAreas

PFSCBP PhonsalyFoodSecurityandCapacityBuildingProject

PRDP PhonsalyRuralDevelopmentProject

PWED PovertyreductionandWomen’sEmpowermentinDakCheung

SFSP SekongFoodSecurityProject

SRHR Sexualandreproductivehealthandrights

UXO UnexplodedOrdinance

VSLA VillageSavingsandLoansAssociation

VVW VillageVeterinaryWorker

WEE Women’sEconomicEmpowerment

WINGS Women’sIncomeGenerationandNutritionGroup

Acronyms

Acronyms.............................................................................................................................................4Contents...............................................................................................................................................5

1.Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................6

2.EvaluationMethodology..........................................................................................................................................82.1Literaturereview.............................................................................................................................82.2Fieldworkmethodology.................................................................................................................102.3Limitations.....................................................................................................................................13

3.DeskreviewFindings..............................................................................................................................................153.1SummaryoverviewoftheCARELaosprogramminginitiativesreviewedfortheWEEMevaluation.............................................................................................................................................................163.2GenderandPoweranalysesforprojectdesign.............................................................................213.3CharacterisingCARELaos’Women’sEconomicEmpowermentmodel.........................................22

3.3.1Commonalitiesinactivitiestopromotewomen’seconomicadvancement...........................223.3.2Commonalitiesinactivitiestopromotewomen’spowerandagency....................................233.3.3Commonalityineffortstochangestructureandsocialnormsaroundgenderequality........23

3.4Successfulapproaches-Assessmentofprojectimpacts...............................................................243.4.1Women’sEconomicadvancement.........................................................................................243.4.2Changesinpowerandagency................................................................................................273.4.3Changesinstructureandsocialnorms...................................................................................28

3.5Challengesandlimitations.............................................................................................................293.5.1Economicadvancementchallengesandgaps........................................................................293.5.2PowerandAgency..................................................................................................................303.5.3Structureandsocialnorms.....................................................................................................30

4.FindingsfromtheFieldwork:DFSP..................................................................................................................314.1ProjectBackground........................................................................................................................314.2Successfulapproaches...................................................................................................................34

4.2.1Economicadvancement..........................................................................................................364.2.2Powerandagency..................................................................................................................404.2.3Structureandsocialnorms.....................................................................................................45

4.3Challengesandgaps......................................................................................................................474.3.1Economicadvancementchallenges........................................................................................474.3.2PowerandAgency..................................................................................................................48

5.Learningabouttheapproachandgaps............................................................................................................52

6.Recommendations...................................................................................................................................................56

Annex1:Tools...............................................................................................................................................................59

Annex2:Sekongmapandprojectoverlaps.........................................................................................................71

Annex3:Fieldevaluationparticipantinformation..........................................................................................73

Annex4:StoryofChangeInterviews.....................................................................................................................82

Annex5:QuantificationofvotesinSpokesexercisesfromfocusgroups.................................................90

Annex6:Bibliography.................................................................................................................................................91

Contents

1.Introduction

ThiscountrycasestudyforLaosispartofaregionalex-postevaluationofprojectsworkingwithwomeninthedifferentethnicgroupsoftheMekongregion.Theaimoftheoverallevaluationistoprovideevidenceofimpacttowardswomen’seconomicempowermentandtocontributetolearningonhowtodesignandimplementapproachesthatwillcontributetowomen’seconomicempowerment.ThiscountrycasestudyalsoprovidesrecommendationstoCAREInternationalinLaos(CARELaos)onastrategicapproachtowomen’seconomicempowermentacrosstheirprojects.TheevaluationinLaosconsistedofadeskreviewoffiveCARELaosprojectsandafieldstudyofoneoftheseprojects.

LaosContext–ChallengesforEthnicWomen’sEconomicEmpowerment

Incomeandpoverty

LaoPDRhasapopulationof6.8million,with80%livinginruralareas.andalthougheconomicgrowthandpovertyreductionhavebeenimpressivewitheconomicgrowthaveraging7.9%overthelast5yearsandpovertyratessteadilydecreasingfrom46%ofthepopulationintheearly1990’sto28%in2010,ruralpovertyremainsamajorchallenge.Laosranked139outof187countriesinthehumandevelopmentindexof2013.

ThemajorityofthepeopleinLaoswholiveinremoteruralareasbelongtodiverseethnicgroupsand,althoughcomplex,thereisastronglinkbetweenpovertyandethnicity.Thoughnon-Lao-Taigroupsaccountforonlyone-thirdofthenationalpopulation,theymakeupmorethanhalfofthepoor.Remoteethnicgroupsfacemanychallengesincluding:languagebarriers,geographicisolationandlimitedaccesstoserviceslikemarkets,educationandhealthcareandrisksfromunexplodedordinances(UXOs),aparticularprobleminSekongprovince,affecting25%ofvillagesnationally.

ThefiveCARELaosprojectsreviewedaspartofthisevaluationwereallimplementedinareasconsideredtoberemoteruralareasandwhereethnicminoritygroupsmakeupasignificantproportionofthepopulation.Threeofthefiveprojects(PFSCBP,PRDPandPARUAII)wereimplementedinPhongslayandSayboulinthenorth,whiletheothertwo(LANGOCAandDFSP)wereimplementedinSekongProvinceinthesouth.ThenorthernuplandareasofLaosarehometoarangeofremoteethniccommunitiesincludingthePrai,Khmu,Phounoy,differentAkha,TaiLueandHorwithdiversecultures,languagesandcustoms.ThesouthernprovinceofSekongishometoremoteethniccommunitiesofTaliengandKatu.

Structureandenablingenvironment:WhileLaosisperformingfairlywellintermsofgenderequalitycomparedtosomecountries,witharankingof118inthegenderinequalityindexand112inthegenderrelateddevelopmentindex3,ethnicwomenhaveamuchmoredifficulttimeintermsofequalityandrights.ThoughnationalLaoslegalandpolicyenvironmentisquitefavourabletotheprotectionofwomen’srights,customarylawandlackofaccesstoservicesoftenmeansthatethnicwomenlivinginremotecommunitiesdonotbenefitfromtheprotectionofthelawandgovernmentpolicies.Forexample,whiletheLaoinheritancelawisgenderneutralandgivesthesamerightstowomen,menandchildren,customarylawdiffersbyethnicgroupanddependsonresidencepatternsaftermarriage-matrilocal,Patrilocalorbi-local4.TheLaolawonWomen’sDevelopmentandProtection,passedon2004,aimstopromotemeasuresthatwillenhancewomen’sknowledgeandcapability,improvegenderequality,combattraffickinganddomesticviolence,andupholdwomen’sstatusinsociety.

Socialnormsaroundgenderroles-barrierstoeconomicopportunities:Women’sstatus5amongalloftheethniccommunitiesisdefinedbytheirreproductive,caringandhouseholdroles.Insome32013UNDPHumanDevelopmentReport4LaoPDRGenderProfile.GenderResourceInformationandDevelopmentCentre2005.5MuchoftheinformationinthissectionisfromtheGenderandPowerAnalysisforRemoteEthnicGroups(REG).CAREInternationalinLaos,2011.Therearealsosomepiecesfromprojectdocumentsasreferenced.

communitieswomenareconfinedtothevillageandindependenttravelislimited.AlargemajorityofethnicwomenonlyspeaktheirlocallanguageandhavetroublewithunderstandingandspeakingLao.Thisfurtherisolatesthemandlimitstheirabilitytolinkwithmarketsandeconomicopportunities.Rigidsocialnormsaroundgenderroleshasmeantthatwomenhavebeenburdenedwithanexcessiveamountofworkincomparisontomen–someoftheworkbeingphysicallyverydemanding–whilstatthesametimebeingtheprimarycarersofchildrenandthesickandelderly.

PowerandAgency-decisionmakingandviolence:Menareusuallytheheadofthehouseholdanddecisionmakingisdominatedbymeninthehouseandinthecommunity(onlyonepercentofvillageheadsarewomendespite25%representationinNationalAssembly6).Householddisputesarethoughttobeprivateandviolenceagainstwomenandgirlsisfrequent(uptoathirdofallwomeninLaos),butnotaddressed.Inthenottoodistantpast,earlyandforcedmarriage(13yrs–14yrs)wasfrequentandgirlsoftendroppedoutofschool.

Powerandagency–capabilityforincomeearning:Womeninremoteethniccommunitieshavetendedtohavelowlevelsofconfidenceintheirowncapabilityandarenotsupportedwithinthecommunityorthroughnetworks.Therearehardlyanyservicesforwomentobuildcapacityforemploymentorenterpriseandnoaccesstofinance.BeforetheCAREprojectswerestartedinsomeareastherewerelimitedsourcesofincomeandmuchfoodwassourcedfromtheforestsandowncultivation,especiallyrice.Thereweredifferentlevelsoffoodinsecurityandpoornutritionintheprovinces,wherethereareoftenfoodshortagestowardstheendofthedryseasoninmanyvillages.

Wellbeing:InSekongprovincefoodinsecurityhasledtochronicmalnutritionwithanestimatedprevalenceofmoderateandseverestuntingof67.3%,withseverestuntingprevalenceof31.3%7.Poorcookingmethodsandfoodhygienealsoposeaproblemforchildren’shealthandnutrition8.Healthcareserviceswererareandaccesstocontraceptionisstillchallengingintheremotecommunities,whereroadsareimpassablefor3–5monthsintheyear.

Infrastructureanddevelopmentchanges:Rapiddevelopmentininfrastructureandaccesstoserviceshasimprovedethnicvillagesopportunitiesandwomen’scontactwiththeoutsideworld.Howevertherehavealsobeenincreasedrisksfromthisdevelopment.ForexampleinSekongtheincreasingproliferationofminingbyforeigncompanieshasledtore-locationofentirevillageswithoutadequateconsultation.Inothercaseslandforgoldminingisboughtfromvillagersandsometimescausesaninequitableinfluxofcashthatcanbedamagingifnotinvestedindevelopmentofthewholevillage.

6UNWomenLaoFactsheet7DakCheungFoodSecurityProject.Participatorydiagnosticoncurrentnutritionalunderstandingsandtraditionalpracticesassociatedwithfood,infantweaningandfeedingandassociatedhealthissues.CAREAugust2011.JillMoloneyMIPH,Midwife,BN8DakCheungFoodSecurityProject.Participatorydiagnosticoncurrentnutritionalunderstandingsandtraditionalpracticesassociatedwithfood,infantweaningandfeedingandassociatedhealthissues.CAREAugust2011.JillMoloneyMIPH,Midwife,BN

2.EvaluationMethodology

2.1 Literature review Aspartoftheoverallregionalex-postevaluationadeskreviewofprojectevaluationsinfourcountrieswasundertaken(Laos,Vietnam,CambodiaandMyanmar).Projectdocumentationwasassessedforthefollowing:

• Qualityofgendercontextanalysisandtheuseofthisinformationinprojectdesignandoverallapproach.

• Qualityofdatacollectionandreportingavailablefromeachproject–inparticulartheevaluationmethodologyandreports.

• Women’seconomicempowermentresultsachievedbytheproject

Caption:Mrs.Sone,23,hastwochildrenandistheheadofhervillage'ssavingsgroup.Forthelasttwoyears,Soneandherhusbandhavebeenrunningashopsellinggeneralgoodsandfixingmotorbikes.Theyhave5,000cardamombushesreadyforharvestnextyear.“Astheheadofthesavingsgroup,Iamreallygladmemberscanwithdrawmoneyforemergenciesorforinvestment.Inthefuture,I’dliketoseeamarketinourvillage.IwanttoseetheotherproducersofcardamomincreasetheirproductionofcropsbecauseIwanttoseetheentirevillageandgetbetter.”Photo:©JoshEstey/CARE

Aframeworkforrecordingresultsandprogresstowardswomen’seconomicempowermentwasusedtorecordfindingsfromtheevaluations.Thiswasbasedonahybriddefinitionofwomen’seconomicempowerment,usingtheICRWdefinition9andtheCAREWomen’sEmpowermentframeworkdomains.

Thisresultedin

Table1:Women’sEconomicEmpowermentAnalysisFrameworkforWEEEM

EconomicAdvancement

Economicactivity Increaseinsourcesofincomeandincomeearningactivity

Income Increaseinincome,whoearnsandcontrolstheincome(includingactivityanddecisionmakingaroundsales)

Assetownership Land,livestock,equipment

Whetherownedbyhusband,wife,familyorboth

Accesstofinancialservices credit,savings,insurance,VSLA

Employmentopportunities workingforothers,MSMEs,formal/informal

Householdwellbeing changesinchildren’seducation,nutrition,health

PowerandAgency

Agency(Powerwithin)

Knowledgeandskills Understandingofbusiness,sales,marketing,orevenbasicarithmeticforrecordingincomeandexpenses.KnowledgeofandabilitytouseLaolanguage

Confidenceandselfesteem Abilitytospeakout,beassertiveandtomakedecisions.Beliefinownabilitiesandvalue.

Aspirations Abilitytoseebeyondthecurrentsituationandaspiretoincreaseeconomicactivityortogeneratedifferenttypesofactivity.

Abilitytotakeadvantageofopportunities

Senseofpowerandself-determinationandauthoritytoseeopportunitiesandactonthem

Relations(Powerto,powerwithandpowerover)

Decisionmaking Economicdecisionmakingaroundassets,incomeandexpenditure;lifeandhouseholddecisions(including,forexample,useoffamilyplanning).

Controloffinancial,physicalorknowledgebasedassets

Decisionmakingpoweroverassetsevenifnotowned.

Abilitytoorganisewithothers

toenhanceeconomicactivitiesandrights

Householdrelations includingviolenceagainstwomen

Structures,resourcesandsocialnorms

Villagesocialnorms socialnorms,attitudesandbehaviourinrelationtowomen’seconomicactivitiesandinclusionofwomenindecisionmakingatvillagelevel

9UnderstandingandMeasuringWomen’sEconomicEmpowerment.Definition,FrameworkandIndicators.AnneMarieGolla,AnjuMalhotra,PriyaNanda,RekhaMehra.ICRW2011

(includingandlisteningtotheirvoices)

Institutionalsocialnorms Includinggovernmentinstitutionsandorganisations

Accesstoresources agriculturalinputs,water,power,trainingandeducationresources

Marketsandvaluechains Inclusionofwomeninnewroles(e.g.salesandmarketing),socialnormsandinformation,leadership

Changesinthephysicalenvironment

includingtimesavinginfrastructureandequipment,andphysicalchangesandresourcestoimprovesecurity(e.g.UXOclearance)

Lawsandpolicies Changesinrelevantlawsandregulationstoimprovewomen’srights–particularlyinrelationtoownershipofassets,businessandaccesstofinance.

ThefiveprojectsreviewedfortheLaoscountrycasestudywere:

• DakCheungFoodSecurityProject(DFSP)

• PhonsalyFoodSecurityandCapacityBuildingProject(PFSCBP)

• LANGOCA–ReducingUXOriskandimprovinglivelihoodsforethniccommunicatesinSekongProvince.

• PovertyAlleviationinRemoteUplandAreas–PARUAII

• PhonsalyRuralDevelopmentProject–PRDP

2.2 Fieldwork methodology TheLaosfieldworkfocusedontheDFSPprojectinDakCheungdistrict,SekongprovinceinsouthernLaos.Datacollectionforthefieldstudyinvolvedacombinationoffocusgroupdiscussions(FGDs),keyinformantinterviews(KIIs)andcollectionofstoriesofchange(SOCs).Thefieldworkwasdesignedtobecomplementarytothedeskreviewandtocontributetoanoverallanalysisofchangethathastakenplacebygivingmorein-depthdetailofthechangesthathavetakenplaceforethnicminoritywomeninvolvedintheprojects.ThedeskreviewframeworkinformedthedevelopmentofthefollowingLaosfieldworkresearchquestions:

(i).Havewomen’sincomeearningandeconomicopportunitiesimprovedsincetheprojectbeganandhowhasthisimpactedonwomen’sandtheirfamily’seconomicsecurityandfoodsecurity?

• Howhaswomen’sincomeearningandeconomicopportunitiesimprovedsecurityimproved??Levelofassetorincomeincreases(canwequantify)?Betterfoodbeingeatenandproteinmorefrequently.Childrengoingtoschool.

• Whathascontributedtowomen’sincreaseinincomeandeconomicopportunities?(e.g.landownership,networksandcooperatives,skillsandknowledgeetc)

• Hasthisprojectcontributedtowomen’seconomicandfoodsecurity?How?

(ii).Howhastheprojectimpactedonwomen’spowerandagency?(coveringagency,structureandrelations)

• Howhavewomen’scapacity,self-esteem,knowledgeandskillschangedasaresultoftheproject?

• Howhavewomen’srelativepowerandvoicewithinthecommunityandthefamilychangedasaresultoftheproject?

• Whathasenabledthesechanges–e.g.networks,linkswithorganisations,income,men’sattitudechange,moretime,etc?

• Howhavecommunityandinstitutionalsocialnormsandattitudeschangedasaresultoftheprojectorotheractivities?

• Whatisthemostimportantchangethathasimpactedonwomen’sempowerment?

(iii)Whatarethesocial,economicandenvironmentalbarrierstoprogressinwomen’seconomicempowerment?

• Whataspectsofbeingawomanlimitthemfromearninganincome?

• Isthereanythingthatworriesorscareswomen?(Couldincludeviolencefrompartnerorotherfamilymember,UXO,hunger,safetyofmychildren).

• Dowomenneedtheirhusband’spermissiontoownanenterpriseortogotoworkortosellproductsinthemarketinDakCheung?

• Istimealimitationinearninganincome?

• Arewomensupportedbyfamilymembers,husbandsorotherpeopleinthevillage?

(iv)Howhaveinstitutions,committees,organisationsandcoffeeprocessinggroupschangedtoincludewomenandenablewomen’seconomicempowerment?

• Dowomenholdleadershippositionsinvillagecommittees/coffeegroups?

• Aretheirvoicesheardandacteduponinthecommitteemeetings?

• Aregovernmentinstitutionsandpoliciessupportiveofwomen’sinclusionandparticipationinincomeearningactivities?Howdotheysupportwomen?

DatacollectionfortheDFSPprojectwascarriedoutinfourofthe20villagesinDakCheungwheretheprojectwasimplemented.Theselectionofvillagesfordatacollectionduringtheexpostevaluationtookintoaccountthefollowingcriteria:

• Mixofsizeofvillage

• Coveringbothethnicgroupsoverall

• Coveringarangeofprojectmixesbyvillage

• Atleastoneremotevillage(i.e.withdifficultaccess)

• Geographicalspread

ThesefourvillageswerefoundtohavebeencoveredbyactivitiesunderthreeCARELaosprojects.Figure1andTable2belowhighlightwhichaspectsofwhichprojectswereimplementedinthevillagesandthetimescale.

Figure1:DakCheungDistrictinSekongProvince.CAREprojectvillages

Table2:CAREprojectactivitiesbyfieldworkvillage

Nameofvillage Tanglou Dakden Tangyerng Sangmai

Totalpopulation 246 489 447 205

YearCAREengaged 2010 2010 2007 2007

Ethnicgroup Talieng

Talieng Talieng Talieng

DFSP X X X X

LANGOCA(end2012) X X

PWED(until2017) X X X X

CISS(end2011) X

WINGSunderDFSP X X X

newWINGSPWED(2013/4) X

Coffeeprocessinggroup X

irrigationcommittee (small) X

coffeeplanting(HH) X X X

Withineachvillage,fourfocusgroupswereconducted–twowithwomenonlyandtwowithmenonly,eachrepresentingamixofincomeandpovertylevels.Thevillagesweresosmallthatallparticipantshadbeenincontactwithprojectactivitiesofsomesort.NearlyallofthewomenwereWomenincomeandnutritiongroups(WINGS)10members.MenandwomenparticipantsfortheFGDsandKIIswerechosenbythevillageheadandtheWINGScoordinatoronetothreedaysbeforetheevaluationteamarrivedinthevillage.

Aparticipatorytoolcalled“Spokes”wasusedforthefocusgroups.Thisinvolvedtheidentificationofkeychangeareasthatwerethenanalysedbythegroupusingagraphicrepresentationtodemonstratetheextentofchangeandtheimportanceofeachchange.FocusgroupandinterviewtoolsweretestedinDakVang.(SeeAnnex1forfullexplanationofthetool).

Withineachfocusgrouponeortwoparticipantswereidentifiedforanin-depthinterviewtorecordtheirstoryofchange.KIIswereundertakenatthevillagelevelwith:aLaowomen’sunionrepresentative;villageleader,irrigationgroupleader;coffeegroupleader,WINGSleaderandfacilitator;governmentrepresentativesandwherepossibleateacherorhealthworker.ToolsforthefocusgroupdiscussionsandtheinterviewsareavailableinAnnexX.

2.3 Limitations InLaostheresearchprocessandlogisticsworkedwell.Howeverthefollowingdrawbacksandchallengestoqualityresearchwereidentified:

(i)Translation:thediversityoflanguagesspokenintheresearchareasmeantthatmultiplelayersoftranslationwererequired.DespitethepresenceofafacilitatorwithLaolanguageandanethnicinterpreter(Talieng)therewasinevitablyalossofinformationanddetaileachtimetranslationtookplace.Twoofthevillagesspokeathirdlanguagewhichwasnotknownbytheethnicinterpreter.InthisinstanceaFGDparticipanttranslatedtoTaliengforotherparticipants.ThiswasmainlyanissueforthewomenasmenweremorelikelytospeakLao.

(ii)Language:theword“empowerment”ordiscussionsaboutpowerwerenotpermittedbygovernmentinLaos.Sointerpretersusedtheterm“women’sstrengthening”ratherthan“women’sempowerment”.Thismaynothavehadasignificantimpact,butwillhavechangedslightlytheresearchteam’sunderstanding.However,bothFGDfacilitatorsunderstoodandspokeEnglishwellenoughtobeabletotakethisonboard.

(iii)Notetaking:Thoughthefocusgroupfacilitationwasverygood,thenotetakinglackeddetail.ThiswassupplementedbytheteamleaderandtheCARErepresentativesittinginonsomeofthefocusgroups.Howeverthiswasnotpossibleforallofthem–particularlythemen’sfocusgroups.AsoundrecordingandtranscriptoftheFGDswouldhaveovercomethischallenge.HoweverthiswouldhavecostmoremoneyandcouldhaveinhibitedtheFGDparticipants.

(iv)Culture:men’sFGDsweremorechallengingastherewasdifficultyengagingmeninadiscussionabouttheirwivesandthechangesinwomen’srolesinthevillage.Therewasatendencyforpeerinfluencewithinthegroups,whichmeantthatoutlierswouldnotspeakup.Individualinterviewswithasmallselectionofmenprovidedmoredetail.

(v)Thespokesmethodologyworkedverywellandwasenjoyedbytheevaluationteamandtheparticipants.Itwaseasytounderstandandprovidedinterestingresults,someofwhichcouldbequantified.

10Women’sIncomeandNutritionGroups(WINGS)arethewomengroupssetupbytheDFSPproject.Theywereavehicleforbringingwomentogethertobuildskillsandconfidenceandalsoforthewomentoparticipateinprojectdecisionmaking.TheWINGSusedparticipatorytechniquestoidentifyandaddressworkburdenissuesandtoorganiselearningonnutritionandcooking.

(vi)Deskreviewchallenges:thequalityofLaosprojectevaluationreportswaspoor.Therewasalackofquantitativedatathatcouldbedrawnontoprovideevidenceofhowwelltheprojectshadperformedoverall.Therewasalsoalackofinformationaboutmethodologyandtools,whichmadeitverydifficulttoassessthequalityofinformationinthereports.

(vii)Attribution:attributionoffindingstoDFSPalone,isnotpossibleasthereareseveralsimilarCARELaosprojectsthatareeithercurrentlybeingimplementedorarenowclosed.(SeeAnnexXforamapoftheseprojects).DFSPbuildsonthelearningfromLANGOCAandsomevillageshavebenefittedfromotherprojectssuchasCISS.Recentorcurrentprojects,suchasSFSPandPWEDhavesimilaractivitiestoDFSPandarecontinuingthesamework.Thusthefieldworkhasidentifiedfindingsfromcurrentandpastprojectsthathavethesameapproach.ItisevaluatingtheCARELaosapproachtowomen’seconomicempowermentratherthantheprojectitself.

3. Desk review Findings

Caption:CAREteamfromAustraliavisitedPhiaVillagepopulatedbytheKhamupeople.Photo:©JoshEstey/CARE

Between2007and2014CARELaosimplementedfiveprojectsthataimedtoaddressnutrition,livelihoodsandsecurityissues,togethercostingover9millionAustraliandollars(totalAUD9,226,571).ThissectionprovidesasummaryofthefindingsfromthedeskreviewofthefiveCAREprojectsinLaoPDR.Whilenoneofthechosenreviewprojectshadaprimarylevelobjectivefocussedonwomen’seconomicempowerment(WEE),themajorityofprojectapproachesincludedsomeaspectoftargetingwomen,orwiderempowermentaimscombinedwithlivelihoodsapproaches.ThedeskreviewfocusedoncollatingandanalysingevidenceofprogressandimpactagainsttheWEEframeworkatTable1.

Figure2:LaoPDRMapwithprojectlocations

PARUAII

PFSCBP&PRDP

DFSP&LANGOCA

3.1 Summary overview of the CARE Laos programming initiatives reviewed for the WEEM evaluation(Table2)

PFSCBP-Phonsalyfoodsecurityandcapacitybuildingproject

Purpose:TosustainablyincreasefoodsecurityamongpoorethnicgroupsinremoteuplandareasintwodistrictsinPhongsalyProvince

Targetgroup:7,400participantsin1,050households,manyfemaleheaded,in31remotevillages

Geographicalcoverage:31villagesinSamphanandKhuadistricts,PhongsalyprovinceintheNortheastoftheLaos

Timeframe:Oct2005-Oct2009

Budget:USD980,000

Specificobjectives:

• Accesstofoodisincreasedthroughimprovedcapacityofhouseholdstogenerateincomebytakingadvantageofmarketopportunities

• Improvedhealth,inparticularamongchildren,andreducedworkloadonwomen,and

• Capacitybuildingofcommunitiesandlocalgovernmentbodies.

ImplementationandWEEapproach:Threeprongedapproachtoaddressingpoornutrition:incomegeneration,foodgrowingandhealthawarenessandtraining.IncomegenerationfocusesmostlyonlivestockandNTFP.Foodgrowingisonlythroughhomegardens.Womentargetedapproachesinthisprojectfocusonaddressingwomen’stimeconstraints,nutritionandtheiraccesstohealthservices,whichrelatestowellbeinganddecisionmakinginreproductivehealth(agency).ProjectsupporttoincreaseknowledgeandcapabilityaroundagricultureandlivestockproductionaswellasNTFPcollection(honey)hasresultedinincreasedeconomicadvancement.Howeverthereisnoindicationofhowwomenwereincludedandwhattheimpactonwomenhasbeen.Onlynutritionandhealthactivitiesspecificallymentionwomen.

Keyactivities:

*Livestock,cattlebanks,vetservices,marketingandtrade

*NTFPproductionandmarketing

*Incomegeneration,tailoringandhandicrafts

*Waterandsanitation

*Nutritionknowledgeandpracticeincludingvegetablegardens

*Healthawareness–SRHRandHIV

LANGOCA-ReducingUXORiskandImprovingLivelihoodsofEthnicCommunities

Purpose:ReducevulnerabilityofethniccommunitiesinSekongprovincethroughintegrationofUXOandpovertyreductionstrategies

Targetgroup:TaliengandArak,withlessernumbersofNgkriangandother

Specificobjectives:

• ReducephysicalrisksandlivelihoodconstraintsassociatedwithUXOcontamination

ethnicgroups

Geographicalcoverage:SekongProvince:20communitiesinLamarmandDakcheungdistrictswithanestimatedtotalpopulationof6,500persons

Timeframe:21May2007–30June2012,extendedtoJune2014

Partners:FondationSuisseDeDeminage(FSD),theWorldFoodProgram.Govtpartners:ProvincialandDistrictLabourandSocialWelfareOffice(PoLSW),theDistrictAgricultureandForestryOffices(DAFO)andtheLaoWomen’sUnion(LWU).

Budget:USD2,600,921

• Improveruralbasedlivelihoodsamongstethnicminoritycommunitieswithadirectmeasurableimpactonthewellbeingofwomenandgirls

• Buildvillageanddistrictcapacitiestoidentifyandaddresslivelihoodopportunitiesandrisks

• Effectiveandefficientprojectcoordinationandmanagement

ImplementationandWEEapproach:Aprojectthatworksonlivelihoods,healthandUXOclearance,whilstbuildingskillsandcapacityincommunitiesandamonggovernmentworkers.LANGOCAhastakenafairlyintegratedWEEapproach,whichmeansthatitismainstreamedthroughouttheprojectactivities:buildingupwomen’sknowledgeandskillsthroughintegrationintoagricultureandlivestockproductionactivities–andtherebyincreasingtheirincomeearningpotential.Atthesametimewomen’svoicesareinvolvedindecisionmakingthroughawomen'sforum,whichwasintendedtomakesurethatwomen'sideasandaimsforlivelihoodsprojectsandclearanceareasaretakenintoaccount.Barrierstoagencyandrelationsarealsoaddressedthroughtimesavingtechnology,SRHRawarenessandliteracyandnumeracytraining.

Keyactivities:

*UXOclearancebycommunityprioritisation,UXOawarenesstraining,firstaidforvillagehealthvolunteers,financeforvictims

*Technologytoreducewomen’sworkload

*Improvedvehicleaccesstovillages

*Tradermarket

*Women’sLao,numeracyandnutritionskills

*SRHRandHIVawareness

PARUAII-Povertyalleviationinremoteuplandareas

Purpose:Tosustainablyincreaselivelihoodsecurityamongpoorethnicgroupsinremoteuplandareas

Targetgroup:11villages-Praiethnicgroup

Geographicalcoverage:AllvillagesofthetwoKumBanPattana(VillageDevelopmentGroups)inSamet/Sayasanazone.

Timeframe:March2008-May2012

Partners:WFP,localgovt

Specificobjectives:

• IncreaselocalgovernmentandprivatesectorcapacitiestomanageanddeliverlivelihoodservicesintargetKumBanPattana,SayaboulyDistrict.

• IncreasefoodsecurityofpoorandmiddleincomehouseholdsintargetvillagesclassifiedaspoorbyGoL

• Improve‘qualityoflife’intargetvillages

• IncreasePraiwomen’sandmen’sabilitytoparticipatemeaningfullyinhouseholdandcommunitydevelopmentprocesses

Implementationapproach:Multi-sectorprojectwiththeaimtomainstreamgenderthroughout.Addressingarangeofhealth,practical,incomeandnutritionbarriers.StrongemphasisonbuildingcapacityofthePraipeople-bothmenandwomen.Well

Budget:USD1,612,000 plannedapproachtoinclusionofwomenandbasedongoodanalysisofcontextinPraiculture.PARUAPhaseIIwasexpectedtohaveapositiveimpactongenderrelationsamongstthePraiandpowerrelationsbetweenthePraiandoutsiders.ThePARUAIIapproachincludestargetedandintegratedapproachestoWEE.Approachestoincreaseaccesstoproductiveassetsandincomeearningopportunitiesweretargetedathouseholds,butincludedwomenandtherebyworkedtowardswomen’seconomicadvancement.Women’spowerandagencywereenhancedthroughimprovedknowledge,workloadinitiatives,decisionmakingpowerinwomen’sandcommunitygroupsandaccesstohealthandeducationservices.Someofthesewillalsohaveaimedtohaveanimpactonrelationsandsocialnormsduetotheinteractionwithlocalgovernmentdecisionmakingandaccountability.ParticulareffortstoincludePraiwomenasprojectstaffwereprioritised.

Keyactivities:

*VillagedevelopmentgroupsforincomegenerationMSMEs

*Accesstofoodandproductiveassetswithafocusonthepoorest25%

*Incomesfromtea,livestock,NTFP

*Bettertransport,healthservicesandpromotion

*Watersupply

*Praimenandwomenparticipation

DFSP-DakCheungFoodSecurityProject

Purpose:ToIncreasefoodsecurityparticularlyofthepoorest,throughexpandinganddiversifyingincomeandfoodsourcesreducingvulnerabilitytonaturalandmarketbasedshocks

Targetgroup:Allhouseholdsin20villages–mostlyTaliengandKatu

Geographicalcoverage:SekongProvince,DakCheungdistrict

Timeframe:April2010toDecember2013

Partners:Government,LaoWomen’sUnion

Budget:USD1,700,000

Specificobjectives:

• Increasedproductivityofhouseholdstaplefoods,fatsandproteinproductionsystems.

• Expandedincomegeneratingassets(livestock,coffee)ofthepoor,generatingsignificantadditionalincomes.

• Improvedwomen’sfoodutilizationskillsandreducedwomen’slabourburden.

• StrengthenedvillageandDistricttechnicalskillsandcapacitiesassociatedwithprojectpromotedfoodandincomeproductionsystems.

Implementationapproach:Anintegratedapproachtoimprovingnutritionthroughincreasingsourcesoffoodandincomeandknowledgeofcookingandnutritiouseating,withwomenincludedinmostactivities.DFSPhasafairlyintegratedandholisticapproachtoWEE.Women’seconomicadvancementwastargetedbyintroducingnewincomeearningopportunities(gardening,livestock,NTFP)andincreasingaccesstotime-savingassets.Powerandagencywereaddressedthroughinclusion

ofwomenintechnicalcapacitybuilding(agriculture,water,andlivestock),includingstudyvisits,andnutritionandcookingtraining.Relationsanddecisionmakingpowerinparticularwereaddressedthroughthewomen’sgroups(WINGS)andinclusioninvillagedecisionmaking.

Keyactivities:

*Incomegenerationandbetternutritionthroughcoffeeandlivestock,fishfarms,vegetablegardensandfruittrees.

*Women’snutritionandcookingtraining

*Irrigationandricefarming

*Coffeeproductionandprocessing

*WINGSgroupandwomen’sworkloadreduction

*Trainingandstudyvisits

*Roadmaintenance

PRDP-PhongsalyRuralDevelopmentproject

Purpose:Toincreasefoodandnutritionalsecurityofthepoorestathouseholdandcommunitylevelsthroughfacilitatingthedevelopmentoffoodandnutritionalstrategiesandmeaningfulengagementinwiderdecision-makingprocessesatlocallevelsaffectingtheirfuturefoodsecurity.

Targetgroup:

Geographicalcoverage:28targetedvillages(10newvillagesinSamphanDistrict,10newvillagesinMaiDistrict,and8existingvillagesinKhuaDistrict,)

Timeframe:1stJanuary2012–30thJune2013

Partners:ProvincialAgricultureandForestryOffice,ProvincialPublicHealthOffice,ProvincialPlanning,InvestmentandCoooperationOffice,andProvincialLaoWomen’sUnion

Budget:USD388,882

Specificobjectives:

• Increasedcommunity,women’s&farmergroups,andlocalNPAsocialcapitalandparticipationinplanning,demandcreationandmodeldevelopmentforimprovedfoodsecurity,nutritionandhealthoutcomesin3districtsinPhongsalyprovince.

• Improvedlocalfarmingsystemswhichresponddirectlytowomen'sprioritieswithmainemphasison(i)improvednutritionalandfoodsecurity,(2)incomegenerationofproductswithhighmarketpotential,and(3)climatechangeadaptation

• StrengthenedNPA&CAREcooperationincentral-levelpolicyengagement,andinclusionofCAREevidence-basedmodelsandlessonslearnedintokeyGoLruraldevelopmentpoliciesandprogramsandtheirimplementation

Implementationapproach:Integratedprogrammewithagriculture,nutrition,farmergroups,healthvolunteers,women'sgroupsandwidespreadcapacitydevelopmentandpolicydialogue.Theagricultureinputsarevariedwitharangeofdifferentcropsofferedtothevillages.Targetedandintegratedapproachtoinclusionofwomenthroughwomen'sgroupsandintegrationthroughoutactivities.PRDPishasanimportantemphasisonstructureandrelations,whileatthesametimebuildingwomen’sincomeearningopportunitiesandaccesstoservices.Villagelevelsocialcapitalandinclusioninpublicandplanningdecisionmakingaimstoimprovewomen’sinclusionindecisionmakingandtheiraccesstoservices.Economicadvancementactivitiesnotonfocusonagricultureandfoodproduction(cashcrops,NTFP,livestockandgardens),butalsoincludefinancialliteracy

andmarketengagementandmarketinformationsystems.Agencyandrelationsarechangedthroughfarmerandwomen’sgroups.

Keyactivities:

*Women’sandfarmergroups

*Hygieneandwater

*Participationinplanning

*Traininginfinancialliteracy,marketengagement

*Animalbanks,veterinaryfund

*FarmingtrialsandNTFP,gardeningandhighvaluecrops

*Marketinformationsystems

*Studyvisitsforfarmersandwomen’sgroups

3.2 Gender and Power analyses for project design Thereisvariablequalityofgenderandpoweranalysisthathasbeenusedforprojectdesign.Inthecaseswheretherehasbeenamorein-depthgenderanalysisatprojectdesignphase,usuallyusingCARE’swomen’sempowermentframework,thishasresultedinamoreappropriateapproachtoaddressingconstraintsandbarriersexperiencedbywomenandanintegratedapproachtosupportingwomen’seconomicempowerment.Theprojectswithlessgenderanalysistendtohaveamoretargetedandonedimensionalapproachtowomen’seconomicempowerment–inthattheypotentiallyonlyaddresseconomicadvancement(e.g.incomeearning)orlimitedaspectsofpowerandagency(e.g.nutritionandcookingknowledgeandskills).Thiskindofapproachdoesnottakeintoaccountthemultiplelevelsofactivitythatneedtotakeplaceinordertopromotethechangesthatwillcontributetowomen’seconomicempowerment.Noneoftheprojectdesigndocumentshaveanin-depthgenderandpoweranalysisthatincludesananalysisofwomen’seconomicsituation,activitiesandopportunitiesalongsideanalysisofwomen’sagencyandbarriersrelatedtostructure,socialnormsandlackofaccesstoresources.

InPSFCBPandLANGOCA(whichstartedin2005and2007respectively)thereisnogenderanalysisatallinthecontextsectionofprojectdesigndocument.Howeverbothofthemhaveoneortwooutputsthattargetwomen:

• PSFCBPunderObjective2hasoneoutputthatmentionswomen“Betternutritionknowledgeandpracticebyestablishinghomegardensandtrainingofwomeninvillagesonnutrition,foodpreparationandpreservation”

• LANGOCAhastwooutputs:Output2.2:“Women’sworkloadreducedandimprovedproductioncapacity.ExpectedAchievements:(i)Technologiesforreducingwomen’sworkloadintroducedinaminimumof20villages.(ii)Minimumof3improvedproductiontechnologiestrialedandadoptedbyvillagewomenacross20villages”andOutput3.2:“Increasedlifeskillsofwomenin20targetedcommunities.ExpectedAchievements:(i)Minimumof1,000womenandgirlshaveimprovedLao,numeracyandnutritionskillsandknowledge.(ii)Minimumof1,000women/girlsandminimum1000menhaveimprovedunderstandingofreproductivehealthandHIV/AIDs.(iii)DistrictHealthservicesandvillagehealthvolunteersarereportingincreaseinwomenandgirlsrequestingreproductivehealthservices”

Bothprojectshaveanapproachtoaddresswomen’stimepovertyandincreasewomen’scapacityandskillsthroughtraining.Howeverthereisnotanoverallapproachtowomen’sinclusioninactivities,noranuancedapproachtosupportingwomen’sparticipationindecisionmakingathouseholdandvillagelevel.PSFCBPhasactivitiestoimprovewomen’sknowledgeofsexualandreproductivehealthandotherhealthareas,alongsidetrainingofhealthworkers.Howevertheredoesnotappeartobealinkbetweenthehealthrelatedbarrierstowomen’sparticipationindecisionmakingandincomeearning.Consequentlythewomenfocusedactivitiesappeartobestand-aloneapproaches(seesectionxxformoredetail).

ThisisincontrasttothecontextanalysisandapproachundertakeninPARUAII,DFSPandPRDP,allofwhichwerestartedlater(2008,2010,2012respectively)andsobenefittedfromanevolutioninCARE’sapproachtowomen’sempowermentworkingatmultiplelevels.Allthreeoftheprojectswerebasedonamorein-depthgenderanalysis.Howeverthisanalysisstilllackedinformationaboutwomen’seconomicactivitiesandopportunities,marketsandvaluechainsrelevanttowomen,anddetaileddescriptionoftheeconomicrolesofmenandwomen.ForexamplehePARUAIIdesigndocumentexaminesaspectsofstructureandrelationsindescribinghowthetargetedPraiethnicgroupismatrilineal,andthatjointdecisionmakingtakesplaceinthehousehold,thoughtherearestrongrestrictionstowomentravellingoutsideofthevillageunlessaccompaniedbytheirhusband.Italsoacknowledgeswomen’sheavyworkload,andhowthishasdeterioratedduetovillagere-location,villagesizepoliciesandlackofaccesstoland.ThePRDPdesigndocumentgoesfurtherbydiscussinghowwomensufferfromalackofsocialcapitalandexclusionfromgovernmentdecisionmakingandplanningprocesses;andhowgenderrelationslimitwomen’srolesandaccesstoresources.Neitheroftheseprovideafullanalysisofwomen’seconomicandincomeearningsituationandtheeconomicrolesofmenandwomeninthevillages.

InterestinglyDFSPhasapproachestoinclusionofwomenthroughouttheprojectdesigndocumenteventhoughthecontextanalysisinrelationtogenderisnotcomplete.Therearesmallamountsofcontextualinformationpepperedthroughoutthedescriptionoftheproposedoutputandactivitiessuchas“WithinpatriarchalTaliengsocietymenplaytraditionalrolesindealingwith‘outsiders’,howeveritiswomenwhoundertakekeytasksassociatedwithmajortechnicalinterventionssupportedbyDFSP(e.g.coffeecultivationanduplandcropping).”ThistypeofinformationprovidesanimportantrationaleforthecreationanduseoftheWINGS(women’s)groupstoenhancewomen’svoiceandinclusionthroughouttheprojectactivities.

Itisclearthatanin-depthgenderanalysisisessentialinordertofullyunderstandthebarriersthatwomenfacewhentryingtoearnanincomeandimprovetheirfinancialandfoodsecurity.ItwouldbeadvisabletousegenderanalysisthatencompassesbothCARE’swomen’sempowermentframeworkandthewomen’seconomicempowermentframeworkshowninTable1,section2.1.Inparticularitisimportanttocovertheaspectsofwomen’seconomicadvancement:accesstoproductiveassets,incomeearningpotential,accesstofinancialservicesandemploymentopportunities.Thiswillgiveimportantinformationthatcanbeusedtobuildappropriateapproachesandatheoryofchangethatcanaddressallareasthatcontributetowomen’seconomicempowerment.

3.3 Characterising CARE Laos’ Women’s Economic Empowerment model ThereareclearcommonalitiesofapproachacrossallfiveoftheCARELaosprojects.Theapproachesaimedtocontributeto:

Women’seconomicadvancementthrough:

• Initiativestoincreasewomen’sagricultural,livestockandNTFPproductioncapability

• Changesinsocialnormsaround“women’seconomicactivities”–suchasearninganincomeandsellingproduce

• Explicittargetingandinclusionofwomen,especiallywomenfromethnicminorities,inincomeearningactivitiesandcontroloverassets

Women’spowerandagencythrough:

• Groupformationtobuildwomen’scapabilityandconfidenceandtoengageineconomicactivitiesandtoaddresswomen’sworkloadthroughuseoftimesavingandloadbearingequipment

• Strengtheningwomen’sknowledgeandskills

• Inclusionofwomenindecisionmakingatprojectandvillagelevel

3.3.1 Commonalities in activities to promote women’s economic advancement Initiativestoincreasewomen’sagricultural,livestockandNTFPproductioncapabilitywereincludedinalloftheprojects.Themainapproachesfocusedon:

• Enhancingtheproductionandsalesofgardenvegetablesbyintroducingnewvarieties,improvinggardeningtechniquesandencouragingsaleofsurplus.Thiswasusedinalloftheprojects–thoughPARUAIIhadmoreofafocusoncashcrops,sogardeningwasforhouseholdteaproductionmostly.

• Improvingdiversityandmanagementoflivestockproduction–includingfishponds,smalllivestockwithvillagebasedvaccinationservices.

• Introductionofcashcrops,somedomesticationofNTFPandsalesofNTFPforcash.Thisusuallyfocusedonrice,coffee,teaandothersmallercashcrops.Womenwereoftenintroducedtotheseactivitiesforthefirsttime.

Inallfiveprojectsthefoodproductionandcashcropactivitieswerecombinedwithcookingandnutritiontraininginordertoimprovefoodsecurityandhealthyeatingpractice.Thecookingwasalmostexclusivelyawoman’srealmandprojectsdidnotdomuchtochallengethegenderrolesinthisarea.

Howeverasmallnumberofmenweretrainedtocook.Overallprojectevaluationswerepositiveabouttheimpactoftheseactivitiesonnutritionoutcomesandfoodsecuritybecauseoftheincreaseincomesandaccesstoawidervarietyoffoodsourcesandtypes.Howeveritislikelythattheseoutcomeswereonlypossiblebecauseoftheotherinitiativesthatwerecombinedwiththese.

Inparticularthechangesinsocialnormsaround“women’seconomicactivities”appearedtohavebeenanimportantcontributiontotheincreaseinfamilyincome.Projectswereabletoincludewomeninincomeearningactivitiesthathadpreviouslyonlyinvolvedmen.PRDPandDFSPwereparticularlycommittedtothisapproachandincludedwomeninalloftheincomeearningandmarketingactivities.PRDPhadanactiveapproachtomarketanalysisandmarketinformationsystems.

Women’saccesstoandcontroloverassetswerepromotedthroughwomen’sgroupsandassociations–andthiswasparticularlyapparentinDFSP,PARUAIIinLaos.Womenwerereportedtohavecontroloftimesavingassetssuchascartsandricemills,thoughoftenthesewerealsoconsideredcommunityorfamilyownedassets.

3.3.2 Commonalities in activities to promote women’s power and agency Groupformationwasusedtoincludewomeninincomeearningactivity,tobuildknowledgeandcapabilitythroughtrainingandstudyvisitsandalso,forwomenonlygroupssuchasWINGSinDFSP,tobuildwomen’sconfidenceandcapabilitytoparticipateindecisionmaking.ForexampleDFSPsetupcoffeegroupsinsomevillagestosupportnurseries,plantation,processingandmarketingofcoffee–whichwasanewcashcropformanyoftheethniccommunities.TheDFSPgroupsalwaysincludedoneortwowomen.DFSP,LANGOCA,PARUAIIandPRDPalsoformedwomen’sgroupsandaddressedworkburdenbarriersbyusingparticipatoryprocessesinthegroupstoidentifyareasofheavyworkburdenandtoprioritiseactiontoaddressthem(e.g.withthehandcardsandricemills).

Strengtheningwomen’sknowledgeandskillswasakeystrategyofalmostallprojectsandappearedtobeanessentialpartofchangesseeninwomen’sparticipationinincomeearningandconfidencebuilding.Trainingandcapacitystrengtheningwasdonethroughdirecttrainingandstudyvisitswhichincludedwomen,asinDFSP,LANGOCAandPRDP;andthroughcascading,asinDFSPinPRDP.Trainingandcapacitystrengtheningtopicsincluded:

• FinancialliteracytrainingbyPRDP

• Technicalagricultureandprocessingskills–whichincludedwomeninDFSP(e.g.coffeeprocessing),LANGOCA,PRDP

• VeterinaryskillsbyPRDPandPFSCBP–butsomeofthesedidnotincludewomen.

• Language,literacyandnumeracytraining–LANGOCA

• Wellbeingtraining-Sexualandreproductivehealthandrights(SRHR),HIVawareness,hygiene,nutrition,cooking.PFSCBPprovidednutritionandSRHRtraining.DFSPinprovidedtrainingonhygiene,nutritionandcookingthroughthewomen’sgroups.LANGOCAprovidednutritionandSRHRandHIVawarenesstraining.

• Lifeskillsandgendertraining.GendertrainingwasalsoprovidedintheregionwhereDFSPwasimplemented,butitislikelythatthiswasundertakenbySFSP,afollowprojectstraightafterDFSP.Itwaspickedupinthefieldwork.

3.3.3 Commonality in efforts to change structure and social norms around gender equality Nearlyalloftheprojectsincludedwomenindecisionmakingatprojectandvillagelevel.Thiswasfacilitatedbywomen’sparticipationinwomenonlygroupsandsmallerproductivegroups,wheretheycouldpracticeparticipationandbuilduptheirconfidenceinasafeenvironmentandbeinvolvedinprojectlevelprioritisation.Itwasalsofacilitatedbyvillageheadsencouragingwomentocometovillage

meetingsandenablingtheirparticipation.PARUAIIhadatargetedapproachtobuildingmenandwomen’sabilitytoparticipateinlocalpolicyandplanningprocesses,whiletheotherprojectsmostlyfocusedonwomen’sparticipationatvillagelevel.

Inclusionofgovernmentofficialsinapproachesandtrainings(forexampleDFSP).Nationalandlocalgovernmenthadtobeinvolvedinallprojectevaluationsandwerealsoinvolvedinsomeprojectactivities.Mostprojectsaimedtobuildgovernmentcapacitytotakeresponsibilityforsomeactivities,buttherewereoftenlimitedfundswithingovernmenttotakethison.DFSPincludedgovernmentofficialsingendertrainingandcommunitybasedapproaches.

3.4 Successful approaches - Assessment of project impacts Allfiveprojectsrevieweddemonstratedsomelevelofimpactonwomen’seconomicempowerment.Successfulapproachesforachievingwomen’seconomicempowermentcombinedtheinclusionofwomenineconomicactivitiesanddecisionmaking,women’sempowermentandbuildingofsocialcapitalthroughwomen’sgroups,thedecreaseofwomen’sexcessiveworkloadandincreaseinwomen’sknowledgeandcapabilitiesthroughstudyvisitsandtraining.Notallprojectswereabletocovereachoftheseareas,butallhadsomeelementscombinedwithotheraspectsofsupporttowomen,includingimprovingaccesstosexualandreproductivehealthknowledgeandservices(PSFCBP)

3.4.1 Women’s Economic advancement Women’seconomicactivityandincreaseinincome

Alloftheprojectevaluationsdemonstrateanincreaseinhouseholdincome.Someincreasesarequantified–seeTable3below.Howevertherewerenofiguresavailableforincreasesinwomen’sincome.

ThisisprobablybecausefamiliesinethnicvillagesconsiderallmoneyandassetsasjointlyownedandCAREfocussedonimprovinghouseholdincomeandfoodsecurityratherthanjustwomen’sincome.

Table3:Reportedchangesinincomeandwellbeingbyproject

DFSP • Averagehouseholdincomeforapoorhouseholdwentfrom2,020US$peryearatbaselineto2,240US$peryearatevaluation.

• Foodandincomeactivitieshadenabledsignificantdevelopmentoffoodsecurityandincreasesinhouseholdincome.

PSFCBP • 51.2%oftheHHcashincomeiscomingfromlivestock.

• From166households,cashincomefromsalesofNTFPamountedtoanaverage26,8%of

Box1:PRDPinformationonwomen’sincreasedincome

Incomegenerationinterventionsforwomenincludingcardamom,galangal,aquaculture,pigbankandgoatbank.Itwasreportedthatwomenarenotonlyinvolvedinthementionedinterventions,buttheyalsotakeresponsibilityinsellingthecommoditiesatthemarket(farmgate),mainlygalangal,cardamomandfish.Mostoftheproducedcommoditiesarenormallysoldatthevillage.Womensavemoneyandmaintainexpenditureinalmostallhouseholdsofthetargetvillages.

“MyfamilyhasbetterincomeandIcannowfeedmychildrenbetterandsendthemtoschool”WomanwithsixchildreninKongatvillage

thecashequivalentofthericedeficiencyinriceself-insufficienthouseholds

LANGOCA • RemovalofUXOshasimpactedonaccesstoproductivelandbyfreeingup114inhectaresSekongprovince–whichisnowbeingusedforfarming

• 91%percentofthegroupsand82%ofindividualssaidtheprojecthadapositivechangeorhadimprovedtheirqualityoflife.Mostpeoplereportedincreasedincome

• 110FGDparticipants(couples)insevenvillagesreportlighterworkloadsandmoreincome

PARUAII • 68%ofhouseholdsreportthattheirfoodsecuritysituationhasimprovedduringphaseIIofPARUA.

• Averagehouseholdmonetaryincomeincreasedby27%to$589whilethecumulativenationalinflationratewas23%overthesameperiod.

• Increaseinincomeisevenmoreimportantforpoorfamiliessincetheirmeanvalueofincomehasincreasedby69.2%fromUSD124toUSD211andthemedianvalueby60.2%fromUSD64toUSD102.

PRDP • ThenutritionsituationintheprojectvillageshasbeensignificantlyimprovedasaresultfromtheincreaseofincomeandfoodproductionatHHlevel.

• Fish,goat,pig,vegetables,cardamom,andgalangalcontributedmosttoincomegeneration–andtheseareallwomen’sactivities.

• Goatbankincreasedcommunityincomeandreducedriskforthepoorestandmostvulnerable.

• WomensavemoneyandmaintainexpenditureinalmostHHsofthetargetvillages.

• 14HHsinPhongsalyreportedthathavemoreincomefromsellingoftwocashcrops.

Themajorityofprojectevaluationsprovideinformationregardingnewactivitiesthathavelikelycontributedtotheincreaseinincome(seeFigure3below).BecausethisshowsprogressinthedifferentareasinFigure3,wecaninferthattheincreasesinhouseholdincomearelikelytohavebeenpartiallycausedbychangesinwomen’seconomicparticipationandadvancement.ThisisparticularlyevidentinDFSP,PARUAIIandPRDP(seesection4forfurtherinformation).

Womenhavealsocontributedtothereportedimprovementsinfoodsecuritythroughthefishpondsandvegetablegardens(inPRDPandDFSP)andthediversifiedcropproduction(inPFSCBPandPRDP).

Box2:LANGOCAachievements–notsexdisaggregated

(+)therehasbeenachangeinattitudestowardscommercialactivity,salesandmakingaprofit(whichbeforetherewasnointerestin.)

(+)RemovalofUXOshasimpactedonaccesstoproductiveland–whichisnowbeingusedforfarmingcoffee,gardensetc.

(+)91%percentofthegroupsand82%ofindividualssaidtheprojecthadapositivechangeorhadimprovedtheirqualityoflife.Mostpeoplereportedincreasedincome

(+)Allvillagesarenowplantingcoffeewhichprovideanalternativeincome

(+)Fishandducksalsoprovidinganincome

Assetcontrolandownership

Therewasnoreportedincreaseinassetsspecificallyownedbywomen,thoughhouseholdsincreasedlivestockownershipthroughanimaldonation,livestockbanks,vaccinationandanimalhusbandryinitiatives(DFSPandPSFCBP),withmixedresults.Atleastonevaccinationinitiativewasnotperceivedtobesuccessfulasanimalsweredying.HoweverthegoatandcattlebanksinPSFCBPthatarecommunityownedwereasuccessfulwayofensuringthatthemostvulnerablegroupsbenefitfromassetsandtherebyprotectfromincreasingincomeinequalityinthevillages.

Womenalsobenefittedfromtimesavingandworkloadassets–whichwerecontrolledbythemthroughwomen’sgroups,butweregenerallyfamilyorvillageowned.

HouseholdwellbeingAlloftheprojectevaluationsreportedanincreaseinhouseholdwellbeing–particularinrelationtofoodsecurityandbetterhealth.PRDP,PFSCBP,DFSPandPARUAIIallreportedanimprovementinnutritionandfoodsecurityincludingimprovementsinchildren’sweight,healthanddevelopment.AmajorityofLANGOCAparticipantsreportedabetterqualityoflife.Improvementswereattributedtobetterfoodsecurityandincreasesinincome,butalsotobetterknowledgearoundnutritionandhealth.Timesaving:Acrossalloftheprojectstheapproachestoaddressingwomen’sheavyworkloadsandtimepovertyappearedtobethemosteffectiveandhaveamultiplieraffectacrossotherareas.Allfiveprojectsprovidedassetstosavetimeandworkload,includinghandcartsforcarryingwoodandwater,ricemillsforprocessingriceforcookingandwatersystemstoincreaseeasieraccesstodrinkingwater.Thisworknotonlyresultedimprovedhealthandwellbeingofwomen,butalsocontributedtoachangeinnormsaroundroles(seeBox2).WomeninDFSPreportedbeingabletohavemoresleep,toattendmeetingsandtobeinvolvedinmoreincomeearningactivities.

Figure3:Women’scontributiontoincreasesinhouseholdincome

Box3:DFSPworkloadreductioninitiativechangessocialnorms

Collectionandtransportoffirewoodhastraditionallybeenawoman’sjob.Evenwhenhavingtocarryababyorwhencomingbackfromalongdayinthefields,womenwererequiredtofindandcarrythewood.DFSPintroducedhandcartsforthetransportofwoodandotheritemsinordertoreducewomen’sworkloadandsavetime.Duringtheevaluationwomenreportedthatnotonlyaretheyabletoreducethetimespentcollectingwood(previouslytheycollectedwoodeverydaynowonecartlastsforaweek–seeSOCs)butthatwiththeintroductionofanewpieceofequipment,nottraditionallyseenasamanorawoman’s,(suchasthebasket),menarenowsharingthetask.

3.4.2 Changes in power and agency Knowledgeandskills:Allofthereviewedprojectsincludedsometraining,studyvisitsorpeerlearning.Thetrainingwassuccessfulatincreasingknowledgeandskillsin:

• nutritionandcooking

• improvedanddiversifiedfoodproductionandknowledgeofmarkets

• groupformationandmanagementoftasks

Dependingontheprojecttherewerevaryinglevelsofinvolvementofwomenintheseactivities.DFSP,PARUAIIandPRDPallpurposefullyincludedwomenintraining.HoweverthePARUAIIevaluationnotedthatthevillageheadtendedtochoosemenforthetraining,somewomen’sparticipationwasnotashighasanticipated.Inallprojectstherewerecasesofwomenbeingmoreinvolvedintrainingthatreinforcedtheirtraditionalroles–suchascookingandnutrition.However,inothers,suchastheDFSPcoffeestudyvisits,womenwereintroducedtonewrolesandwereexpectedtocascadelearningthroughoutthevillage.Inthesevisitssmallgroupsofmenandwomen(usuallythreemenandtwowomen)fromeachvillagewenttoPaksong,awell-developedcoffeeproductionarea,tolearnaboutcoffeenurseryproduction,plantationsandmarketing.PFSCBPandLANGOCAdocumentsdidnotalwaysclarifywhetherwomenormenwereengagedinsomeoftheactivities,howevertheLANGOCAprojecthadaspecificobjectivetoimprovewomen’sproductioncapacity,soitislikelythattheresultsreportedintheevaluationcoveredbothmenandwomen.

Projectevaluationsdonotmeasurethedirectimpactonwomen’sknowledgeandskills,butdoreportimprovementsinfoodproduction,whichforwomenisusuallyrelatedtothegardeningandsmalllivestockactivities.

Confidenceandself-esteem:TheDFSPevaluationistheonlyreportthatspecificallyexaminestheissueofwomen’sconfidenceandself-esteem:“theparticipationofwomenintraininghasbeenakeyfactorintheirincreasingconfidencelevelsandabilitytoexerciseagencyintheirrelationshipswithinthehouseholdandthevillage”.Whereasitmightbeexpectedthatgroupanddecisionmakinginvolvementwouldhaveincreasedwomen’sself-esteeminotherprojects,ithasbeenoverlookedasasignificantoutcomearea.

Womendoingsomeoftheeconomic

ac[vi[esthatmennormally

Women'sincreasedinclusionin

newproduc[onac[vi[es

Womennowselling

productsdirectly

Changesinsocialnormsandgenderrolesinincomeearning

Women'sincreasein[meavailabiityso

thattheycandomorework

Decisionmakingandorganisingwithothers:Women’sinvolvementindecision-makinghasbeenanimportantprocessandresultofseveraloftheprojects.DFSP,LANGOCAandPRDPhaveincludedwomeninkeyprojectimplementationgroups,suchaswatermanagementcommittees,orcoffeeproductioncommittees.Whereasitisdocumentedthatwomendidnotattendorparticipateinmeetingsbeforetheprojects,theynowspeakoutinmeetingsandhaveahigherlevelofparticipation–whichisanimportantresult.WomenhavealsoparticipatedinvillageleveldecisionmakinginPFSCBPthroughtheprocessofdevelopingparticipatoryactionplans–howeverthequalityandscaleofwomen’sinvolvementisnotdocumented.

Thewomen’sgroups,WINGS,inDFSP,broughtwomentogetherandusedaguidedparticipatorydecisionmakingprocessestosupportwomeninmakingdecisiontogethertochangetheirlives.Thisprocesshasenhancedwomen’sconfidenceandabilitytomakedecisionsandhasimprovedwomen’sabilitytoworktogethertopromotechange.“TheestablishmentoftheWINGsgroupsasawomen-onlyspacetoexaminekeyproblemsandissuesthattheyfacehasenabledastrongsenseofsolidaritytodevelop”.(ThereismoredetailontheeffectivenessoftheWINGSinsection4).

Householdrelationswerenotexploredintheevaluationdocuments,butwasdiscussedatlengthinthefieldworkandthisisreportedinsection4.

3.4.3 Changes in structure and social norms Changesinsocialnormsaroundgenderequalityandwomen’srolesinthecommunityhavenotbeenwelldocumentedintheevaluationreports.TheLANGOCAevaluationreportedthatpeoplewereabletothinkmoreaboutmarketsandearninganincomeandalsotocontroltheirfertility,butthisdatawasnotdisaggregatedbysex.Theevaluationreportsaysthat“Peoplearestartingtothinkaboutbusiness,especiallycoffeebutalsolivestock.Thereisabetterunderstandingthatifvillagesproduceproductsbuyerswillcometothecommunities.Thisisdemonstratedbypeoplenowsearchingoutcoffeeplantingmaterialsandexpandingcoffeegardensratherthanwaitingforprojectsupport.”LANGOCAalsoappearedtohaveanimpactonmen’sefforttoworkontraditionally“women’sactivities”,suchasvegetablegardening.

Keychangestothestructurewerethephysicalchanges,suchaswateraccessandhandcarts,thatresultedinwomenhavingmoretime(thishasbeendiscussedabove).Howeveritcanbesurmisedthatthesechangeswillhavepavedthewayformoresystemicsocialnormchangeandthisisdiscussedinthefieldworksection.OtherchangesinsocialnormsthatwerereportedwerearoundhealthandsanitationbehaviourinPFSCBP.

Box5:DFSPchangingattitudesaboutwomen’scapability

Therepositioningofwomenas“clever”isanimportantandsignificantsteptowardempowermentofwomen’svoices,plansandideas.Whenthesecleverideashasseentoleadtosignificantincreasesinthestandardoflivingforthehousehold,thenew,moreequalgenderrelationshipbecomeswellestablished,andwomenareabletovoicetheirideasandopinionsindecisionmakingprocessesandhavetheirideasvaluedandrespected.

Box4:PRDPincludeswomeninimplementationdecisionmaking

Attheprojectvillagelevel,womenhavebeeninvolvedintheplanning,implementinganddecisionmakingprocessofdevelopmentactivitiesinthevillage,andinparticularatthehouseholdlevel.Ethnicwomenhavebeenencouragedtoparticipateinthediscussionandtrainingworkshopsheldinthevillages.

Theinvolvementisnotjustatactivityimplementationlevel,buttheyalsoinvolveinthedecisionlevelincludingmanagementcommitteeforinstanceinthecommitteeforPigBank,Goat,CropProductionGroups

Howevermostofthereportingaroundsocialnormsandstructureintheprojectevaluationreportsinvolvedbarrierstoprogress(seenextsection).

3.5 Challenges and limitations Challengeswerenotwellexploredinevaluationdocumentation.ForexamplethePRDPreportprovidednoinformationonchallengesatall.PARUAIIonlyhadafinalevaluationontheveterinaryinitiative,soinformationhadtobeextractedfromthemid-termreviewonly.Sothissectionfocusesmainlyongapsinapproach,withsomeinformationonthephysicalandsocialnormchallengesthatprojectsfaced.

Asnoneoftheprojectshadaprimaryobjectiveofincreasingwomen’seconomicempowerment,itisnotsurprisingthattherearequiteanumberofgapsintheapproach.Howeverwithoutconsultingthewomeninthecommunitiesitdifficulttohaveacomprehensiveassessmentofthegapsacrossalloftheseprojects.Section4willprovideafullerpictureofthechallengesandgapsthatwereexperiencedintheDFSP.

3.5.1 Economic advancement challenges and gaps Whilehouseholdeconomicactivityandincomeincreaseswerereportedacrossalloftheprojectstherewasverylittlereportedonwomenspecifically.Thecontextofmanyofthesevillagesissuchthatitwouldbeunrealisticforwomentohaveindependentincomeearningactivity.Mostactivitiesaresharedbetweenhusbandandwifeandthechildren.Howeveritisimportanttorecordwomen’sroleandpowerwithintheseincomeearningactivitiesandtospecificallyaddressthepowerthattheyhavewithinincomeearningactivities.

Noneoftheprojectsincreasedaccesstofinancialservices,thoughtwooftheprojects(LANGOCAandPARUAII)includedarevolvingfund,withmixedresults.Therewasnoanalysisofaccesstoorneedforfinancialservicesinanyoftheprojectdocumentation,whichindicatesafairlylimitedapproachtoeconomicdevelopment.Tobefair,fouroftheprojectswereaimingtoaddressunder-nutritionandfoodinsecuritythroughlivelihoodapproaches,andonehadaprimarypurposeofclearingUXOswhileintegratingwithalivelihoodsapproach,soitisnotsurprising.Howeverlessonscanbedrawnfromthislimitedapproach(seethefieldstudyformoredetailsontheneedforfinancialservices).Hardlyanyoftheprojectswereprovidingwidespreadbusinessdevelopmentservicesortraining(e.g.traininginbookkeeping,financialliteracyormarketingknowledgeandskills).PRDPprovidedtraininginfinancialliteracy.SomecoffeebusinesstrainingwillhavebeendoneinLANGOCAandDFSP,butitisnotwelldescribedandtheredoesnotappeartobeanyreportingofincreaseinwomen’sknowledgeandcapability.Thiscanactasabarriertofurtherincreasingproductionandsales.

OnlyPRDPwassupportingaccesstoprivatesectormarkets,marketengagementandbulkselling,eventhoughtherewereseveralproductiongroupsinvolvedintheprojects.Neitherweretheremanyexamplesofcooperativesworkingasbusinesses.TheprivatesectorapproachoftheveterinaryservicesinPARUAII

Box6:PFSCBPchangeshealthandsanitationbehaviour

Reportofchangedbehaviourinrelationtouseoflatrines,boilingwateranduseofmosquitonets.Frombaseline53,2%ofhouseholdswereboilingdrinkingwater,and63,1%weresleepingundermosquitonet-therewasachangeto:93,1%areboilingdrinkingwater,87,5%sleepundermosquitonetsand83,1%(ofhouseholdsinvillages,wherelatrinesareavailable)uselatrinesregularly.

Box7:PARUAIIgeneratesbusinessactivity–butnotforwomen.

Aftertrainingvillageveterinaryworkers(VVWs)amicro-enterprisenetworkof26VVWsstartedtobuyanimalvaccinesandveterinaryproductsfromPAFOinSayaboulyorfromotherVVWsinthearea.Theanimalvaccinationalonehasimprovedtheincomeofthe26activeVVWsby2,696$duringthepastyear(vaccinationcampaignsonlyrequireafewdaysofworkperyear).Womengenerallydidnotparticipateinthisactivityandvaccinatorstendedtotargetlargelivestock,whichweremostlycaredforbymen.

appearedtobeeffectiveasanincomeearningventurethatalsoimpactedonlivestockprofitability.Howeveritdidnotappeartobenefitwomen.

Ingeneralitcanbeconcludedthatwomen’sincomeearningactivityandownershipofassetswasnotnecessarilysupportedunlessitwasspecificallywrittenintotheprojectapproachandsupportedwithsocialnormchangeandcapabilitybuilding(asinDFSP).Asadefaultwomenareoftenleftoutofopportunities.

3.5.2 Power and Agency Knowledge:Languageskillsactedasamajorbarriertowomen’sinclusioninactivitiesandwasspecificallymentionedinthePARUAIIdocumentation.PraiwomenwereunabletoparticipateinmanyoftheprojectactivitiesdueaninabilitytospeakLao(onethirdofPraiwomencannotread,writeorspeakLao)andthisalsohamperedworkongenderequality.OnlyLANGOCAprojectswasprovidingLaolanguagetrainingorpracticespecificallyforwomen.

Inprojectswherecookingandnutritiontrainingwasprovided,womenwerenotalwaysabletoapplytheknowledge.ForexamplewomeninthePFSCBPprojectsaidtheydidnothaveaccesstotheingredients.TheDFSPevaluationalsostatedthatthewomenwerenotapplyingthecookingandnutritiontrainingthattheyhadreceived.Clearly,though,thelearningfromthisisthatittakesmorethanjustonetrainingtoensureasustainablenormandpracticechangearoundcookingandnutrition.

3.5.3 Structure and social norms Inequalityintermsoftimeavailabilityandroleshasimpededwomen’sparticipationinsomeoftheprojectactivities,forexampleinPARUAIIwomenwererarelyabletoattendtrainingthattookplaceoutsideofthevillageandwereoftennotchosenbythevillagehead.Howevertherewasoneexampleofmencomingbackfroma10daytrainingonmushroomproductionwouldpassontheknowledgetotheirwives,whothentookoverthemushroomproductionconcern,whichwasnormallylocatednexttothehouse.Thisindicatesapotentialshiftinfocusofhowtrainingisprovided–andinfuturethemodelofmenpassingonknowledgecouldbemoreformalised.

TheLANGOCAevaluationreportnotedthatsomemendonotlikewomen’sincreasedparticipationinpubliclifeandthattherecouldberisks.“Therecouldberepercussionsashusbandscountertheintentionsofgendertraining.Menhavealsobeenreluctanttolettheirwivesleavethevillagetoparticipateinprojectactivities.”Thiskindofriskandtheattitudesofmendonotappeartobeaddressedinanyoftheprojectssufficiently.

Onlysmallnumberofprojectswerelinkingwithhealthandspecificallyfamilyplanningservices,eventhoughhighfertilityandpoorhealthcanlimitwomen’seconomicactivity

Approachestoaddressviolenceagainstwomenandgirlswerenotincludedinanyoftheprojects.InLaosathirdofwomenhaveexperiencedviolenceanditislikelythattheethnicwomenareisolatedfromsupport.Violenceimpactsonwomen’sabilitytoparticipateineconomic,socialandpoliticalactivities.

4. Findings from the Field work: DFSP

4.1 Project Background DFSPisanutritionprojectwithanobjective“toIncreasefoodsecurityparticularlyofthepoorest,throughexpandinganddiversifyingincomeandfoodsourcesreducingvulnerabilitytonaturalandmarketbasedshocks”.Itwasimplementedin20villagesinthehillyandremotepartofSekongProvinceinSouthernLaos.Theprojectusedanintegratedapproachtoaddressingpoornutritionthatencompassed:

• Improvingincomeearningopportunitiesformenandwomenbyintroducingcashcropsandsupportingagricultureandirrigation,whileatthesametimeencouragingsaleofcropsandsurplusfoodproduce

• Increasingsourcesandvarietyoffoodthroughlivestockraising,gardening,NTFP,fruittreesandfishfarming

• Improvingaccesstomarketsthroughroadmaintenance

• Involvementofwomeninincomeearningandproductionthroughtraining,women’sgroupsandaddressingworkburden.

• Introductionofhealthiereatingthroughnutritionandcookingtrainingthroughwomen’sgroups

DFSPwasimplementedinthesameregionasLANGOCAandtherewasanoverlapin9villages.SoitcanbeassumedthatLANGOCAwasalsoresponsibleforsomeofthechangesseeninthevillagesasthiswasimplementedinthesameareabeforeDFSP.Inadditiontherearethreeotherrelevantprojects:PWED(ongoing),CISS(finished)andPFSP(nowfinished),whichwillhaveandcontinuetohaveanimpactontheprojectarea.(SeeTable2forasummaryofprojectactivitiesinthestudyarea,andAnnex2forapictureofprojectsintheregion).PWEDandPFSPhavesimilarandrelevantactivitiesandsocouldbeconsideredasacontinuationofDFSPinmanyrespects.CISSwasasanitationprojectandwasonlyactiveinTangyerng,buthadanimpactonthestudyfindings.ThissectionwillrefertofindingsofresultsfromDFSP,butwiththeunderstandingthatthiscannotonlybeattributedtoDFSPandthatwideractionhasalsocontributed.

Caption:MrsSaeng32,inPhonesaatVillage,KhuaDistrict,PhongsalyProvince,Laos.MrsSaengismarriedandhasa13yearolddaughternamedDeuan.Sheisamemberofthegoatbankandhasasmallgarden.Photocredit:©JeffWilliams/CARE

Thevillagesfortheevaluationwerechosentorepresentadiversesetofsituations,intermsofsize,connectivitywiththeoutsideworld,projectexperienceandlengthoftimewithCAREprojects.Table5showsasummaryofdifferentaspectsofvillagesandimplementingtheevaluationineachvillage.Findingsofthefieldworkaregeneralisedacrossthevillages,butexamplesofindividualvillageshavebeenmentionedwhentheycanillustratethenormordifferfromthegeneralfindings.

Thesocialenvironmentinthevillagesishighlyconnectedandinter-dependentbecauseoftheremotelocations,andindividuallanguagesandculture.Thismeansthatthereisahighlevelofsocialcapital,whichinsomevillagesactstobenefitthewholevillagethroughpositivesupportsystems.Howevertherecanbeproblemsforwomen,oranyexcludedormarginalisedgroupinthiscontext.Ifthereisaresocialnormsthataffectwomennegatively,suchasanacceptanceofviolenceagainstwomenordamagingtreatmentofwomenandchildren,itcanbeverydifficultforwomentoescapeortoactalonetochangesocialnormsbecauseoftheremoteandtightknitenvironment.Therecanalsobearisktoindividualstryingtochangepowerrelationswithinthevillage.

Table5:Villagecontextandevaluationexperience

Village Tanglou DakDen Tangyerng Sangmai

Villagesize 246people 489 447 205

Languageandethnicgroup

TaliengandKatuethnicgroups,manyparticipantsdidnotspeakLaoorTalieng

Taliengethnicgroup,manyparticipantsdidnotspeakLaoorTalieng.

Taliengethnicgroupandlanguage,someLaospokenbywomen

Taliengethnicgroupandlanguage,hardlyanyLaospokenbywomen

Villagelocation

TothewestofDakCheungonaturningofftheroadtoTangyerng

DirectlysouthofDakCheung,within2–3hourwalkingdistance,butappearedtobeisolatedattheendofaroad.

DirectlywestofDakCheungbeyondtheturningtoTanglou

DirectlytothenorthofDakCheungwitha9–10hourwalkdistance.

Typeofroad

Remotewithanewlybuiltfirstsectionoftheroadanddifficultfinalsection.Thevillagewasattheendoftheroad

Goodroadthewholeway Goodroadthewholeway.Therewereroadbuildingactivitieson-goingjustoutsideofthevillageandconstructionworkerswereprocuringproductsinthevillage.

Extremelypoorroadconditions,unpassablewhenitrains

Villagefacilities

Primaryschool,nolatrines,watersourcebuiltinvillage,villagericemill(providedbyCARE).

Primaryschool,somelatrines,villagehealthworker(butwewerenotabletointerviewhim/her),tworicemills,butownedbyfamilies(notbythevillage)

Secondary(verynew)andprimaryschool,healthcentre,accommodationforteachers,latrinesforallhouses,ricemill.

Dilapidatedprimaryschool,ricemill(brokenwhenwevisited)

Privatesectoractivity

Noshops,butsomewomenandmentradingwithinthevillage

Oneverysmallshoprunbyanelderlywoman.

3newlookingretailoutletsrunbywomen

Novisiblevillageprivatesectoractivityandreportsofverylowlevelsofsales

4.2 Successful approaches OverallthefindingsofthefieldstudyindicatethatDFSPcontributedtowardsstrengtheningtheeconomicempowermentofruralethnicminoritywomeninDakCheung.Thesuccessofthisprojectindoingso,liesinthemulti-levelandintegratedapproachthatpromotesnotonlywomen’seconomicadvancement,butalsowomen’spowerandagencyandwhilstaddressingstructuralandsocialnormbarrierstogenderequality.Whilenotallbarriershavebeenidentifiedandtackled,thereisevidenceofaprocessthatwillprovidesustainableandlong-termchange.Thefindingspresentedinthefollowingsectionsareinterdependent,andalignwiththeoriginalframeworkpresentedinSection2.Thechartshownhereshowshowimportantthechangesaretowomen.

Thoughthefindingsinthischartcomefromthefocusgroupsinallfourvillages,therearesomeresultsthatwerepredominantlycomingfromjustonevillage.Forexampleitthe“cleanervillageandbetterenvironment”figurecomesfromTangyerngonly,demonstratinghowimportantthelatrinesoftheCISSprojectwere,butalsotheeffectofpeopletakingresponsibilityforthecleanlinessofthevillage.Therewerealsodifferencesinprogressagainsteachofthesechanges.ForexampleinSangmai,thoughthewomenidentifiedincreasedincomeasanimportantchange,theyconsideredthattheyhadnotmademuchprogressasincomehadonlyincreasedbyasmallamount.

Sangmaispokesexerciseshowinglowprogressonincreasedincome

0% 5% 10% 15%

Increasedincome

Improvementinhealth

Increasedriceproduc7on

Increasedknowledgeandcapacity

Technicalknowledgeofcoffeeandveg

Knowledgeofcooking

Knowledgeofricefarming

Reducedworkload

Womenhavemore7me

Increasedconfidence

Knowandthinkmoreaboutdoingbusiness

Rela7onshipandMen'saFtude

Increasedsolidaritywithwomen

Increasedconsulta7onwithhusband

CleanervillageandbeHerenvironment

Socialnorms-Menhelpmore

Interestedinhavingabankaccount

advancem

Rela7o

Structures

Chart1:Women'svotesformostimportantchangethathashappened

%totalvotes(n=209)

Insert heading here 11 June 2009

4.2.1 Economic advancement

v Howhaswomen’sincomeearningandeconomicopportunitieschangedasaresultoftheproject?

v Whathascontributedtowomen’sincreaseinincomeandeconomicopportunities?

v Hasthisprojectcontributedtowomen’seconomicandfoodsecurity?

Womenandmeninallfocusgroupsreportedanincreaseinwomen’sincomeearningactivitiesasaresultoftheproject.Thisincludedwomen’sinvolvement:

• Cashcropproductionandsales–coffeenurseriesandplantation,rice,cassavaandothercrops

• SalesofNTFP

• Saleofsurplusgardenproduceandlivestock

• Tradingandretail

Whileitwasnotalwayspossibletoassessthetimeframeofthesechanges,itisclearthatprojectactivitieshavecontributedtoachangeinthetypeandvolumeofeconomicactivityandachangeinattitudearoundwomen’swork.

Economicactivityandincome

Womeninamajorityoffocusgroupsandininterviewsreportedthattheywerenotengagedinincomeearningactivitiesbeforetheprojectandthattheydidnotknowabouttherangeofproductsthatcouldbeproducedandsold.Theirmainrolewastocareforthehomeandthechildrenandtoworkinthericefields.Thisinvolvedprocessingrice(bypoundingfor2–3hoursat3aminthemorning),collectingwoodandwaterontheirbacks,weedingandcaringforthericefieldsandcollectingnontimberforestproducts(NTFP)forconsumption.Nearlyalloftheproductionwasforconsumption.Womenrarelyleftthevillageandhadlittlecontactwithoutsidersorarenainwhichtheycouldtrade.

Table6:Primaryeconomicandhouseholdactivitiesbygender–Newactivitiesforwomenintroducedbytheprojectareinbold

Menonly Bothmenandwomen Womenonly

Knifeandaxeproduction

Fencebuildinginvegetablegarden

Fencemakinginriceandcoffeefields

Woodcutting

Wildlifehunting(squirrels,treeshrews,deer)

Livestock–Buffaloandcattle

NTFP–honey

Selllabouroutsideofvillage–buildingandfarmwork

Salesofknives,spadesandaxes

Coffeenursery,plantationandprocessing

Farming:peanuts,lowlandanduplandrice,pumpkins,cucumber

Fishfarmingandcatchingfishfromriver

Fruittrees:jackfruit,logan,guava,mango

Livestock–pigs,ducks,chickens

Vaccinators

Retailshop(Tangyerng)

Nutritioncustodian

CookingandhousekeepingCaringforchildren

Labourexchangewithotherwomen

NTFPcollectingandselling–Doklai,paknok,makaengfruit,sweetbamboo,cardamom,ratten.

Vegetablegarden–plantingandwatering(alsochildrendothis),saleofvegetables

Focusgroupdiscussionsrevealedachangeintypesofactivities,rolesandresponsibilitiesbetweenmenandwomen.Bothwomenandmenhavebecomemoremotivatedtoproducecertaincrops,livestockandvegetablesbecausetheyaremoreawareofboththemarketpotentialandthenutritionpotential.Allwomenfocusgroupparticipantsreferredtohavingchangedtheirattitudestowardsearninganincomeandbeinginvolvedinproduction.Theyalmostalwaysattributedthischangeinattitudeto:

• Learningaboutproductiontechniquesthroughtheprojecttraining–thishasenabledthemtoproducemoreandtoproducedifferenttypesofcrops,livestockandvegetablesthatcanbesold

• Learningaboutthemarketvalueofsomeproductsthattheydidnotknowhadpotentialbefore

• HavinghigherlevelsofconfidenceduetothetrainingandtheinvolvementinWINGS

• Havingmoretimeduetothetimesavingassetsandtechnology(ricemills,handcartsandirrigation)

• VisitingothervillagesandPaksongandseeinghowmuchmoneyotherpeoplecanmakeandhowthishaschangedtheirlives

Allprojectactivitieshaveincludedwomen,sotheyareactiveinproductionandmarketingandsales.Thishasbeenparticularlyapparentwiththevegetablegardens,wheretheyusedtoonlygroworcollectonevarietyofveg,butnowtheygrowseveraltypesofveginthegardenandsellthesurplusinthemarketorinthevillage.Theinclusionofwomeninmixedsextrainingactivitieshasbeenanessentialpartofthechangeinattitudesaroundwomen’sparticipationandincomeearning.Menhaveseenwomen’spotentialandthewomenthemselveshaveseenhowthepowerbalancehasshiftedwhentheyareabletojoinintraditionally“male”activities.

Alloftheevaluationfocusgroupswithwomenparticipantsidentifiedanincreasesinincomeasamajorandmostimportantchangethathadhappenedasaresultoftheproject.Tangerng,TanglouandDakDenparticipantsallsaidthattherehadbeenamediumtohighlevelofincreaseinincome.Sangmaiwastheonlyvillagewherethischangehadbeenlimited,thoughthewomenstillvotedthatitwasoneofthemostimportantaspectsoftheproject.Increaseinincomewasattributedtotheneweconomicactivitiesthathadstartedasaresultoftheprojectandimprovementsinexistingactivities(suchasricefarming).

Therearethreewaysthatwomenreportedtheywereabletosellproduce:(i)tootherfamiliesinthevillage,(ii)atthemarketinDakCheungand(iii)toLaoandVietnamesetraderswhocometothevillage.Whilewomentendtosellmorewithinthevillage,astheyarenotabletotravel,theydosometimesvisitthemarketinDakCheungtosellproduce(particularlyfromDakDenandTangyerng).WomenhavealsobeguntotradewithinvillagesandsetupsmallretailoutletswithproductsfromthewholesalerinDakCheung.TherearenowfourretailoutletsinTangyerng.Whiletheprojecthasnotdirectlysupportedthedevelopmentofvillagetradingandretail,womenwhohadstartedtradingreferredtotheprojectasourceofinformationabouttradingandaboostintheirconfidence.

VietnameseandLaotraderscometovillagesandareparticularlyinterestedinbuyingcoffeeanddoklai(aproductthatiscollectedintheforest).Everyvillageandfocusgroupreferredtobothoftheseasfairlynewchannelsandprod

uctsforsaleduetotheproject.Villagerswerenotawareofthehugemarketfordoklaibeforetheprojectandsohaveonlyjuststartedcollectedandselling.Thishasbeenagoodopportunityforwomen.Howeversalestoexternaltradersisoftendonebythemenofthevillage,especiallyforcoffee.Thereweredifferencesinhowthiswasdone–somemensaidthattheirwivesdidnotknowaboutpricingorhowtonegotiateproperlywithtraders,andthattheydidnotspeakenoughLao.Somewomenlackedconfidencetotradedirectlywithexternalbuyers.Howevertherewerealsoanumberofwomenwhoweretradingcoffee,recordingincomeandmakingdecisionsaboutpricing.ThesetendedtobethewomenwhohadtakenpartinastudyvisittoPaksongtoseehowcoffeeisgrownandmarketed.Theprojecthasalsoprovidedsomebasicbookkeepingtrainingforcoffeefarmers.

SeveralwomeninTangyerngmentionedsellingtotheroadconstructionworkerswhowereworkingjustoutsideofthevillage.Thishighlightshowimportantaccesstomarketsaretothevillagewomen.

ThecoffeeprocessinggroupinDakDenhadtwowomenmembersoutoffive.Thewomensaidthattheywereequallyinvolvedinalloftheprocessinganddecisionmakingforthecoffee–andthatthiswasaresultofthePaksongstudyvisit,whichclearlyhadanimpactontheroleofwomeninthecoffeebusinessinallofthevillages.Menandwomennearlyalwaysreporteddoingincomeearningactivitiestogetherandworkinginpartnershiptoearnanincome,ratherthanindependentlyonseparateeconomicactivities.Coffeeproductionandprocessing,vegetablegardening,livestockandNTFPhaveallclearlycontributedtotheincreaseinfamilyincome.

Table7:Examplesofwomencontributingtoincomeincreases

Women’scontributiontoincomeearning

Participantviews

Women’sincreaseintimeavailability

“Iammosthappywiththericemill,thecartandthevegetablegardens.Ithelpsmetohavetimetomyself.ItiseasierformeasIdoesn'thavetocarrysomuch.Irestandsleepmore(until4or5aminsteadof2am).Ialsocleanthehouse”.LaoWomen’sUnionrepinTanglou

Box8:Tanglouwomantrader:

Istartedtradingin2012.BeforethatIhadaverysmallhouseandwewereverypoor.WhentheprojectstartedIbecameinterestedinearninganincomeasIsawwomeninothervillagestrading.Alsomyhusbandhaddonethegendertrainingandhewasveryopentomynewideas.Infactheoftenencouragesothermentochangetheirattitudestoo.

Ireallywantedabetterhouse.OnedayIwastalkingwithmyhusbandsayingthatIhadsavedsomemoney.Togetherwehadtheideaoftradinggoodsinthevillage.Istartedbybuyingsoaps,saltandbiscuitsandsellingtheminthevillage.IgetmoneyfromsellingchickensorducksandwhenIhavealotofvegetablesIkeepsomeforthefamilyandIselltherest.Isaveallofthemoney.IgivemoneytomyhusbandtobuythingsfromDakCheung.IcannotgoasIdon’tknowhowtoridethemotorbike.ThereisawholesaleshopinDakCheung.ThewholesalercomesfromPaksong.Ikeeptheproductsinmyhouseandthevillagerscometomyhousetobuy.Nowwehaveabetterhouse,butIwouldliketohaveabiggerhouseinthefuture,liketheothervillagers.

IwritedowntheincomethatImakeandalsothecostsofthegoodssothatIcanworkouthowmuchprofitIammaking.Idon’tincludethecostofpetroltogettoDakCheung–ifIdidthatIwouldnotbemakinganymoney!

Ithinkofotherproductstobuy,butusuallyIdon’thaveenoughmoney.Iwouldliketosellpetrolforthericemillandmobilephonestopupcards,butIneedinformationaboutprice.

Womeninvolvedintraditionally“male”activities

“Inthepast,womendidn’thavetheopportunitytolearnabouthowtodonurseryforthecoffeeplantation,thetechniquesaboutcuttingthebranchesofthecoffeetrees,ortheselectionofseeds.Thisisafterattendingthecoffeetrainingthatwomenstartedtogrowcoffeeasanincomegeneratingactivity”.Tanglouwoman.

Women’sincreasedinclusioninproductionactivities

"Iamnowintheirrigationgroup–Imanageallofthevillagevolunteerstobuildandmaintaintheirrigationsystem.ThishasresultedinmuchhigheryieldsinthericeproductionandIamproudtobepartofthat.Iamnotnervousaboutbeinginthisgroupasyouhavenoneedtobeafraidofanythingifyouwantthingstobebetter.Wedon'twantourlivestobelikebefore.Iamveryhappy.Iwouldlikethingstogetmuchbetterinthefuture.Otherwomenfeelthesame.Womenaremuchbetterthanbeforeastheycannowexpressthemselvesinmeetings"Womanirrigationgroupmember,DakDen

Womenmovingfromproductionforconsumptiontoproductionforsaleandmarketing

“AfterattendingthetrainingandstudytourinPaksongandDakcheung,wegainedsomenewknowledge.Nowwethinkaboutdoingbusinessaswesawothersearnmoney,sowewanttooalso.Wetrytogrowvegetablesandraisemoreanimalstoselltothetrader(“middleman)inthevillage(fishes,ducks,chickenandthesurplusofvegetables)whowillselltovisitorsandothervillagers”.Tangyerngwoman

“Whatmostsignificantlychangeswomen’slifeisnowtheydon’tfocusonsubsistencefoodonly,buttheyhavenowabusinessfocustoincreasetheincomesfortheirownfamilyandthecommunity”.Tanglouwoman

Changesinsocialnormsandgenderrolesinincomeearning

“IfeelconfidentaboutgrowingvegetableswhencomparewiththepastasIdidn’tknowhowtoearnincomethen.Inthosedaysallincomecamefrommyhusband.”Tanglouwoman

Assetownershipandwellbeing

Asincreasesinincomearenotoriouslydifficulttomeasureinthistypeofproject,incomeearningactivities,expenditureandimprovementsinwellbeinghavebeenusedasproxiesforthisaspectofeconomicadvancement.Theinformationaboutthisalsorevealsdecisionmakingaroundexpenditureandwellbeing.Ingeneraltherewereexamplesofincreasedwellbeingintermsofnutritionanddecisionmakingaroundhealthandsexualandreproductivehealthandalsoanincreaseineducationopportunitiesandassetsasaresultofincomeincreases.

Womenreportedspendingincomeonchildren’seducation,includingsecondaryschoolandsometimesuniversity;medicines;clothing;foodproducts(includingrice,saltandMSG);cookingutensils;housing(includingnewhousing,houserepairsandimprovements);motorbikesortractors.

Nearlyallwomenreportedthattheywereresponsibleforkeepingthemoneythatthefamilyearnedandthattheykeptsavingsintheirhouseorbybuyinglivestock(whichtheyagreedwiththeirhusbands).Noneofthewomenwhoparticipatedinfocusgroupsorinterviewshadaccesstofinancialservicesorbankaccountsforsavingandborrowingmoney.Averysmallnumberofwomenwereusingtheirincometoinvestinnewbusinessopportunities,andwouldprobablybeabletoexpandtheirenterprisewithaccesstofinancialservices.

Box9:Usingincomeforeducation

“IusethemoneyIearnfromsellingcoffeetosendmychildrentostudyhousingengineeringinPakse.Ipaid8,000,000KipfortheschoolfeesandmaterialformychildrenbetweenOctober2014andJanuary2015.Somewomenalsosenttheirdaughterstostudyattheteachers’schoolinSalavanProvince”.Woman,DakDen

Insert heading here 11 June 2009 Nearlyeverywomaninthefocusgroupsreportedanincreaseinwellbeingandhealthoftheirchildrenbecauseofimprovednutritionandhealthybehaviour.Mostofthemenwerepleasedbytheincreasedvarietyandbettertastingfood.Othervillageactorshadnoticedachangeinchildren’shealth,especiallythevillageheads.

4.2.2 Power and agency

v Howhavewomen’scapacity,self-esteem,knowledgeandskillschangedasaresultoftheproject?

v Howhavewomen’srelativepowerandvoicewithinthecommunityandthefamilychangedasaresultoftheproject?

v Whathasenabledthesechanges

v Dowomenholdleadershippositionsinvillagecommittees/coffeegroups?

v Aretheirvoicesheardandacteduponinthecommitteemeetings?

Knowledgeandskills:Womeninallfocusgroupstalkedaboutlearninginfourcrucialareas:farmingknowledge,businessawareness,healthandnutritionandgender.DakDenandSangmaiwomenclaimedtherehadbeengoodprogressintheirknowledgeofcoffeefarmingandgardening.Howeverinmostvillageswomenwantedtohavemoretrainingormentoringtoprogresstheirabilitiesincertainareas.Anumberofwomencomplainedabouttheirlackofabilitytogrow“beautiful”coffeeplantsandvegetables.Howevertherewereanumberofotherfactorsthatalsolimitedproduction(seeSectionX).

Table8:Evidenceofwomen’sincreasedknowledgeandskills

Typeofknowledge Progress

Newfarmingknowledge-cropproduction,plantingandcareoffruittrees,livestockrearingandgardening

Thisisanimportantareaprogressforwomeninfocusgroupsandinterviews.Itwasparticularlymarkedforthewomeninthecoffeegroups(includingallofthosethatdidthePaksongvisit)andirrigationgroup.Thesewomenhadpassedonknowledgetoothersintheircommunitiesandwereseenastechnicalleadersincoffeeproduction,whichhadchangedthevillage’sattitudetowardsthem.

“WehavemoreknowledgeaboutcoffeeprocessingnowafterbeinginthePaksongstudyvisit.Weknowhowtodryandusethegrindingmachine.

Box10:Improvementsinwellbeing

“BeforetheprojectInoticedthatthechildrenhadlotsofdiseasesandinfections.Theyhadpoorhygieneanddirtyfood.Ihavenoticedchangesinhowtheyeat-theyeatbetterfoodandtheydressbetter.”Tanglouvillageteacher

“Thehealthcentrehasbeeninthevillagefor3-4years.Thewomenknowaboutbirthcontrol,sodonothavetoomanychildren.Theactivitieshavemeantthattheyhavemoreincome,canbuymorefoodandarehealthier.Everyhousehasalatrine.”Villagehead,Tangyerng

“Childrenhavemorevarietyofvegtoeatandwomen'scookinghasimproved.Alsotheyhaveenoughfood.Childrenatschoolhavecomplementaryfood.Wenowhavecleanwaterandknowtoboilitfordrinking.Themortalityratehasdecreasedandsicknesshasreduced.Therearefewermalariacases”.Villagehead,DakDen

WhenwecamebackfromPaksongweexplainedallofthistotheothervillagersinameeting”.WomenmembersofcoffeegroupinDakDen

Otherknowledgeofrice,livestock,fishandvegetableproductionwerereferredto.Howeversomewomenwerehavingvariablesuccesswiththeirtechniquesandfelttheyneededmorehelp.Thiswasaffectingtheirconfidence.

“Inthepastwehadverysmallgardens.Whenweatefruitandvegetableswejustthrewtheseedsonthegroundandletthemgrow.Whatisnewforusisthetechniquestomakeavegetablegarden.Theprojectgaveseedstousandadvisedusonhowtodigthesoil,howtogrowtheseeds,howtowaterthem.Wealsoreceivedsomegardeningtools”.WomanSangmai

Businessawareness,salesandmarketingcapability–understandingthatsomeproductshadpotentialmarkets,wheretosellproductsandpricing,howtonegotiatewithtraders.

Nearlyallofthewomeninterviewedandinfocusgroupssaidthattheyhadmorecommercialawarenessasaresultoftheprojecttrainingandvisits.Howevertherewaslimitedknowledgeaboutbusinesspractice.Eventhoughsomewomenwererecordingincomeandexpenditurefortheircoffee,theydidnotknowwhethertheiractivitieswereprofitable,norwhattoincludeinbusinessaccounts.Theyalsolackedinformationonmarketsandprices.

Health,hygieneandnutritionknowledgeandhowtoapply–cookingandknowledgeoffoodgroups,howtokeephouseandvillageclean

Allwomeninterviewedandinthefocusgroupsreferredtothenutritionandcookingtrainingandfelttheyhadchangedtheircookingpracticesignificantly.Menalsoreferredtobetterandtastiermeals.HoweverthewomeninSangmai,alsooneofthemostremoteandpoorcommunities,refereedtofindingitdifficulttofindsufficientingredients.WomeninTangyerngwereparticularlypleasedwiththeknowledgetheyhadgainedonhealthandhygieneandlinkedthetidyandcleanstateoftheirvillagetothisandtothewidespreadownershipoflatrines.

“BeforetheCAREprojectinstalledthelatrineswehadtowalkintotheforesttousethetoiletanditwasnotconvenient.Nowthatwehavethelatrineitismuchmorecomfortableandcleaneraroundourvillage”.Tangyerng,man

Gender–abilitytotalktohusband,knowledgeofrights,understandingofgenderroles

Womenandmeninallfocusgroupsreferredtoanincreaseinknowledgeofgenderequalityandwomen’srightsbecauseofthegendertraining.Meninparticularsaidthattheynowbetterunderstoodthehardshipsanddifficultiesthattheirwiveswereexperiencingandweremoremotivatedtohelptheirwivesandincludethemindecisionmaking.Aboutaquarterofthewomensaidthattheyfeltthatitwaseasiertotalktotheirhusbandnowthattheyknowtheirrights.Whenmenwereunabletoattendthegendertrainingthewomenthemselvestaughtthemwhattheyhadlearnedinthegendertraining.Severalmenreferredtothisandhadevenchangedtheirbehaviourandhelpedtheirwivesmore.

Notonlywastheincreaseinknowledgeconnectedwithanincreaseinconfidenceandbeliefinthemselves,butalsosomewomenwerenowseenofasanauthorityoncertainissues(e.g.coffeefarmingandprocessing)andabletoteachothersbecauseoftheprojectactivities.IneveryvillagetherewerewomenwhohadattendedthecoffeetraininginPaksong.InDakDentherewasacoffeeprocessinggroup,whohadlearnedthetechniquesinPaksong.Thesewomenhadnotonlyexperiencedthecoffeebusinessandprocessesfirsthand,buthadalsobeenexpected

totakepartindisseminatingthatknowledgethroughthevillage–mostlythroughgroupsessions,butalsoasinformalsourcesofinformation.Thisappearedtohavechangedtheirstatusinthevillage.Theirknowledgeandexpertisedemonstratedhowvaluabletheywereasparticipantsineconomicactivityandasmentorstoothers.TheDakDencoffeegrouphadtomakedecisionstogether,bothmenandwomen,sothiswasanotherareawherenormswerechanged.

Anunintendedimpactoftheprojectwasonwomen’sinterestineducationandtheirabilitytoaccessit..AwomenfromTanglouwasbuyingbookswiththeextraincomethatshewasearningfromsellingducksformtheproject.SheattributedherinterestineducationtotheinfluenceoftheWINGSgroup.Theschoolteacherwashelpingherwithherstudiesandwasteaching10otherwomenwhohadnothadaneducation,bothLaoandacademicsubjects.Thisawarenessoftheneedforwomentobeeducatedappearedtogohandinhandwiththeirneedtoearnanincome.ThiswasrecognisedbytheVillageheadinTangyergn,whowasalsoorganisingadulteducationlessons.

Women’sconfidence:Evidenceofincreasesinwomen’sself-confidenceandself-esteemhasbeenseeninthefollowingareas:

ü Willingnesstoattendvillageandprojectmeetings

ü Abilitytoparticipateinmeetingsandtotalktostrangers

ü Willingnessandabilitytoleadprocessesandmakedecisions

ü Self-care,cleanlinessandtidiness

Menwhoparticipatedinthefocusgroupsreportedthattheirwivesparticipatedinmeetings,butthattheirwiveswerestilltoosometimestooshytospeakup–andthiswasoftenbecauseoftheirlimitedLaolanguageskills.Othermenhadnoticedthattheirwivesfounditeasiertospeaktostrangersandtocontributetotheprojectactivities.

Thewomen’sWINGSgroupsappearedtohaveprovidedwomenwiththespacetodiscussissuesamongthemselves,whichhadincreasedtheirabilitytotalkinmeetingsandtoanalyseproblemsinthevillage.ManywomenreferredtotheWINGSgroupsasasourceofsupportandself-help.

Womenattributedtheirincreasedconfidenceto:

Ø Inclusioninactivitiesandmeetings

Ø Increasedabilitytoearnanincome–andtobeabletobuywhatisneededforthefamily

Ø Increasedknowledgeandabilitytogrowcoffeeandvegetables

Ø Supportfrom

Box11:Women’sexperienceofincreasesinself-confidence

ParticipatinginWINGS:“Now,womenfeelmoreconfidentwhentheyhavetogivetheiropinioninthevillageorWINGSmeetingsorganizedbyCare.TheythinkthatthosemeetingsprovidethemgoodopportunitytospeakLaoandconsulteachotherabouttheprojectactivities”.WomanDakDen

Speakingwithoutsiders:“NoIamlessshyandinthepastitwasdifferentbecauseIdidn’tknowtheLaolanguage.Itisabitbetterthanbefore,butIstillhavetroubleunderstanding.Inthepastmyparentsdidn’tspeakLaoatall.NowIwanttospeakLaowiththeCAREofficers.Weunderstandeverything,butcan’tspeak.WecanexpressourselvesinTalieng”.Samgmai,woman

Earninganincome:“Now,womenfeelmoreconfidentthanbeforebecausetheyhavetheabilitytoearnmoreincomesontheirown.Inthepast,theyfeltverydiscouragedandnotconfidentbecausetheirhusbandsweretheoneswhobroughtmoneyathome”Tanglouwoman

Confidenceandenvironmentimpactingonwellbeing:“Abetterenvironment:thehouseandtheyardinfrontofthehousearecleanerthanbefore.Eachhouseholdhaslatrines,whichmakeswomen’slifemorecomfortablethanbeforeandreducestherisksforwomenandthefamilymembersfrombeingaffectedbydiseases”.Tangyerngwoman

Takingcareofthemselves:“Wiveshaveimprovedtheirdressingupstylestobeprettierandtheycancookmoredeliciousmenuswithmoreingredientthanthepast”.ManTanglou

Confidenceincreatingabilities:“Beforetheprojectwomenwereveryshy.Theywouldhideandletmentalk.Nowtheydosayhitostrangersandtheytaketheinitiativeto(e.g.)sellvegetables”.Maleteacher,Tanglou

theirhusbandsandvillagehead–knowingthatinfluentialandpowerfulmeninthecommunityarekeentoincludewomeninactivitiesandforthemtocontributetofamilyincomeearning.

Relationsanddecisionmaking:

Inthepastgenderroleswereclearandpolarised–withmendoinglittleornoworkinthehouseandincertain“women’s”tasksandnotinvolvingwomenindecisionmaking.InalloftheFGDsbothmenandwomentalkedabouthowmenusedtocontributelittletothehouseholdworkload,preferringinsteadtodrinkalcohol,sleepandhangoutwiththeirfriends.Theprojectcausedachangeinthisbehaviourwithmentakingmoreresponsibility,treatingtheirwivesbetteranddrinkingless.

Familyrelationships:Womenwereparticularlyarticulateabouttheimprovementsintheirrelationshipswiththeirhusbands–sayingthattherewaslessarguing(andinoneortwocasesadecreaseorcessationofviolence),theirhusbandsweremorecaringandcontributedmoretotheirworkload.Thiswassometimesattributedtowomen’sincreasedincome,butmoreoftentothegendertraining.ThegendertrainingandWINGShadincreasedmenandwomen’sabilitytodiscussarangeofissueswithinthefamilyandformentoacceptwomen’sopinions.

Thereappearedtohavebeenashift

Box12:Changesinrelations

Womenbecomingmoreassertiveinrelationships“Menusedtocutthewood,butwewouldcarrytothefieldandbuildthefences.Nowwedolessandmencarryalloftheheavystuff.BeforetheprojectcameIhadtodoeverythingbymyself.TheWINGSgrouphashelpedmealot.IcanaskforadvicefrommyfriendsandaboutmystudiesandIfeelmoreabletobeassertive.BeforeattendingthegroupIwouldnothavedaredtointroducethegendertrainingtomyhusband.”Laowomen’sunionrepTanglou

Womenvaluedmore:“Ofcoursemyhusbandlovesme,otherwisehewouldn’tbewithme,buthelovesmealittlebitmorethanbeforeasImakeabitmoremoney.”Sangmai,woman

Womenparticipateinagreeingcoffeeandlivestockprices:“BothmyhusbandandIareabletosellthecoffee,itdependsonwhoisinthehousewhenthetradercomes.Wealwaysdiscussandagreethepricewewanttosellforbeforehand.Evenwhenmyhusbandsellsacowhewillconsultmeonthepricewewouldliketoget”.Woman,DakDen

inthebalanceofpowerwithinrelationships–butofcoursethiswouldhavevariedfromfamilytofamily.Thishadamarkedimpactonwomen’sparticipationindecisionmaking–enablingwomentohavemorepowerinfamilydecisionmakingandalsoinbusinessandagriculturerelateddecisions.

Allmen’sandwomen’sfocusgroupsmentionedthegendertrainingprovidedbyCAREwithoutbeingprompted.Overwhelminglythechangeinrelationswasattributedtothisgendertraining.Anaspectofthegendertrainingthathadparticularlystruckachordwithintervieweeswastheinventoryofdifferentactivitiesthatmenandwomendo.Allofthemenwhoexpressedthissaidhowtheyhadfeltquitesadwhentheyhadseentheheavywork

burdenthattheirwiveshadhadtobear.Theyhadfeltashamedandwantedtohelptheirwives.Somemenalsosaidthattheyhadlearnedhowtheycouldearnmoremoneyiftheyworkedtogetherwiththeirwivesandthattheycouldbemoresuccessfulasafamily.Theyhadbeguntoseethattheirwiveswerevaluable,particularlyastheywerecontributingtoearninganincomeforthefamily.

Itislikelythatthemenwouldnothavebeensoopentothegendertrainingwithouttheotherprojectactivities.SeveralwomenreferredtotheirincreasedconfidenceasaresultofparticipatinginWINGS,orasaresultoftheireconomicactivity,ascontributingtotheirconfidenceincommunicatingwiththeirhusbands–andthatthishadenabledthemtoencouragetheirhusbandstoattendthegendertraininginthefirstplace.Itisverylikelythatgendertrainingalonewouldnothavehadsuchatransformationalimpactonmenandwomen’srelationshipsandbehaviour.Thoughitsimpactontheprojectvillageshasbeenessentialforallaspectsofprojectprogress.

Otherrelationships:Workingrelationshipsbetweenmenandwomeninprojectgroupswerealsoreportedtobefairlyequal–andthiswasattributedtoconstantcommunications(“Wedon’thavedisagreementsaswediscusseverythingwitheachother”,Irrigationgroup,DakDen).Unsurprisinglyobservationofcommunicationsbetweenmenandwomeninthesegroupsdidnotalwaysreflectthissentiment,thoughwomeningeneralappearedtocommunicateconfidently.Nearlyallfocusgroupparticipantssaidthatwomenweremoreinvolvedinvillagedecisionmakingastheywerenowattendingmeetings.ThiswaspartlybecauseoftheWINGSgroupsandencouragementfromtheirhusbands,butalsowasattributabletotheroleofthevillageheadsinencouragingwomentoparticipateandspeakup.

Organisingwithothers:Womenwereincludedinallofthecoffeeproductionandprocessingandirrigationgroupsandwereactivemembersofthegroupsthatwereinterviewed.Theprojectapproachofincludingwomeninactiveroleshadworkedparticularlywell,butalsothesupportoftheWINGSalsoappearedtocontributetowomen’ssuccessinothergroups.WINGSwerealsomentionedbymanyofthewomenwhosaidtheynowattendvillagemeetings.NearlyeveryfocusgrouptoldstoriesoflearningtospeakupfirstintheWINGS,toorganisewithotherwomenandtogainconfidencespeakingLaoandmakingdecisions.

4.2.3 Structure and social norms

v Howhavecommunityandinstitutionalsocialnormsandattitudeschangedasaresultoftheprojectorotheractivities?

Thereferencestochangesinmen’sbehaviourandrolesbetweenmenandwomenwassofrequentinthefocusgroupsandinterviewsthatitcouldbesaidthattherehasbeenquitealargeshiftinsocialnormsaroundgenderroles.Changesthatbothmenandwomenreferredtoincluded:

ü Mencarrywoodorusethericemillingmachine(thoughnotpoundingrice)

ü Meninvolvedinhouseholdtasks(e.gclotheswashing,caringforchildrenwhenwomengotomeetings)

ü Mendrinkinglessalcohol

ü Womenincludedinvillagemeetingsandtakingleadershiprolesinprojectgroups

ü Menandwomenmakingdecisionstogether

ü Mendoingtheheavyworkthattheydidnotdobefore(e.g.digginginthegarden,puttingupfences)

ü Menandwomenhelpingeachother

ü Womeninvolvedinincomeearningactivities–andthattheyareexpectedtoearnanincometoensurefoodsecurityandfamilyhealth

ü Thevillagersandvillageauthoritiesaremorereceptivewhenwomenexpresstheiropinions

ü Girlsnotgettingmarriedsoearly

ü Womenandmenwantingfewerchildren

Thoughthesechangeslookpromising,therewereindicationsthatseveralofthesechangesappearedtobeintheearlystagesandthatmoresustainedeffortwouldberequiredtoensurethatprogresscontinued,soitisimportanttounderstandthedriversofthischangeprocess.Therewereseveralkeydriversofthisoverallsocialnormchange:

o Bothmenandwomenwereinvolvedinthegendertraining.Thismeantthatmenwereabletolearnanddrivesomeofthechange,influencingothermeninthevillage.Notallmenattendedthetraininginallvillages,sotherewerestillpocketsofmenwhowereeithernotawareofthetrainingorwhodidnotwishtochange.

o Theleadershipofthevillageheadwasanimportantinfluenceonmeninthevillageonsupportforchangesinattitudeandgenderroles.ThevillageheadhelpedtochooseparticipantsandtoencouragewomentojointheWINGSgroups,attendvillagemeetingsandtoparticipateintraining.Otherinfluentialmeninthevillage,forexampletheschoolteacherinTanglou,appearedtohaveanimportantroleinleadingthechangeinattitude.

o Thewidescaleinclusionofwomeninarangeofactivitiesandincomeearningrolesbothwithinandoutsideofthevillageplayedanimportantroleinchangingattitudestowardswomen.Itisclearthattheinclusionofwomenincropproductionandgardeningtrainingandstudyvisitshasplayedanimportantpartinsocialnormchangearoundincomeearningroles.Ithasincreasedmen’sconfidenceinwomen’scapability.

o TheWINGSgroupshaveenabledwomentogainconfidenceandtopracticecommunicationsskillsinasafe,supportiveenvironment.Ithasalsogivenwomenthechancetodrivechangesandtakeonleadershippositions.

o Theencouragementofthedistrictandprovincegovernmentofficialsandtheirsupportforgenderequalityandwomen’srightswithinthevillageswasmentionedasmallnumberoftimes–butappearedto

becrucialforlegitimisingtheactivities.Governmentofficialswhowereinterviewedaspartoftheevaluationexpressedstrongsupportoftheprojectapproachandthecommitmenttowomen’seconomicempowerment.

o Thepromiseofincreasedincomeactedasastrongmotivatingfactorformen.Theyconsistentlystatedhowpleasedtheywerethattheirwiveswerenowearninganincomeorsupportingtheincreaseinfamilyincomeandknowmoreaboutsalesandfarming.Thepotentialforanincreaseinfamilyincomemayhaveactedasmotivationforthementhemselvestochangetheirbehaviourandtoworkharderforthefamily.

Theeconomicactivityofwomenappearedtohavecontributedtochangesinattitudesaboutwomen’srolesandgirls’education,whichinturnhadimpactedonsexualandreproductivewell-being.Severalwomenwhowereinterviewed(manyintheir20sor30s)hadgotmarriedaschildren(attheagesof13or14)andhadnotbeenabletofinishschool.Thisappearedtohavebeenasocialnorminthevillagesandparentsrequiredtheirgirlstogetmarriedearly.Nearlyeverymanandwomaninterviewedsaidthattheynowsendbothboysandgirlstoschoolandmanyintendedtheirchildrentoattendsecondaryschool,eventhough30%ofwomeninthefocusgroupshadnoeducationatall(comparedto5%ofmeninthefocusgroups)andonlyonewoman(0.8%ofsample)hadfinishedsecondaryschool(comparedto9%ofthemeninthefocusgroups).Severalwomenandmeninterviewedstatedthatgirlsgetmarriedintheir20snowastheyarestudying.Knowledgeofcontraceptionandreproductiverightshadalsochangedwomen’sattitudesabouttheirrolesandincomeearningpotential–buttherewasstillalongwaytogoinsomevillagesforwomentobeabletorealizetheirsexualandreproductiverights.

Box13:Changesinsocialnorms

Menhelpmore:“Menhelpgrindingtherice.Andweworktogetheronthericefield.Wehavechangedbecauseofthegendertraining.TheCAREofficerscameevery2monthstoadviseongender.Inthepastmendidhelp,butnowtheyhelpmore.Nowmenhelpwithcuttingwoodandcarryingwood.Butnotallofthetime:Ihavetocarrymybabyonmyfrontandthewoodonmyback.Myhusbandsometimeshelpsme,butnotallofthetime.Hegoestotheforesttohuntanimals.Hehastogetsomeanimalstofeedthefamily.”Samgmaiwoman

Leadershipofvillagehead:“Thevillageheadmanoftensaysinmeetingsthathewantswomentoearnmoreincomestomaketheirlifebetter.”WomanDakDen

Husbandandwifeworkingtogether:“Beforetheprojectcame,mywifeandIwerequitelazy.Thehusbandswouldalwaysgoouttodrink.Thewiveswereleftinthehouse.AftertheprojectcamehereandIhadtraining,mywifeandItalkmorewitheachother–wediscussandplanhowtoincreasethefamilyincome.WehadhelpfromCAREandsupportthemtorunthecoffeeplantation.Thatiswhywedecidedtojoininwiththisproject.”Tanglouman

4.3 Challenges and gaps

v Whathasactedasabarriertowomen’sincomeearningandeconomicopportunities?

v Whatarethesocial,economicandenvironmentalbarrierstoprogressinwomen’seconomicempowerment?

4.3.1 Economic advancement challenges Whenwomenanalysedthechallengestheyfacetheytendedtotalkaboutpracticalissuesaroundproductionandsales.Ingeneralthereremainanumberofchallengesrelatedtoproduction,accesstomarketsandfinancialservices.

Productionchallenges:Thefollowingchallengesandbarrierswereidentifiedbywomen:

o Lowyields:limitationoffoodproductionvolumessothereisnosurplustosell,theweatherandsoilisnotgoodforcoffeeproduction(thisdependedonthelocationofthecoffeeplantations),forexampleinTanglouandDakDenthecoffeedoesnotgrowwellatvillagelevelandsothevillagershavehadtomakeplantationshigherupandfurtherawayfromthevillage.Thisincreasesthetimespentgettingtofieldsandthephysicalimpactonwomenwhohavetotakebabiesorchildrenalongwiththem.Otherproductionissuesincludedproblemswithpestsandanimalsareanimalsthatdestroycropsandfishproduction,andproblemswithtoomanyweedsandnotenoughcompost(e.g.lowlandriceinSangmai).

Box14:Harmfulpracticesandviolence

Earlymarriage:“IalsousethemoneytobuybooksandstudyasIwasnotabletofinishschool.Igotmarriedat14yearsoldbecausemyparentsarrangedit.”Tanglou,Laowomen’sunionrepresentative

Changesinearlyandforcedmarriage:“Iwas16years,andmyhusbandwas19yearsoldwhenwegotmarried.Myparentsforcedme.Ididn’twanttogetmarried.NowIcan’tforcemychildrentomarryastheywanttostudy.Itisuptothem.IreallyregretthatIwasnotabletogetaneducation.Whenpeoplefromtheprojectaskmesomething,Idon’tknowanything.”Tanglouwoman.

Violencestopped:“Theprojectmademyhusbandchange.Webothattendedthetrainingongender.HelearnedandafterthatwhenwewentbackhomeIaskedhimtohelpme.Nowhedoesn’tbeatmeanymore.Beforetheprojectmyhusbandusedtobeatmeandthechildren.HeusedtobeatmesohardthatIwassometimesbleedingandmychildrentoo.Theprojectofficerstoldhimnottodoit.Alsothevillageheadhadatalkwithhimandthepeoplefromthedistrictcameandtalkedtohim.AlsoIusedtobeatmychildren,buttheteacherattheschooltoldmethatIshouldn’tdoit,soInowhavestoppedalso.Beforewedidn’tknowthatbeatingwasbad,becausewehadnotbeentoschool.Wethoughtthattheviolencewasnormal.NowIthinkthatImusthavebeencrazy!Mychildrenaremuchhappier.IwasscaredthatifIbeatmychildrentoomuchtheymightgocrazy.Therewereothermenwhowerebeatingtheirwives.Justafewofthem.”Tanglouwoman

o Physicalinfrastructureproblems-fencingtakestoomuchtimeandisnotadequateenough–cowsandbuffalocomeintocoffeeandricefieldsanddestroytheplants,veggardenisfarfromthewatersupply,

o Lackofsupportandhumanresources-lackoflabourforceaschildrenareatschoolorcollege,notenoughsupportforthosewhoarenewtocoffeeproduction,limitedknowledgeofriceproduction.

Limitedaccesstomarkets–WomeninvillagesthatarefarfromDakCheungmarketorhaveverypoorconditionroads(e.g.Sangmai),havedifficultyreachingthemarket.ForwomeninSangmaithiswassuchanissuethattheyhadlimitedtheirvegetableproductionastheywerenotabletosellalloftheirsurplusproduce.Inothervillageswomencomplainedthattheywereallgrowingthesamevegetables,sowerecompetinginawaythatlimitedtheirsalespotential.Therearealsowomenwhoarenotabletotraveltothemarketunlessaccompaniedbytheirhusband(e.g.Tangyerng).

Problemswithimmediatefoodsecurity–DakDenandSangmaidon’tproduceenoughriceforconsumptionthroughoutthewholeyear.Whileitwastheaimoftheprojecttoincreaseincomesfromcashcropssothattheycouldcovertheirfoodneedsbybuyingfood,therewassometimesatimelaginthegenerationofincome.Forexamplecoffeeplantstakethreeyearstomaturebeforeacropcanbeharvested.Landandtimeneedtobeusedtogrowcoffeeandthissometimesmeansthatfamilieshavetoshiftlandfromriceintocoffeeandspendmoretimeonthecoffeeplantationthanonfoodproduction.Thismeansthatforthreeyearstheremaybeashortageoffoodproductionwithoutanaccompanyingincreaseinincome.Sangmaiusedtobeself-sufficientinrice.Whencoffeewasintroducedsomefamiliesusedsomeoftheirricefields,whichhasnowreducedtheirriceproductionandtheyhavelessfoodsecuritythanbefore.

Lackofaccesstofinancialservices–Severalwomenwantedtobeabletobuymoreinputsfortheiragricultureproduction,ortoinvestintheirtradingactivities,buthadnocapitaltodoso.Moneytoinvestinbusinessactivitiesusuallycomesfromrelativesandsoislimitedtofamilieswhoalreadyhavesomeincomeorassets.Alsowomendonothaveasafeplacetokeeptheirsavings.

4.3.2 Power and Agency Whilemostofthewomeninvolvedintheevaluationwereconfidentthattheirknowledgeandabilitieshadincreased,menwerenotasconfidentofwomen’sskillsandknowledge.Forexamplementhoughtthatwomenhadchallengeswithpoorcoffeeplantingskills,littleknowledgeofpricingandhowtosellproduce,poortradingandnegotiationskillsandinabilitytocatchandselllargelivestock(particularlythatwomendon’tknowthepricing).Thismayhaverevealedacontinuedunderlyingprejudiceormisguidedbeliefaboutwomen’sabilities.ItalsorevealedalackofunderstandingamongthemenoftheroleoftheWINGSgroupsandhowwomenwerechangingthewaythattheycommunicatewitheachother.Theareathatwomenandmenconcurredwithwasaroundwomen’slackofself-confidenceandinabilitytospeak,readandwriteLao.Thiswasaconsistentchallengeareathatcameupinnearlyeveryfocusgroup.Somewomenineachfocusgroupwouldrefertotheir“shyness”aboutattendingmeetingsorspeakingupinmeetingsbecausetheydidnotfeelthattheirLaolanguage

Box16:Howwomensavemoney

“Incomeismuchbetterthanbeforeastheygrowvegbetter.WehavelearnedaboutgrowingvegandalsowesellinDakCheung.Inthepastweusedtoget30,000kipattheendoftheyear.Nowweget100,000kipattheendoftheyear.Wedorecordtheamountweearnfromcoffee(butnotforotherproducts).Wehaveabookwherewerecorditall.Wealsoknowhowmuchwespendandtoreimbursedebts.Iborrowmoneyfromrelatives.Wesavemoneyinourhomes.”Coffeegroupmembers,DakDen.

Box15:Difficultieswithproduction

“Wehavealotofweedsinthericefiled,soittakesalotoftimetogetridoftheweeds.Wehavelearnedhowtomakecompost,butwearenotusingitaswecan’t’carryittothericefield.”WomanSangmai

“IfeelconfidentaboutgrowingvegetableswhencomparewiththepastIdidn’tknowhowtoearnincome,allincomeswerefrommyhusband.ButforcoffeeplantationIfeellessconfidentbecausetheweatherhereisquitehot,itmakesthecoffeeplant’sleavesgoyellow.”Tanglouwoman

skillsweregoodenough.AndthoughtheythoughttheynowhadmoreopportunitiestoengagewithoutsidersandtospeakLao,theywerestillunconfident.

Womenwerekeentoimprovetheircookingandnutritionknowledgefurtherassomeofthemfeltthattheystillneededsupport.Thefocusgroupsalsorevealedthattherehardlyanybookkeepingtakingplaceandthatthebasicsofbusinessmanagementandmarketingwerenotknownbythewomen.

Therearestillsomewomenwholackconfidenceandfindithardtospeakupinmeetingsandparticipateintheprojectandincomeearningactivities.Quiteoftenthiswasreferredtobewomeninrelationtotheirinsecurityabouttechnicalagricultureandlivestockknowledgeandskills,butmoreofteninrelationtotheirLaolanguageskills.TherewasalsoanexampleofaLaoWomen’sUnionleaderlackingconfidenceandleadershipmotivationandskills(Sangmai).Itwouldbeimportanttoassesswhatlimitssomewomentomakesurethereisaninclusiveapproachtotheprojectcontinuation,particularlyfortechnicalknowledgeandLaolanguageskills.

WomenSangmaiandDakDenarestillhavingchallengeswiththeirheavyworkloadandtimepoverty.Thisisrelatedto:

o Havingtoomanychildrentotakecareof–nearlyallofthemenandmanywomenreferredtotheheavyburdenofcaringforyoungchildren.Whilemenhadpreviouslymentionedthattheysometimeshelpwiththechildren,thereisstillanoverallbeliefthatcaringforchildrenisprimarilywomen’sresponsibility.

o Havingtopoundriceastherewaslimitedaccesstoaricemill–thiswasonlyhappeninginDakDenwherethevillagehadnotbeenprovidedwithaprojectricemill.Thereweretworicemillsownedbyfamiliesinthevillageandthesewerehiredouttothevillagers.Howevernearlyallofthewomenfocusgroupparticipantsinthatvillagereferredtothehighpriceofmilling.

o Carryingfirewoodandwaterastherearenohandcarts.AgainthiswashappeninginDakDenasthevillagewastoohillyforhandcartsandnoothertechnologywasavailable.

Structureandsocialnorms

Asmentionedbefore,thereisstillmoresustainedeffortrequiredtoensurethatvillagewidesocialnormchangeprogresses.Thoughthegendertrainingalongwiththeotherprojectactivitieshadmadeanimpactonmostmenandwomenintermsofgenderequality,somefocusgroupparticipantsreferredtocontinuedproblemsbetweenmenandwomenwhennegotiatingresponsibilitiesandwork.Bothwomenandmenhadstoriesofsomemenwhowerenotcontributingfullytothefamilyworkload,mostlybecausetheyaredrinkingalcohol,wakinguplateandnothelpingtheirwives.Therewerealsosomeexamplesofwomenwhoarenotinterestedinnutritionandarenothealthy.ThereappearedtobeaparticularprobleminSangmai,wherewomenwerecontinuingtosufferfromheavyworkloadswithlittlehelpfromtheirhusband,andsometimesthiswasduetoalcoholrelatedandotherun-diagnosedillnesses.Therewasalsoalackoftrustformodernhealthservices,withmoreuseoftraditionalhealers.TheseproblemscouldhavebeenresultofSangmai’sremotelocation,limitedaccesstohealthfacilitiesormarketsandvariablecontactwithothervillages.

Box17:Difficultiescooking

“Itisdifficultforustousethenewcookingtechniquesthatweweretaught.Wedon’thavealloftheingredients,sowearenotsohealthy.Wecan’tdowhattheytaughtus.”Sangmai,woman

Box18:Somemenstillnothelping

“Menarenothelpingsomuchbecausetheydrinkalcoholandtheyaresick.Theymaketheirownalcohol.WhenmyhusbandisdrunkhegetsupquitelateandIhavetocareforthechildrenandcarrythewater.Hewon’thelpme.”Sangmaiwoman

“Wiveshavesuggestedthatwechangeourbehaviour,sometimewedo,sometimewedon’tbecausewewanttomeetfriends,ifwedon’tdrink,wecan’tspeakLaofluently.”ManDakDen

Inthefocusgroupsmenwereaskedtoidentifywhethertheirwivesandotherwomenintheirfamilyexperiencedchallengesorbarrierstoearninganincomeorbeinginvolvedineconomicactivity.Themostinterestingfindingofthisexercisewasthatthemenhadalotofdifficultyinthinkingaboutthechallengesthattheirwivesmighthave.Whentheywereaskedtothinkofsolutionsonhowtoaddressthechallenges,themenagainfounditdifficultgoingfromproblemidentificationtosolution.Therewereveryfeworiginalideasandmanyofthemrevolvedaroundwhatthementhemselvescoulddo,ratherthanwiderchangesthatmighttakeplace.Theexperienceofthisexercisewasrepeatedinnearlyeverymen’sfocusgroup.Itdemonstratesacontinuedlackofawarenessbymenoftheirwiveschallengesinearninganincomeandtheirworkburden.Thisfurtherindicatestheneedforcontinuedeffortstochangesocialnormsandtocontinuemuchoftheactivitiesinthisproject.

Beliefsandnormsaroundfamilyplanningwerealsoseentobeachallengebybothmenandwomenand,again,particularlyinSangmai.Whileallfocusgroupshadsomementionoftheburdenofcaringforchildrenandhowthislimitswomen’smobilityandtimetobeinvolvedinincomeearningactivities,therewasahighlevelofknowledgeoffamilyplanning.Howevertheredidnotappeartobehighutilizationrates,exceptwheretherewasahealthclinicinthevillage(Tangyerng).WomeninothervillageshavetotraveltoDakCheungtoaccessfamilyplanningservices,thoughoccasionallyavillagehealthworkerwillvisit.Howeverthiswasclearlynotfrequentenoughasseveralwomenreferredtounintendedpregnancies.Therewerealsoanumberofmythsaroundfamilyplanningtechniques,especiallylongtermandpermanentmethods(believingitcancauseillnessandcausewomentobeunabletowork).Thisindicatesalackoffamilyplanningcounsellingandadviceforwomenandmen.

Box19:TraditionalbeliefsandhealthinSangmai

“Iamscaredtogointotheforestalonebecauseofghostsandspirits.Sometimespeopleinthevillagegetpossessedbyspiritsandtheydon’tknowhowtogetridofthem.Ithashappenedtomyhusband.Hecan’tworkashehasbeenillsinceMay2014.Hecan’tevenspeak.Hejustwalksaround.Whenhedrinkshecanspeak,butitisrubbish.Thereisnodoctorhere.Hefellfromthehousetwicewhenhewasdrunkandhekeepsondrinking.Oneofmychildrenwassickfromasnakebite.Itookhimtothehospitalandtheywantedtogivehimaninjection,butIwouldn’tletthemasIwasworried.Wehaveatraditionaldoctorwhoblowsonthewound.Heisgettingbetter,buthecan’twalk”.BecausemyhusbandisillIhavetodoeverythingasmysevenchildrenarealltooyoung.Idon’thaveanymoneynoranythingtosell.Ididhaveonechicken,butaftermychildgotillIhadtokillitasasacrificetomakethingsbetter.”Sangmai,woman1with7children.

“Inthepastmyhusbanddidn’thelpmesomuchandheusedtodrinkalot.Butnowheissickandhecan’twork.Sohehelpsinthehome.HewenttoSekongtogetsomemedicineandnowhasgonetoPaksongforamonthtoseeatraditionalhealer.Ithinkheandothermengetproblemswiththeirstomachs.Idon’thaveanyhelpandthecoffeeplantationhasweeds”.Sangmaiwoman2with8children.

Contextualchallenges

Thelackofhealthservicesinthreeofthevillageswasclearlyaffectingwomen’shealthandaccesstofamilyplanning.Thisisamajorissueforwomen’sinclusioninincomeearningactivitiesandthenormchangearoundgenderrolesthatisrequiredbythis.ThedoctorwhoworksinTangyerngdoesprovidefamilyplanningservices,andalsoadviceonnutritionandhygiene,sothereispotentialforsurroundingvillagestovisitthatclinicinsteadofgoingtoDakCheung.HowevershehasnevervisitedaWINGSgrouporparticipatedinanyoftheprojectactivities.Thislinkwithhealthservicesappearstobemissingfromtheproject.

Mininghasnotonlycauseduncertaintyforvillagesthathavetomoveduetogovernmentorders,butalsoasuddenandunsustainableinfluxofcashtosomevillagesaffectedbygoldmining,withassociateddestructionoftheirland.GenderissuesinSangmaiarebeingaffectedbythegoldminingsituation,withwomensufferingmost.Furtherinvestigationofthenegativeeffectsofthissituationareneeded.

Theroadqualityandroadmaintenanceandbuildingarehavinganimpactonwomen’sabilitytoearnanincome.InSangmai,wheretheroadisalmostimpassableformuchoftheyear,thewomenhardlyleavethevillageandarenotabletoaccessnearbymarkets.InTangyerng,wheretheroadconstructionworkersarebuyingproduce,thisseemstobebenefittingwomen.

Box22:Sangmaigoldminingandspendingchoices

“AVietnamesegoldminingcompanycamehereandgave£30,000(30millionkipperhectare)fortherighttodigon12hectaresofmyland.ThediggingstartedinJan2014anditisstillgoingon.Thelandwillbeunusableaftertheyhavefinished.Ihavekeptsomeofthemoneyandmywifesometimesasksmeformoney.ButIdon’thavetransportandmycoffeecropisnotmaturedyet”.Sangmai,man

Box20:Toomanychildrenlimitswomen’sparticipation

“Thevillageheadmanalsosupportsusandencouragesustogetmoreincomeforthefamily.Hewantsustoreduceourworkloadandincreaseourincomebutitisdifficultaswehavesomanychildren.”Sangmaiwoman

“Itisdifficulttoincreaseourincomeaswehavemanychildren.Contraceptionisdangerousforourhealth.Somewomenhadinjectionsandtheygotsick.Somewomensaiditwasverypainful.Sowedon’twanttousecontraception.Wedon’twanttohaveapermanentmethodsasthenwewon’tbeabletoworkinthefields.Thereisnohealthfacilityhere,soifwehavetheinjectionandwegetsick,thereisnoonetotakeustohospital.Soweareworried”Sangmaiwoman.

Box21:Maternalhealthinremotevillages

“Iftherewasanopportunityformetosolvethechallengeswomenfaceinourvillage?Iwouldworktomakeourhealthsituationbetter–thehardestmomentawomenfacesiswhenshegivesbirthinourvillage.Inourvillagewedonothavetheequipmentormedicinesneededtomakeitsafeforwomen–forthatwomenneedtotraveltothedistrictandwedonothavethetransport.Previouslywehadamidwifewhowastrainedinthedistrictbutshehassinceleftthevillage’.Thereissomefinancialsupportfromthegovernmenttogoandgivebirthinthedistrict–moneyfortransportanddormsroomsandfood….butactuallywomenhavetogotherefortwoweeksbeforethebabyarrives…thatisalongtimetobeawayfromthehouse…whowillcarefortheotherchildren…whowillworkinthevegetablegarden?Mostwomendonotwanttobeawayfromhomeforthatlong…”LaoWomen’sUnionleader,Sangmai

Governmentlimitationsandsustainability–Thoughbothnationalandlocalgovernmentaresupportiveoftheproject’sgenderandwomen’seconomicempowermentapproach,thereisalackofexpertiseandfundingtosustainthistypeofsupportdirectlyfromgovernment.Thiscouldthreatenthesustainabilityoftheapproachasthereisstillalotmoresustainedeffortrequired.Ashorttermsolutiontothiswouldincludeamuchcloserrelationshipwithgovernmentofficials.

5. Learning about the approach and gaps

Caption:MrsSe33,marriedwith3daughtersandownerofpigswhicharekeptjustoutsidethevillage.NaVillage,KhuaDistrict,PhongsalyProvince,Laos.Photocredit:©JeffWilliams/CARE

Learningquestion1:TowhatextentdoCARE’sapproachesandmodelsachievesustainableeconomicparticipationandempowermentoutcomesinthelivesofwomenfromethnicgroups?Forexample,arestrongmember-basedassociationsaneffectivewaytopromotetherightsofethnicminoritywomensotheycan

advocateforchange?Doesraisingmarginalisedwomen’sawarenessoftheirrightsandentitlementstoavailableresourcesandchallengingdiscriminationleadtoeconomicempowerment?

CARE’sapproachesinalloftheprojectshavecontributedtowomen’seconomicempowerment,thoughtheprojectsthattargetwomenandintegratewomenintoallactivities;andmeasureresultsforwomenhavehadmoresuccess(PRDP,DFSP).Thereisnooneelementthatcanbesaidtoleadtoempowermentoreconomicparticipation–itisratherthecombinationofapproachesthathaveledtosustainablechangeforwomen.Inparticularthelearningandinclusioninactivitieshavehadanimpactonwomen’seconomicparticipation.Thefollowinglessonscanbedrawn:

ü Womenappearedtolearnthroughacombinationofbeingtaught,bydoingandbyobservingandthiswasmoreeffectivewhentheytravelledoutsideofthevillage.Remotenessdefinitelylimitswomen’seconomicactivitiesevenmorethanmen’sastheyaremoretiedtothevillageandthehouse.Womenwhohaveexperiencedothervillagesweremoreopenmindedandconfidentabouttryingnewwaysofearninganincomeandtheyweremorecommerciallyaware.Physicalaccesstomarketsisessentialforwomentoprogresswithincomeearningactivities.Womenwholiveclosertothemarketareabletosellmore.Alsowhenbuyerscometothevillagethevillagershavelittlenegotiatingpower,andthisisevenworseforwomenwhomaynothaveaccesstorelevantinformation.Differentsalesmodelsandaccesstomarketsandbuyersneedtobeexplored.Womenneedongoingtechnicalagricultural,gardeningandlivestocktrainingandsupport–whetherforlivestockvaccinations,locationofcoffeeplantations,abilitytoproducecompostforriceetc.Somewomenappeartolackconfidenceintheirabilitytoproducecashcropsandfoodproduceandthiscouldunderminetheprogressthatismadetochangeattitudesaroundwomen’sroles.Itisthereforeessentialthatgoodqualitytechnicaladviceandon-goingsupportisprovidedtowomenduringtheproject.Constantfeedbackshouldbesoughtandapproachesadaptedtoensurethatthereissuccesswithlivestockrearing,fishfarming,vegetableandagriculturalproductionandproductivity.

ü Furtherprogressinwomen’seconomicactivitiesandincomeearningpotentialcouldbeachievedwithmoreofafocusonprivatesectorinitiatives.WhilePARUAIIsupportedthestart-upofmicro-enterprises,whichledtoanincreaseinincome,andPRDPimprovedunderstandingofmarkets,thesewereisolatedinitiativesamongtheportfolio,andoverallthereisalackofmarketanalysisandmarketingcapacitystrengthening.Thisisnotentirelysurprisingasthereviewedprojectsweremostlyfocusedonfoodsecurity,healthandUXOclearing.Howeverthishishaslimitedwomen’sabilitytoaccessmarketsandtounderstandhowproductionchoicesandsaleslocationareessentialforasuccessfulenterprise.Ithasalsomeantthattheprojectshavenotbeenabletotakestrategicapproachestomarketaccess,linkagesandphysicalmarkets.

Learningquestion2:Howdoesgainingincreasedaccessto,andcontrolover,economicresources,leadtosocio-culturalchangesattheindividual,family,communitylevels?Forexample,canwomen’seconomicempowermenthelpchallengedominantmythsaroundtheeconomicparticipationofwomen(e.g.inmanycountrieswomenareviewedasnotbeingcapableofmanagingsmall-scalebusiness)?Doespromotingwomen’seconomicempowermentthroughincreasedskills,accesstocreditandincreasedawarenessofeconomic/employmentopportunitiesleadtobotheconomicadvancementandincreasedagency?

Thecombinationofwomen’sinclusioninincomeearningactivity,women’sgroupsandgendertraininghasresultedinachangeinbeliefsandsocialnormsaroundwomen’seconomicactivity,theircapabilityanddecisionmakingpower.Whilethecontextofremotevillagesandverytightknitcommunitiesmeansthatthereislimitedincomeearning,orbusinesses,thatare“owned”entirelybywomen,women’sinclusioninincomeearningactivitieshasdefinitelychangedpeople’sbeliefsaboutwomencanandshouldbedoing.Thischangeinbeliefsandbehaviouristhekeytoasustainablechange.InDFSPandPRDPwomen’sinvolvementindecisionmakingatfamilyandvillagelevel,combinedwiththeirinclusioninincomeearningactivityhasledtoreportedsocialnormchangeandanawarenessofgenderequalityandhumanrights.

ThisinclusioninincomeearningactivityinDFSP,LANGOCAandPRDPhasinturncontributedtoachangeingenderrolesandachangeinthebalanceofpowerinfamilyrelationships.Whilethishasnotbeenpossibleinallfamiliestherewereasignificantnumberofstoriesofwomencontrollingthefamilymoneyandmakingdecisionsaboutpurchasingarangeofitems.Therewasalsoevidenceofanincreaseinjointdecisionmakingbetweenmenandwomenbothwithinthefamilyandinthecommunity.

Thegendertraining,timesavinginitiativesandWINGSinDFSPprovidedanessentialcontributiontochange,thoughwithouttheinclusionofwomenineconomicactivities,trainingandvillagemeetings,thischangewouldpossiblyhavebeenlimited.Itwasthecombinationoftheseapproachesthathavemadeadifference.Havingsaidthatitwasclearthatasignificantchangetookplaceformenandwomenasaresultofthegendertraining.Atthatpointitseemedthatmenhadalreadyobservedthattheirwivescouldbeimportantactorsinimprovingfamilyincome,andwomenhadalreadyparticipatedintheWINGSgroupsandsohadincreasedtheirconfidencetotalkingroupsandinteractinproblemsolving.Howeverthesimpleandyetpowerfulmethodofdiscussinggenderroles,workloadandfairnesshadabigimpactonnearlyallofthemeninvolvedinthestudy.

Theinclusionofmeninwomen’sactivitiesandinlearningnewwaysofearninganincometogetherhasbeenanimportantpartofthesocialnormchangeinseveralprojects.Activitieswheremenandwomenhaveparticipatedtogether,suchasthePaksongstudyvisits,havemadeabigdifferencetomen’sattitudetowardswomen’sincomeearningactivity.Whenmenhavenotbeenincluded,forexampleinthecookingandnutritionactivities,orinunderstandingtheroleoftheWINGSgroups,menhavenotbeenfullyinvolvedofthechangeprocessandhavenotbeabletoplaytheirpartinthechangesthatneedtotakeplace,forexampleinnutritionandcookingpractices.Thiswasalsoapparentinoneortwoofthedeskreviewprojects.

Jointownershipanddecisionmakingbetweenmenandwomenhasbeenpromotedbytheproject’sinclusiveapproachthatisfocusedonthehouseholdratherthanthroughactionfocusedontheindividual.Thefocusgroupsandinterviewsrevealedthatthereisnotmuchdistinctionbetweenthehusbandandwifeintermsofownershipandpowerovermoney.Bothmenandwomenprojectastrongbeliefthatmoneyisearned“forthefamily”eventhoughtheindividual’sbehaviourdoeseffectthefamily.Beforetheprojectitappearedthatmenwereeithernotawareofornotchallengedabouttheirbehaviourwhenitwasdamagingtofamilywellbeing.Theawakeningofmen’sawarenessandwomen’sunderstandingoftheirrightsandabilitytochallengemenhasprovidedanimportantpushforthechangeprocess.

Someinitiatives,suchasthelivestockbanksinPFSCBPandPRDP,haveusedapproachestoaddressinequalitywithinthevillage,whereasothershavenotaddressedtherisks.Incomeinequalityisapparentineveryvillageandthisisnormal.Iftheinequalityincreasesinsuchacloseknitcommunitythesocialcapitalmaybeaffectednegativelyandthiscouldhaveanimpactonprojecteffectiveness.Thepig,cowandgoatbanksareagoodexampleofredistributionthatalsoenhancesaprivatesectorapproach.Inallprojectsthecommunityownedricemillsandthesharingofcartsbetweenfamiliesalsoenhancessocialcapitalandlevelsoutthe“playingfield”.TheWINGSgroupsinDFSPenhanceswomen’ssolidarityandcooperationbetweenwomenaroundcertainproblems,whichcanincreaseequality.

Leadershipandrolemodelshavebeenimportantingredientsforsuccessinchangingnormsaroundgenderequality.Forexample,inDFSP,thevillagehead,thedeputyandtheLaowomen’sunionhavehadanimportantinfluenceonthelevelofsuccessineachvillage.Ithasbeenpossibletoseehowthetwovillageswiththestrongestandmostcapablevillageheadsappearedtohavethemostorganizedanddevelopedprojectactivitiesandvillagegroups.Theircapacity,motivationanddriveisreallyimportantandshouldbefosteredwithintheproject.Otherkeyindividualssuchasthevillageteacher(asseeninTanglou)andthehealthworker(whowaspresent,butnotsomuchinvolvedinTangyerng)couldhavepotentialtoplayanimportantroleinsocialnormchange.

Socialnormchangearoundwomen’sincomeearningrolesandnutritionpracticesisworkinprogress.Thesekindsofprocessescantakealongtimeandtherearesometimesbarriersthatre-emerge.Theevidenceshowsthatsomemenstillhavenegativeattitudestotheirwivesattendingmeetingsorleavingthevillage.ThePraihaveparticularissuesaroundwomen’smobility.Thereisalsoevidencethatsomewomenstilldon’tknowwhattocook,

don’twanttochangetheirmethodsordon’thaveaccesstoingredients.Soitcan’tbeassumedthattheprocessiscomplete.Championsandinfluentialpeopleinthevillage(suchasthevillagehead,teacherorhealthcareprofessional)arelikelytobeanimportantfactortosupportandsustainchangeprocesses.

Learningquestion3:Whatexamplesof‘goodpractice’canbeidentifiedfromCARE’seconomicempowermentworkthatdemonstrateeffectivenessandsustainabilityinaddressingeconomicparticipationandempowermentinthelivesofwomenfromethnicgroups?

ThecombinationofeconomicandsocialapproacheshasbeenakeytotheeffectivenessCARE’sworkoneconomicempowermentinLaos.Thishasenabledamoresustainablechangeasthesocialaspectshaveincreasedwomen’spowerandagencyandhavebeguntoaddresssomeofthebarriersrelatedtogenderinequalityineconomicactivity.Atthesametimetheeconomicaspectshaveenabledwomentostartearninganincomeandtotakeapartineconomicdecisionmaking.Allofthereviewedprojectscontainsomecombinationofthefollowinginitiatives:

ü Initiativestoenhancewomen’sincomeearningbyincreasingtheirabilitytoproduceandsellagricultural,gardenandlivestockproduce.Thishasmeantbuildingwomen’stechnicalknowledgeofagriculture,gardeningandlivestock,whileatthesametimebuildingcommercialawarenessofthepotentialofcashcrops,sellingofsurplusfoodandsellingNTFPs.Theinclusionofwomenintraininginitiativessuchasstudyvisitsandcourseswhileatthesametimegiventhemrolesincascadingtrainingthroughthevillagehasincreasedwomen’sstatusinthevillagesandtheirvaluewithinthefamily.Livestockbanks,usedinPRDPandPFSCBP,appearedtobeaneffectivewayforincreasingverypoorwomen’saccesstofoodproductionandincomeearningpotentialasitenabledsharedownership,responsibilityandbenefitforlivestock.

ü Initiativesforwomentoformwomenonlygroups(e.g.WINGS)andtobecomepartofmixedgendergroups(e.g.Coffeeprocessinggroups,livestockbankgroups).Thegroupshaveenhancedwomen’sconfidence,knowledge,abilitytonegotiateandcommunicatewithpeers(menandwomen),andtotakepartonvillageandprojectdecisionmaking.Theincreaseinconfidenceappearstoalsoextendtosalesactivities–withmorewomenableandwillingtoleavethevillagetoaccessmarkets.Notablyinprojectswheretherewerenowomen’sgroups(e.g.PARUAII)theprogressthatwomenwereabletomakewaslimited.

ü Specificapproachestochangesocialnormsaroundwomen’sandmen’srolesandgenderinequality.TheDFSPfieldworkdemonstratedhowthegendertraininghadhadatransformationalimpactonmen’sandwomen’sattitudesandbehaviour.Thishadsupportedtheotherprojectelementsandhadpotentiallycontributedtoamoresustainablechange.Leadershipofvillageheadsandotherinfluentialpeopleinthevillagewasalsofoundtobeanimportantaspectofthesocialnormchangearoundgender.

ü Initiativestoimprovewellbeingthroughreducedworkloadandimprovednutrition,sanitationandaccesstosexualandreproductivehealthservices.Theseinitiativesareparticularlyimportantforwomen’seconomicempowermentintheLaoscontext.Womenwhoseworkloadhaddecreasedandnutritionhadimprovedreportedfeelingmoreenergeticandhavingmoretimetothemselvestoandearnanincome.IntheDFSPfieldworkwomenratedimprovedsanitationandvillageandhouseholdcleanlinessasimportantaspectsofthechangesthathavetakenplaceintheirlives.Thishighlightshowhygieneandaccesstolatrinescanhaveapositiveimpactonwomen’sself-esteemandfeelingsofself-worth,whichareimportantforwomentobeabletofunctionasequalstomeninincomeearningactivities.

6. Recommendations

Caption:Villagerssellbroomgrasstotradersthatvisitthevillagefora6weekperiodaroundFebruary.KunglithVillage,KhuaDistrict,PhongsalyProvince,Laos.Photocredit:©JeffWilliams/CARE

ThissectionofthereportpresentsaseriesofstrategicrecommendationswhichhavebeendrawnfromthefindingsoftheliteraturereviewandfieldstudyforCARELaos:

(i)Ensurethatathoroughgendercontextanalysisformsthebasisofallprojectdesigns.ThisshouldfollowtheCAREEmpowermentFrameworkandtheWomen’seconomicempowermentanalysisframeworkshowninTable1ofthisreport.Inparticularitcouldincludeanalysisofthefollowing:

ü Women’seconomicactivities,opportunitiesandbarrierstoincomeearning–includingeconomic,practicalandsocialbarriers(e.g.genderinequality,highfertility,workload,knowledgeofbusinessandmarketing,financialliteracy,currenteconomicactivityandincome)

ü Analysisofexistingandpotentialmarketsandoutletsforcurrentproduce(e.g.agricultural)andnewproducts(e.g.coffee,SIMcards)

ü Accesstofinancialservices–includingsavingsandcredit,butalsohealthinsuranceandleases

ü Decisionmakingandpowerinthefamilyandinthecommunitywithrespecttoincomeearningandotheraspectsofwomen’slives

ü Sexualandreproductivehealthandrights(SRHR)andviolenceagainstwomenandgirls(VAWG).(thiscouldincludefertility,desiretolimitnumberofchildren,howwomenmanagechildcareandchildbirthandassociatedhealthrisks;assessmentofaccesstoservicesanddecisionmakingpoweroverwomen’sownbodies;VAWGprevalenceandimpactonwomenandtheirabilitytoearnanincomeandmakedecisions)

ü Existenceoffeministorwomen’sgroupsorsupportnetworks(e.g.theLaoWomen’sUnion)andassessmentoftheircapability

ü Institutional,legalandregulatoryframework(thismightincludelawsaroundinheritanceandlandownership,women’rightsandsexualandreproductiverights;alsoitmightincludegovernmentandprojectinstitutionalgenderequalityandsafeguardsofwomen’srights)

(ii)Developamorecomprehensiveapproachtopromotingwomen’sinclusioninprivatesectordevelopment.Thisshouldbebasedontheanalysisofwhatwomenneedinordertodeveloptheirincomeearningpotentialandcouldpotentiallyinclude:

ü Businessdevelopmentservices–buildingupbookkeeping,managementandleadershipknowledgeandskills,marketingandmarketanalysisexpertiseandexperience

ü Technicalskillsindesignandproduction(e.g.foodprocessing,handicrafts,equipment),agriculture,services(e.g.motorbikemaintenance,hairdressing)andintroductionofnewtechnologyproductsandservices(e.g.SIMcards,solarpoweredlamps,motorbikerentalservices,transportservicesetc)

ü AccesstofinancialservicessuchassavingsandloansandinsurancethroughVSLA,formalbankingsystem,mobilemoney

ü Enhancingaccesstomarketsthroughmakingmarketconnections(e.g.throughFairtrade),addressingphysicalandgenderbarrierstoaccessingmarkets(includinginnovativeapproachestosalesmodels,communicationsandphysicalmarketplaces).

ü Introduceprivatesectorapproachesthatencouragecollaborationandjointownershipwithinandbetweenvillagesinordertoenhanceinclusionandincomeequality,whileatthesametimeenablingbulkpurchasingofinputsandbulksales(e.g.cooperatives)

(iii)Ensuretraininghasalongtermapproachandthatitisappropriateforwomen.Thisshouldbebasedonwomen’sneedsand,wherepossibleandbeneficial,shouldbeintegratedwithmen’straining.Insomecase,suchasgendertraining.Gendertraininginparticularcouldincludechildrentootoensurethatsocialnormchangeistakesplacethroughwholefamilies.Whendevelopingtrainingapproachesitisimportanttorecognisethatlearningandchangesinpracticearenotlinearandoftenneedalongtermview.Evidencehasshownthatashortfallinachievementaffectswomen’sconfidence.Trainingplanningshouldbebasedonneed,butcouldincludetraininggender,nutrition,SRHR,Laolanguage,literacyandadulteducation,andtechnicalandbusinesstraining.Trainingapproachescouldinclude:

ü Longtermtimeframeswithrepetitivesessions

ü Mentoringandcontinuedtechnicalsupport

ü Integrationoflifeskillsintotechnicalskillstraining

ü Extensivestudyvisitsastheseappeartobemosteffectiveduetopeerlearningandobservation

ü Cascadingbetweenmenandwomen,throughoutvillagesandbetweenvillages(cascadingisparticularlyimportantwhenwomenarenotyetabletoleavethevillagefortrainingandneedstobemorepurposefullyplannedfrommentowomen).

ü Inclusionofthesupportofkeyvillageinfluencerssuchasthevillagehead,teacherorhealthprofessional

(iv)Supportvillage,districtandprovincechampionsforgenderequalityandwomen’sempowerment

ü Enablevillageheadstoimprovetheireffectivenessandleadershipofchangeprocesses

ü StrengthenthecapabilityofLaoWomen’sUnionrepresentativesbyensuringtheyhavearoleontheprojectsandthattheyknowwhattheyaredoing.Provideleadershiptraining

ü Supportgovernmentchampionstovisitvillagesandtoprovidemoralandtechnicalsupporttogenderequalityapproaches

(v)Produceastrategicapproachtoinequalityandexclusionintheremoteethniccommunities.Itisimportanttoconsiderthewholecommunitywithrespecttoincreasingincomebecausetheseremoteethniccommunitiesaresocloselyknitandhavehighlevelsofcohesionandsocialcapitalwhichispartoftheirsurvivalandsuccessstrategy.Approachesthatincreasetheincomeofasmallnumberofpeoplewhileleavingtherestinpovertywillincreaseincomeinequality,riskbreakingupthesocialcapitalanddamagingoveralllongtermdevelopmentprospects.

(vi)Analyseandmonitortherisksassociatedwithsocialnormchange,alcoholconsumptionandviolenceagainstwomenandchildren.

ü Ensurethereisasystemforwomentotalkaboutviolenceinthefamily(maybethroughwomen’sgroupsorwithhealthworkers)andtoaddressthroughsupportsystemsandaccesstojustice

ü Raiseawarenessofalcoholismwithinahealthcontextandprovideaccesstoservices

ü Monitormen’sattitudestowardswomen’schangingrolesandensuremen’sfearsandconcernsarelistenedtoinordertoavoidbacklashandviolence

(vii)Addressstructuralandenablingenvironmentbarrierssuchasinstitutionalgenderinequalityingovernmentservices,projectdesignandmanagement,discriminatorylawsorpublicsectorpractice

ü Connectthelocalserviceswiththeprojectactivitiesinordertoimproveaccesstohealth,educationandWASHservicesandtomaximiseimpactforwomen’seconomicempowerment

ü ConsiderWASHinitiativesthatarewomenfocusedinordertosupportwomen’sconfidencebuildingandfamilyhygiene

ü Monitorandraiseawarenessoflocalandnationalpoliciesandimplementationofwomen’srightslegislationinrelationtocustomarylawinethnicareas

(viii)Strengthenprojectandprogramme-levelM&Eprocessesbasedonappropriatemixedmethodsapproaches.ThematerialreviewedforthisevaluationsuggeststhatitcouldbeusefulforCARELaostoworktowardsestablishingasetofstandardizedoutcome-levelindicatorstobemeasuredacrossprogramminginitiativeswhichshareacommonfocusonwomen’seconomicempowerment.Indicatorswouldneedtobedefinedtoreflectchangesinwomen’seconomicadvancement(e.g.income,expenditureandassetownership),andpowerandagency,andsowouldincludeattitudeandbehaviourindicatorsdefinedtomeasureaspectsofrelations(e.g.householddecision-making,incidenceofdomesticviolence)andstructures(socialnorms).Theconsistentuseoftheseindicatorsinbaselineandendlinesurveyswouldenableamoredetailed,quantitativeassessmentoftheextentandnatureofprogrammeachievementsacrossthecountryofficeportfolio.Theroleofqualitativeevaluationswouldthenbeacomplementaryoneofexploringhowandwhychangehastakenplace,resultinginanoverallmorecompellingbodyofevidenceconcerningtheeffectivenessandprogrammingapproaches.

Annex 1: Tools

DFSPEXPOSTEVALUATION-FOCUSGROUPWITHWOMEN

NOTEFORFACILITATORS:Questionsinboldbelowareyouropeningquestions.Thesequestionsaredesignedtoencouragediscussionandstorysharingbytheparticipants.Questionsasbulletpointsarespecific‘probing’questionsthatyoucanusetofindoutmoreinformationbasedonparticipant’sinitialresponses.

Askforspecificexamplesasmuchaspossible–donottake“yes”or“no”oronewordresponsesforananswer–askformoreinformation.Recordquotesthatcanbeusedtoillustrateapoint.

FACILITATORINTRODUCTIONTOPARTICIPANTS

Thanksforcomingtomeetwithustodayandforandsharingyourtimetodiscusstheworkinyourvillage.

IamXXXXandthisisthefocusgroupnotetakerXXX

WeareheretodaytobetterunderstandwhetherandhowwomenhavebenefittedfromtheeconomicdevelopmentandnutritionworkundertakenwithCAREinthisvillage.WewouldliketohearabouthowyourliveshavechangedasaresultofworkingtogetherwithCARE.TheinformationandideasdiscussedtodaywillhelpCARELaosunderstandhowtheirworkhasenhancedwomen’sincomeandcontrolovertheirlivesandwhatneedstobeimprovedorexpandedfurther.Theinformationwillalsobeusedtoreportbacktoourdonorssothattheyhaveconfidencetoprovidemoremoneyforsuchprojects..

Everythingthatwediscusstodayisconfidential.Thoughwewillbewritingnotesinordertorememberthemainpoints,noinformationwillbepresentedbynameinthefinalreport.Itwillallbeanonymous.WewouldliketohaveaconversationandIwillstartthisbyaskingquestions.Thereareno‘rightorwrong’answersandwewillnotbejudgingeachotherduringthediscussion.Ijustwanttohearaboutpeople’sdifferentexperiences.Iftherearequestionsthatanyonedoesnotfeelcomfortableanswering,theydonothavetoanswer..

Therewillberefreshmentsattheendofthemeeting.Ifyouhavenotalreadyfilledinallofyourinformationontheparticipantsheet,pleasedocomeandfillinattheend.

FACILITATORQUESTIONSforparticipants

Mainquestion timelimit

Probingquestions

1.Introductions–pleasetellthegroupyournameandwhatactivity/iesyoudotoearnmoneyorproducefoodforyourfamilyandyourself.

10mins

• Doyoufarmorhaveakitchengarden?

• Doyousellproduceinthemarket?

• Doyoucollectandsellforestproducts?

• Areyouinvolvedinacoffeeplantation?

• Anyotheractivities?

Overarchingspokesquestion:Whatarethemostimportantandsignificantchangesthathavetakenplaceforyouintermsofyourincomeearning,healthyeating,overallcapabilityandconfidenceandtheopinionandsupportofthecommunity.

2.Fromtheactivitiesthatyouhavejustmentioned–areanyofthemnewtoyouthatyoudidnotdobefore?Doyouownanyequipmentorproperty(e.g.land)tohelpyouwiththeseactivitiesthatyoudidnothavebefore?Whydidyoustarttheseactivities?

(thisincludesincomeearning,growingandproducing(livestock,fish,cropsetc),collectingandprocessingforestproducts,craftsandfoodproductionandsales,ownershipofequipmentandlandetc).

20mins

Activitiestoearnincome

• Whateconomicactivitieswereyouinvolvedinbeforetheprojectandhowhasthischanged?

• Inwhatactivitiesareyouusingnewinformationandideasthatyouhavebeentaughtabout?

• Ifyouaresellingwheredoyousellyourproducts?Howdoyouknowwheretosell?

• Howhaveyouincreasedyourincomeifatall?Howareyoumeasuringandrecordingthis?

• Howdoyousavemoneyorfoodproduceforthefuture?

Assets

• Whatassets(equipment,landetc)doyouhavenowthatyoudidnothavebefore?

• Aretheassetsownedbyyouorbyyourhusbandorfamily,orthevillage?

3.Howhasyouropinionofyourselfandyourabilitieschangedoverthelastthreeyearssincetheprojectstarted?Whyorhowdoyouthinkyouhavechanged?

20mins

• Doyoufeelmoreconfident,havemoreknowledge?–giveanexampleoftheincreaseinconfidenceorknowledgeandhowthishappened.

• Whomakesdecisionsinthefamily?Areyoumoreabletomakedecisions?Whyisthis?

• Doyouhavebetterskillsandresourcestofeedyourfamily?–Pleasedescribe?

• Doesyourhusbandorotherfamilymembersexpectyoutodothingsthattheydidnot

before?Inwhatway?

• Hasyourrelationshipwithyourhusbandortherestofyourfamilychangedatall?

• Doyoufeelmoreconfidenttoparticipateinandspeakupinvillagemeetings?

4.Whatdothevillagepeopleandyourfamilythinkaboutwomenworkingandearningmoneyinthesenewways?Isthisdifferentfromhowitwasbeforetheproject?

15mins

• Howhavewomeninthevillageoverallchangedoverthelast3years?

• Whatdomenthinkaboutwomenworkingforanincome?

• Doyougetanysupportfromyourhusband?E.g.investment,selling,buying,moralsupport,helpinthehouseorwiththechildcare?Pleasegiveaspecificexample.

• Howdoesyourfamilysupportyou?

• Arethereanygroupsororganisationsthathavesupportedyoutoearnanincome?

• Doyoufeelincludedinvillagedecisionmaking?Areyoulistenedto?

5.NowstarttheSPOKESexercisewithinformationthathascomeoutofthediscussioninquestions2,4and5.(60mins)

Outofalloftheissueswehavebeendiscussingjustnow–whatarethemostimportantandsignificantchangesthathavetakenplaceforyouintermsofyourincomeearning,healthyeatingandoverallcapabilityandconfidence.

InstructionstofacilitatorforSPOKES

(i) Withthewomendecideonsymbolstorepresent8–12ofthemainchangestowomen’seconomicadvancement,powerandagencythathavetakenplaceandarrangetheminacircle.Symbolswillincludephysicalthingsthatyoufindaroundyouorthatyoucarrywithyou.Allowthegrouptoagreewhichsymbolsrepresentwhichchange,andthenotetakershouldwritewhateachsymbolrepresentsintheirnotes.Keepreferringbacktothemeaningsandgetthegrouptorememberthemeaningsofthesymbols

(ii)Thendrawlinesfromthecentreofthecircletoeachofthewrittencards–likespokesinawheel.Forexample:

Myhusbandgivesmehelpwithhousework

Ifeelsupportedandthathasmademestronger

Iknowhowtoprocesscoffeeandaminvolvedincoffeegroup

IhavemoremoneytospendasIwish

Iamfeedingmyfamilybetterfood

(iii)Thenthegroupwillusemarkerstoindicatehowmuchprogresshasbeenmade.Therewillbetwodifferentcolourordifferenttypemarkers.(e.g.blackandwhitestones).Oneofthemarkerswillindicatewherethewomenwerebeforetheprojectstarted.Theotherwillindicatewheretheyarenowinrelationtoprogress.Thewomenthemselvesneedtodiscusstogetherandagreewherethemarkershouldgo–relatingthedecisiontotheirownlives.Theywillplacethemarkernearerthesymboliftherehasbeenprogressandtheyareclosertoreachingtheirgoalwiththisissue–andfurtherawayfromthesymboliftheyarefarfromachievingthegoal.

e.g.iftheyareinvolvedinacoffeeplantation–iftheywerenotinvolvedintheprojectbeforetheywouldputthemarkerthefurthestawayfromthesymbol(e.g.inthecentreofthecircle.)Toassesstheprogressandwheretheothermarkershouldgoyoumightencouragethemtodiscusswhethertheyhavebeeninvolvedindecisionmaking,arethebeingpaidfortheirwork,aretheypleasedwiththeprogressordotheyneedtoseemoreprogress.

Thegrouphastoagreeonthelevelofprogress–e.g.thatifhalfthegrouparegettingnohelpinthehousefromtheirhusband,buttherestofthegrouparegettingsomehelptheymightagreethatprogressisabouthalfwayalongthespoke(seepictureabove.Thecloserthestoneorsweetistotheboxthemoreprogresshasbeenmade.

Duringthisdiscussionyoushouldexplorethebarriersthatthewomenhavefaced:

Whatarethebarriersthatyouhaveexperiencewhentryingtoearnanincomeorreachinganyofthesegoals?Hasthisbecomeanyeasierduringsincetheprojectstarted?

• Isthereanythingaboutbeingawomanthatlimitsyoufromearninganincome?Giveexamples.(thiscouldincludethingslike“Iamnotasconfidentasmen”,“womendon’thavethesameskills”,“peopleinthevillagedon’tthinkwomencandothesethings”,“Iamtoobusytoearnanincome”,“Idon’thaveseedsformygarden”etc)

• Whatareyourbiggestfearsandworrieswhenearningincome?(couldincludeviolencefrompartnerorotherfamilymember,UXO,hunger,safetyofmychildrenetc).

• Doyouneedyourhusband’spermissiontohaveyourownenterpriseortogotoworkortosellproductsinthemarketinDakCheung?Hasthischangedatallsincetheprojectstarted?

• Doyouhavemoreorlesstimetodoeverythingyouneedtointheday?Givespecificexamples.(e.g.equipmentnowsavestime,husbandhelpingwithwoodcollectionorhouseworketc)

• Doyoufeellikeyouaresupportedbyfamilymembers,yourhusbandorotherpeopleinthevillage?Giveexamples.(thissupportcouldincludechildcare,investmentinbusiness,helptosellproducts,moralsupport,groupsupportfromWINGSforexample.etc)

Ifeelmoreconfident Ihavemoretime

toworkinmyvegetablegarden

Peopleinmycommunityrespectme

(iv)Finally-voteforthemostimportantofthechangeareas–orinitiativesthathavechangedyourlives.Whichonehasbeenmostimportanttoyouandhadthemostimpactinimprovingyourlife?Eachparticipantisgiventhreestonestovotewith.Shecanputthestonesonanyoftheboxes–orallthreeononebox.

6.WhatdoyouthinkCAREcoulddotofurtherimprovewomen’sincomeandsupporttheirparticipationindecisionmakinginthehomeandcommunity?

Attheendaskfor2volunteerstocomebacktotelltheirstoriesaboutthetopthreevotedforchanges.Theyneedtobeabletoexplainhowthechangecameabout–whatwasinvolvedinthechange,whosupporteditandwhyitissoimportanttothem.

Methodforcollectingandrecordingthestoryofchange.

Wewouldliketoknowexactlyhowthechangehappened.Theissuestobeexploredinthestoryare:

• Actualchangeineconomicwellbeingandnutritionwellbeing

• Selfesteem,selfbeliefandaspirations

• Learningandknowledge–includingbusiness,marketing,pricesetc

• Relationshipswithfamilyandhusband

• ExperienceinWINGSandinothercommunitygroups

Whatdoyouthinkyouwerelikebeforetheprojectstarted–tellmewhatyourdaywaslikeandhowyoufeltduringyourday?Wasthereanythingyouwereconcernedaboutorscaredof?

Hasthatchanged?Howhasitchanged?Telluswhathappenedwithallofthedetails.Whatrolesdidpeopleinyourfamilytake?Wereyouhappyaboutit?Whathaveyoulearned,whatareyoudoingdifferently?Arepeopleinthecommunitydifferent?

Beforetheprojectstarteddidyoufeelconfident?Wereyouabletospeakoutinmeetings,discussanyissueswithyourhusband?Doyouthinkthathaschangedatall?Tellmehowithaschanged–givemeanexampleofhowyounowcommunicatewithyourhusband.

Howhasyoureconomicandfarmingactivitychanged?Beforetheprojectdidyouknowaboutmarketsforyouragricultureproducts,livestockanddifferentgardeningandcookingtechniquesetc?Whatnewthingshaveyoulearned?

Howmuchdoyouearneachweekonaverage?Byhowmuchhasthisincreasedoverthelastthreeyears(ifatall)?Howdoyoumanagethefinancesofyourlittlebusiness?

DFSPEXPOSTEVALUATION-FOCUSGROUPWITHMEN

NOTE:Questionsinboldbelowareyouropeningquestions.Thesequestionsaredesignedtoencouragediscussionandstorysharingbytheparticipants.Questionsasbulletpointsarespecific‘probing’questionsthatyoucanusetofindoutmoreinformationbasedonparticipant’sinitialresponses.

Askforspecificexamplesasmuchaspossible–donottake“yes”or“no”oronewordresponsesforananswer–askformoreinformation.Recordquotesthatcanbeusedtoillustrateapoint.

FACILITATORINTRODUCTIONTOPARTICIPANTS

Thankforcomingtomeetwithustodayandforandsharingyourtimetodiscusstheworkinyourvillage.

IamXXXXandthisisthefocusgroupnotetakerXXX

WeareheretodaytobetterunderstandwhetherandhowwomenhavebenefittedfromtheeconomicdevelopmentandnutritionworkundertakenwithCAREinthisvillage.WewouldliketohearabouthowthelivesofwomenhavechangedasaresultofworkingtogetherwithCARE.TheinformationandideasdiscussedtodaywillhelpCARELaosunderstandhowtheirworkhasenhancedwomen’sincomeandcontrolovertheirlivesandwhatneedstobeimprovedorexpandedfurther.Theinformationwillalsobeusedtoreportbacktoourdonorssothattheyhaveconfidencetoprovidemoremoneyforsuchprojects..

Everythingthatwediscusstodayisconfidential.Thoughwewillbewritingnotesinordertorememberthemainpoints,noinformationwillbepresentedbynameinthefinalreport.Itwillallbeanonymous.WewouldliketohaveaconversationandIwillstartthisbyaskingquestions.Thereareno‘rightorwrong’answersandwewillnotbejudgingeachotherduringthediscussion.Ijustwanttohearaboutpeople’sdifferentexperiences.Iftherearequestionsthatanyonedoesnotfeelcomfortableanswering,theydonothavetoanswer..

Therewillberefreshmentsattheendofthemeeting,Ifyouhavenotalreadyfilledinallofyourinformationontheparticipantsheet,pleasedocomeandfillinattheend.

FACILITATORQUESTIONSforparticipants

Mainquestion timelimit Probingquestions

1.Introductions–pleasetellthegroupyournameandwhatactivity/iesyoudotoearnmoneyorproducefoodforyourfamilyandyourself.

10minutes • Doyoufarm,haveakitchengardenorownlivestock?

• Doyousellproduceinthemarket?

• Doyoucollectandsellforestproducts?

• Areyouinvolvedinacoffeeplantation?

• Anyotheractivities?

2.Wewouldliketounderstandhowincomeearningandfoodproductionactivitieshavechangedoverthelastthreeyears?

10minutes • Howwereyouandyourfamilyearninganincomeorproducingbeforetheproject?Canyoudescribethesituation?

• Whatisthesituationlikeforyouandyourfamilynow?Whatisdifferent?Canyougivemeanexampleofachangeordifferencethathasbeenimportanttoyou?

• Whatnewactivitiesareyouinvolvedinsincethebeginningoftheproject?

3.Nowwewouldliketodiscusshowwomenhavebeeninvolvedintheseorotherincomeearningactivities.

Whatnewincomeearningactivitiesarewomeninvolvedin?

Thinkingofyourwifeoryoursisters-pleasesharesomeexamplesorstoriesofhowtheirabilitytoearnanincomeortoproducefoodhaschangedoverthelastthreeyears.

30minutes • Inwhatwayhavewomen’sknowledgeandskillsforearninganincomechangedoverthepastthreeyears?Canyougivemeanexampleofthischange?

• Howaredecisionsmadeinthehousehold?Hasitalwaysbeenthatwayorhasanythingchanged?Pleasegiveexamplesofhowthishaschanged(e.g.schoolfees;whattoplantwhenandwhere;healthclinicvisits)?Arethereanydecisionsthatonlymencanmake?Canyougivemeanexample?

• Whatistheroleofwomeninvillagemeetings?Pleasegiveanexampleofhowthismighthavechanged.(e.g.morewomencometomeetings;womenspeakmore;womenhavetheirowngroupsthatmakedecisionsaboutcommunityissues)?Whathaschanged?Whatwasitlikebefore?

• Doyouthinkwomenfeelmoreconfident,orhavemoreknowledge?

• Areyouandyourfamilyeatinghealthierfood–pleasedescribe?

• Arewomenearningmoremoneyandgrowingfood?

• Howistherelationshipwithyourwifeandtherestofyourfamily?

4.Whatdoyouthinkofthesechangesthatwomenhaveexperienced?

10minutes • Howwellarewomendoingsomeofthethingstheyhavebeentaught?E.g.cooknewtypesoffood,processcoffee,sellproductsinthemarket?

• WhatdoyouthinkabouttheWINGSgroups?

• Doesanythingworryyouaboutthechangesinwomen’sactivities?

• Whatdoyouthinkaboutwomenearningtheirownincome?

• Shouldwomenbeabletodecidewhattospendmoneyon?

• Doyousupportyourwifeorotherfemalefamilymemberstoearnmoneyorimprovethefoodthatthefamilyeats.

5.NowstarttheSPOKESexercisewithinformationthathascomeoutofthediscussionin6.(60minutes)

Whatdoyouthinkwomenfindmostdifficult?Whatstopswomenfromparticipatingandearninganincomeandhowdoyouthinkthiscouldbechanged?

• Isthereanythingaboutbeingawomanthatlimitsthemfromearninganincome?

• Dowomeninthisvillageevergetbeatenorexperienceviolencefromtheirhusbandsorotherfamilymembers?

• Doesyourwifeneedyourpermissiontohaveherownenterpriseortogotowork?

• Dobeliefsaboutwomen’sroleinthecommunitymakeitdifficultforwomentoearnmoneyorproducefood?

• Arethereanygroupsororganisationsthathavesupportedwomentoearnanincome?

InstructionstofacilitatorforSPOKES

(i)Identifysymbolstorepresentthemainsuggestionsforaddressingwomen’sdifficultiesfromthediscussionofthequestionabove.Arrangetheminacircle.Symbolswillincludephysicalthingsthatyoufindaroundyouorthatyoucarrywithyou.Allowthegrouptoagreewhichsymbolsrepresentwhichchange,andthenotetakershouldwritewhateachsymbolrepresentsintheirnotes.Keepreferringbacktothemeaningsandgetthegrouptorememberthemeaningsofthesymbols

(ii)Thendrawlinesfromthecentreofthecircletoeachofthewrittencards–likespokesinawheel.FOREXAMPLE:

(iii)Thendiscusswhetheranyprogresshasbeenmadeforwomenandhowclosetheyaretothesuggestionbeingachieved.Thishastobediscussedasawholegroupsothatallofthemencangivetheiropinioninrelationtotheirownlives–e.g.ifmenthinkwomenneedmoreofaroleinthecoffeeprocessinggroup–thendiscusswhytheyhave

Provideawellforsafewater

Betterbusinessskills

Husbandsbeingmoresupportive

Aroleinthecoffeeprocessinggroup

Morecartsforcarryingfirewoodandotheritems

Moreseedsforthegarden

Womengoingtoschoolandlearningtoread

Accesstocredit

notbeenabletodothissofarandwhatneedstochangetoreachthegoal.Whatwouldtheyliketoseedonedifferentlyinthisinitiativesothattheywouldbenefitmore?Thenplaceamarker(stoneorsweet)alongthelinefromthecentretodemonstratehowmuchprogresshasbeenmadeandhowhappytheyarewiththechangeprocess.Thegrouphastoagreeonthelevelofprogress–e.g.thatifhalfthegroupthinkwomenalreadyhavesomeroleinthecoffeeprocessinggroup,buttherestofthegrouparethinkthatwomenmightgotomeetings,buttheydonotparticipateormakeanydecisionsthenprogressisabouthalfwayalongthespoke(seepictureabove.Thecloserthestoneorsweetistotheboxthemoreprogresshasbeenmade.

(iv)Finally-voteforthemostimportantofthesuggestionsforchangingwomen’slivesandabilitytoearnanincome.Whichonewouldbethemostimportantforyourcommunity?Eachparticipantisgiventhreestonestovotewith.Hecanputthestonesonanyoftheboxes–orallthreeononebox.

Attheendaskforonevolunteerwhohasexperiencedaparticularchangeinattitudeandachangeinthewaythefamilyisorganised.Theyshouldcomebacktotelltheirstories.Theyneedtobeabletodiscusstheirownattitudesandopinionsofwomen’sparticipationandcontributiontothevillageandfamilyeconomy.

Methodforcollectingandrecordingthestoryofchange.

Wewouldliketoknowexactlymen’swives/sistersliveshavechanged,howthishappenedandwhataremen’sattitudestothesechanges.Theissuestobeexploredinthestoryare:

• Actualchangeineconomicwellbeingandnutritionwellbeing

• Selfesteem,selfbeliefandaspirations

• Learningandknowledge–includingbusiness,marketing,pricesetc

• Relationshipswithfamilyandhusband

• ExperienceinWINGSandinothercommunitygroups

Whatdoyouthinkyourwifewaslikebeforetheprojectstarted–tellmewhatherdaywaslikeandshebehavedduringtheday?Wasthereanythingshewasconcernedaboutorscaredof?Whatdidyouthinkaboutherthen?

Hasthatchanged?Howhasitchanged?Telluswhathappenedwithallofthedetails.Whatrolesdidpeopleinyourfamilytake?Wereyouhappyaboutit?Whathaveyoulearned,whatareyoudoingdifferently?Arepeopleinthecommunitydifferent?

Beforetheprojectstarteddidyourwifefeelconfident?Wassheabletospeakoutinmeetingsanddiscussanyissueswithyou?Doyouthinkthathaschangedatall?Tellmehowithaschanged–givemeanexampleofhowyounowcommunicatewithyourwife.

Howhasyourwife’seconomicandfarmingactivitychanged?Beforetheprojectdidsheknowaboutmarketsforheragricultureproducts,livestockanddifferentgardeningandcookingtechniquesetc?Haveyousupportedhertogainnewknowledgetosellproduce?Doyousellproducejointly?

Doyouthinkyourattitudetowardsyourwifehaschangedduringtheproject?Whatdoyouthinkabouthermoneyearningactivities?Whatdoyouthinkaboutherconfidenceandabilitytocommunicatewithyouandwithotherpeople?Isthereanythingthatconcernsyouorworriesyouaboutthechanges?

Semi-structuredInterviewguide–DFSPExPostevaluation

• Localgovernmentofficials(includingDistrictAgricultureandForestryOffice)

• RepresentativeofLaoWomen’sUnion

• Villageleader

• Farmergroupleaders,cooperativeorcoffeeprocessinggroupleaders/manager

• Women’sgroupfacilitator(WINGS)

• Healthworkerand/orteacher(thisistohearwhethertherehasbeenanyhealthchangessincethestartoftheprojectandalsowhethertheyhavenotedchangesinsocialnorms,women’sattitudesetc)

• Communitygroupleaderandorirrigationgroupleader.

Explainthatweareheretoevaluatetheprojectimpactonwomen’seconomicempowerment–andwhatthismeans.Thetimewilltakebetween60–90mins.

1.Pleasecanyouexplainyourroleinthisprojectandon-goingprojectsintheDakCheungregion(ifany),oryourrolewiththecommunities.

2.Whatdoyouthinkhaschangedinthisvillage/thesevillagesinthedistrictoverthelastthreeyears?

3.Howhavewomenbeeninvolvedinthesechanges?

• Havetheybeenincludedinmeetings,committeesandassociations?

• Dotheyhavenewroles?

• Arewomenearningmoremoney?

• Dotheyownmoreassetsnow?

4.Howhavewomenchangedasaresultofprojectsintheircommunities?–givemesomespecificexamplesofthesechanges.

• Dotheyhavemoreincome?

• Dotheyhavemoreknowledge–whatkindofknowledge?

• Arethemoreinvolvedinhouseholddecisionmaking?

• Arewomenmoreconfident?Dotheyspeakupmore?

• Canyougivemeanexampleofawomaninyourcommunity/district/organisationwhohastakenonaleadershiproleasaresultofthisproject?

5.Howhavetheattitudesofpeopleinthevillageingeneralchanged

• Dotheyrespectwomenmore?

• Dotheyhavedifferentviewsaboutwhatwomen’srolesshouldbe?

• Aretheyawareofthecontributionthatwomenandgirlscanmaketotheprosperityofthevillage?

• Dotheattitudesofpeopleinthevillageeverstopwomenfromearninganincomeorimprovingtheirlives?–givespecificexamples

6.Whatdoyouthinkhasbeenthemostvaluableaspectofprojectsthathavechangedwomenandtheircommunities?

• Leadership

• Projectactivities

• Training

• Women’sgroups(WINGS)

• Gendertraining

• Alloftheseoracombinationofthings–whichcombination...

7.Whatdoyouthinkofthechangesthataretakingplace?

• Doyouagreewiththechanges?

• Doyouthinkthereareanyrisksinvolvedinthesechanges?

• Doyouthinkwomencanmakegoodleaders?

8.Arewomenandtheirfamilieshealthierandmoreeducated?

• Aremorechildrengoingtoschool?

• Whydoyouthinkthisis?Whatisthemaincause?

• Doyouthinkwomenhavechangedtheircookingandfoodpreparationbehaviour?Arethefamilieseatinghealthiermeals?Dotheyhavemoreaccesstovegetablesandprotein?

• Docoupleshaveaccesstofamilyplanning–(forhealthworkers)whichmethodsdoyouhavehereinyourclinic?DoeseveryoneinthevillageknowaboutFP?

9.Whathasyourorganisation/village/officedonetohelpwomen’sprogress?

• Aretheremanywomenleadersinyourorganisation?

• Howdoesyourorganisationensurethatwomenhaveopportunities?

• Hasthischangedatallasaresultoftheproject?

10.Dowomenstillhaveproblemsearningmoneyandfeedingtheirfamilies?

• Whatkindsofproblemsdotheyhaveandwhy?

• Aresomeoftheirproblemsanythingtodowithpeople’sviewsofwhatwomenarecapableoforwhattheirroleshouldbe?

• Dowomenownassets?

11.Whatwouldyousuggesttoimprovethesituationforwomen?Whatmorecanbedone?

• Toimprovetheirdecisionmakinginthevillageandinthefamily–tobeheardandtocontribute.

• Toowntheirownassets

• Tobesupportedandencouragedbypeopleintheircommunity

Annex2:Sekongmapandprojectoverlaps

Annex3:Fieldevaluationparticipantinformation

Chart1:Totalrespondents

DakDen

Sangmai

Tanglou

TangYerne

DakDen Sangmai Tanglou TangYerne

Chart2:Male/femaleresponsesbyvillage

NumberofWomen

NumberofMen

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

15-24years

25-34years

35-44years

45-54years

55years+

Chart3:RespondentsAge

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

DakDenMen

DakDenWomen

SangmaiMen

SangmaiWomen

TanglouMen

TanglouWomen

TangyerngMen

TangyerngWomen

Chart4:Numberofchildrenperperson

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

DakDen

Sangmai

Tanglou

Tangyerng

Chart5:Sanita7on

OpenDefeca7on

Latrine

Sangmai Tanglou Tangyerng

Chart6:Distribu7onofAssets

Tools&Machinery

Livestock

Vehicles

None SomeSecondary FinishedPrimary

Chart7:Educa7onlevelofpar7cipantsinDakDen

Women Men

None FinishedPrimary SomeSecondary FinishedSecondary

Chart8:Educa7onlevelofpar7cipantsinSangmai

Women Men

Chart9:Educa7onlevelofpar7cipantsinTanglou

Women Men

Chart10:Educa7onlevelofpar7cipantsinTangyerng

Women Men

Annex4:StoryofChangeInterviews

Village:TanglouVillage

Name:MsInnalee

Occupation:ricefield;woodcutter,coffeegrower

Assets:buffalo,motorbike,pigs

Interviewer:JosieandVang

Date:24/01/15

Ms.Innaleeis29yearsoldandismarriedwithsixchildren.InnaleestartedworkingwithCAREin2010afterCAREheldameetinginhervillagetoexplaintheproject‘CAREheldameetinginthevillageandallthewomenwereinvitedtoattend’.OverthelastfouryearsInnaleebelievesherfamilyhasexperiencedagreatnumberofchanges.

‘Beforetheprojecteachdaywasveryhardwork–Iusedtowakeupat2amsothatIcouldpoundenoughriceforourmeals–Iwouldspendmostofmydaypoundingrice–inthemorningforlunchandagainintheafternoonfordinner.SincethevillagereceivedaricemillaspartoftheCAREprojectIamnowabletoprocessbetween30-60kgofricewhichlastsusforanentiremonth–ittakesmeonehourtoprocessthismuchrice!”Innaleenowwakesat5ameachdayandfindsherselfwithmoretimetoworkinhervegetablegardenandthericefieldswithherhusband.Shealsobelievessheislessstressed,‘IamstillworkinghardbutIhavetimetostopandtalkwithothersandlaughwithmychildrenduringmyday’.

Innaleebelievesherfamilyhasalsobenefittedfromherparticipationintheproject‘Beforetheprojectwecollectedfoodfromtheforestandboileditwithsalt–eventhoughIwouldspendthetimeIhadafterpoundingriceandworkinginthefieldIonlyevermanagedtocollectasmallamount’.HoweverafterattendingatrainingwithCARE,Innaleeestablishedavegetablegarden–thegardennowprovidesadiversityoffoodincludingsaladgreens,beans,onions,cassavaandmorningglory.WithtechnicalassistancefromtheCAREthefamilyalsobuiltafishpondwhichnowprovidesasteadysupplyoffishthroughouttheyear–enoughtofeedthefamilyandsharewithrelatives.ThefamilyhasalsoincreasedriceproductionusingtechniqueslearntthroughCAREtrainings.Innaleebelievesthatbetterriceproductiontogetherwithhervegetablegardenhasmeantthefamilyhasmorestablefoodsourcesthroughouttheyearandthisinturnhasledtoahealthierfamily,‘nowweeatagreatervarietyofvegetablesandfishalongwithourriceandmychildrenaremuchmorehealthyandhavegainedweight–evenIhavegainedweightandammorebeautiful!Mychildrenusedtofallsickwithfeverandcoldveryoften,butnowtheyaremoreactiveanddonotfallsick’.

Innalee’sfamilyincomehasincreasedthroughthesaleofsurplusvegetableandfishproduction.InnaleesellshervegetablesinhervillageorinDakCheungtownandalthoughDakCheungisdifficulttoaccessInnaleebelievesshecangetareasonablepriceforherproducethere.ReachingDakCheungmeanswalkingoverthecourseadayortravellingonaneighbour’smotorbikeandsharingthecostofpetrol.Thefamilyhasusedtheincreasedincometopurchasebasicssuchassaltandcookingoilaswellasfoodduringthewetseasonwhen

thevegetablegardenisnotproducingenoughtomeetthefamily’sdemands.DecisionsonhowtospendthefamilyincomearemadebyInnaleeandherhusbandtogether,althoughInnaleeherselfkeepsthemoneyandmanagesthehouseholdbudget,‘Ikeepthemoneyitselfandwhenmyhusbandwishestobuysomethingthenwediscussittogetherandwehavetoagreeandofcourseitisthesameforme’.Innaleebelievesthatherabilitytobringmoneyintothefamilyfromherownworkhasledtoabetterrelationshipwithherhusband,‘BeforeIjoinedtheprojectIhadtorequestmoneyfrommyhusbandforeveryneedinthehouse–evenforsalt–butnowIamearningmoneymyselfandsoIcanbepartofthedecisionabouthowtospendmoney.WearemuchhappierandmyhusbandishappythatIcanmakemoneytoo’.

OutsideherfamilythoughInnaleefeelsitismorechallengingtoshareherthoughtsandopinions,‘ofcoursewomencanspeakbuttheycanonlybeheardbyotherwomen’.Innaleebelievesthisisduetothelanguagebarrierthatmanywomeninthevillageface,‘weonlyspeakourlanguagesowerelyonthementotranslateforuswhenwespeak(intoLao)atmeetingswheretherearelocalgovernmentordistrictgovernmentofficials–wealsohavetowaitfortranslationofwhatothersaresaying–itdoesn’talwayshappen’.

Village:TanglouVillage

Name:MrSoukvisay

Occupation:ricefield;woodcutter,coffeegrower

Assets:buffalo,motorbike,pigs

Date:24/01/15

Mr.Soukvisayis29yearsoldandismarriedwiththreechildren.SoukvisaystartedworkingwithCARE2010afterCAREheldameetinginhisvillagetoexplaintheproject‘CAREheldameetinginthevillageandexplainedwecouldlearnaboutgrowingvegetablesandraisinganimals’.Soukvisayremembersthemeetingbecauseitwasoneofthefirsttimeswomenwereincludedinthevillagemeetings.SincethenSoukvisaybelieveshisfamilyandTanglouvillagehasexperiencedagreatnumberofchanges.

‘Beforetheprojectourliveswereveryhard–westartedeachdayat3amandafterasmallbreakfastofsteamedrice,walkedfor3-4hourstoreachtheforestwherewewouldcollectfood,firewoodandwater.Ittookusalongtimetodothis–wewalkedveryslowlybecauseoftheheavyload’.

Workload‘BeforeworkingwithCARE,mywifewouldpoundricebetween3to4hourseverydayandeventhenshewasonlyabletoproducemealsfortwodays.Sincereceivingtherice-millfromCAREwearenowabletoprocessmanykilosatatimeandinjustonehourwehaveenoughtoproducemealsfortendays’.WhenaskedwhethermenprocessriceSoukvisaylaughs‘beforemendidnothelpwithprocessingthericebutnowthatthereisamachine–yesofcoursewehelpwiththis!’Mr.Soukvisay’sfamilyalsoreceivedahandcartfromCAREwhichtheyusetocollectwaterandwood,‘wedonotneedtogototheforesteachdayanymore–onecartloadofwoodwilllastusforoneweeksowehavemuchmoretimetoworkinourrice-fieldsandgardensandcareforthechildren’.

‘Beforetheprojectwecollectedfoodfromtheforestandboileditwithsalt–thetimeavailableforcollectingfoodwasnotmuchasmostofourtimewasspentworkinginthericefield.Mywifewasalsobusycollectingwoodandwaterandcaringforourchildren’.HoweverafterattendingatrainingwithCARE,Soukvisayandhiswifeestablishedavegetablegarden–thegardennowprovidesadiversityoffoodincludingcucumber,beans,onions,lemongrassandmorningglory.WithtechnicalassistancefromtheCAREthefamilyalsobuiltafishpondwhich

nowprovidesasteadysupplyoffishthroughouttheyear–enoughtofeedthefamilyandsharewithrelatives.Soukvisay’swifeattendedatrainingonnutritionandfoodpreparationandnowhebelievesthattheirdietismuchbetter‘Mywifelearntabouthowtocookhealthymealsusingmanyvegetablesandonionsandgarlic–sheismakingmuchmoreinterestinganddeliciousmealsthanbefore!’.

Soukvisaybelievesthatthecombinationofareducedworkloadandbetterdiethasledtopositivechangesinthehealthofhisfamilywithhiswifeandchildrengainingweightandfallingilllessfrequently,‘previouslymywifewasthinandtiredallthetime.Mysonwasalsotiredbecausewehadtogototheforestformanyhoursthechildrenhadtotravelwithmywife–butnowwiththehandcartweareabletocollectwaterandwoodmuchmoreeasilyandquickly–mywifeandchildrenhavegainedweight–mywifeisbeautifulagainandmysondoesnotfallsickanymore’.

Soukvisay’sfamilyincomehasincreasedthroughthesaleofsurplusvegetableandfishproductionandthesaleoflivestocksuchaspigs,‘CAREprovideduswithonefemalepigsincethenIhavesold10pigs–forabigpigsIget1.5millionkipandforasmallpigIcanget500,000kip’.MrSoukvisayandhiswifehasalsorecentlyestablishedanewsmallbusinessbuyingproductssuchasbeer,ovaltine,andcigarettesinDakCheungtosellinthevillage.

Thefamilyhasusedtheincreasedincometopurchasebasicssuchassaltandcookingoilaswellasfoodduringthewetseasonwhenthevegetablegardenisnotproducingenoughtomeetthefamily’sdemands.Inadditionthefamilyisnowmakingmorelong-terminvestments,forexamplepurchasingmaterialstorebuildthehouseandaddasteelroofaswellaschildren’sschoolfeesandmaterials.DecisionsonhowtospendthefamilyincomearemadebySoukvisayandhiswifetogetherbecausehiswifemanagesthehouseholdbudget,‘mywifeistheonewhoknowsmuchmoneywehavemadeandhowmuchwehavespent,sherecordsitallbutsheshowsmethemoneyandtheoncewehaveagreedshegoestobuythericeandsalt.Iamproudtohaveawifelikethat.PreviouslyIwastheonetotrainherbutnowshehasknowledgetocontributetothefamilyalsoandsheistheonetotrainme’.

ForSoukvisaythechangeshavealsobeenpersonal.AfterattendingagendertrainingSoukvisaystartedtohelphiswifeincaringforthechildrenandcollectingfirewoodandwater.WhenaskedwhyhechangedhisbehaviourSoukvisaysays‘itmadesensetomethatifyouwanttohavemoreincomeandabetterfamilylifethenyouhavetoworktogetherwithyourwife.PreviouslyImademyowndecisionsaboutbuyingalcoholandleftmywifetoworkinthehouseandlookafterthechildren–Ididn’tcareandwouldjustgooutandnotthinkaboutthefamilyincome.ButnowtogetherwithmywifeIdiscussourproblemsandmakedecisionstogether–wetalkabouthowtostorefoodandaboutwhatproductsweshouldbuyinDakCheungtownandsell.Wearehappier’.SoukvisayislesssurethathiswifeisparticipatinginvillagemeetingsbecausealthoughsheattendssheisquietbecauseshedoesnotspeakLaos.

WhenaskedaboutthefutureofhisfamilySoukvisaysmilesandsayshefeelsconfidentthatthefamilywillbestronginthefuture.HoweverhehasconcernsaboutthepoorroadinfrastructureconnectingthevillagetoDakCheungwhichlimitshisfamily’sabilitytoincreasetheirmarketingandtrading.Soukvisayisalsoconcernedaboutmaintenanceofthericemillsbecausealthoughtheyarestillworkingnooneinthevillagehastheskillstorepairthem.Soukvisaysayshewouldbeinterestedinofferingrepairservicesasasmallbusinessifhereceivedtraining.

Village:Tanglou

Name:SengDavon

Information:Primaryeducation,married,6children

Occupation:fishpondandtrading

Assets:motorbike,tractor&buffalo.

BeforetheprojectmywifeandIknewnothing.Wedidn’tknowhowtodressorhowtotalktopeople.Wedidn’tknowhowtosellorthatwecouldsellproduce.Mywifeusedtohidewhentherewasavillagemeeting.

Whenwemarriedshewas18yearsoldandIwas22.Wehavesixchildren,twoboysandfourgirls.Webothworkedinthericefieldandcollectedforestproducts.Wedidn’tgoanywhereatthattime.Webothtookcareofthehousetogetherandwehadparentstohelpwiththehousewhenwelivedtogether.Wedidmakedecisionstogether.Butsometimesmywifeusedtoyellatme.Somemeninthevillageusedtobeattheirwivesandcheatonthem.IhaveneverbeatenmywifeandIonlyhaveoneglassofalcoholaday.

Theprojecthasmadeadifferencetoourlives.Wearenowinvolvedinalotofactivities.Wehavepigs,afishpond,avegetablegardenandacartforcarryingthings.Wealsohaveacoffeeplantationandaricepaddy–butnotasmuchasbefore.Wehavemorecomfortinourlivesbecausewehavemoreincome.Igottotowntosellproducts,andmywifedoesn’tgoassheisverybusy.SometimeswhenthereisaholidayItakemywifetoDakCheungtovisit.

WhenmywifetellsmetogoandsellsomeproductsIdogotoDakCheungasthevillagersinTanglouarenotabletosellmuchoftheirproductshere.AfterIhavesoldthevegetablesIbuysaltandspices.IreporttomywifetheamountsthatIhavespent,butwedon’twriteitdown.SometimesmywifecanbuyproductsherselfinthevillagefromVonsai,whobringsproductsfromDakCheungtosellinthevillage.Sheisthewifeoftheteacherandhashersmallshop.

Iwouldlikemywifetoearnmoremoney,butIamworriedabouthermarketingskillsasshedoesn’tknowhowtonegotiateandshecan’tread.Ilearnedtotradeandnegotiatebymyselfbyvisitingothervillagesandseeinghowtheirliveshavechanged.Itryanddothesameasotherstoearnmoremoney.Mywifeisshytocommunicatewithpeopleoutsideofthevillageasshedoesn’tspeakLao.Iwouldlikehertostudy,butwedon’thavethemoney.IhavestartedtoteachmywifeLao,sosheisbetterthanbefore,andshedoesunderstandquitealotnow.

Inrelationtotheprojectactivitymywifeisnowsmarterandismoreconfidentwithmeandinthevillage.Nowshedoesgotovillagemeetingsandeventellsothersheropinion.Alsothereismoreunderstandingbetweenmeandmywife.Eversincethegendertrainingwehavebeengettingonbetterwitheachother.Ididn’tgotothegendertraining,butmywifedidandshecamehomeandtoldmeallaboutit.Shetoldmethatwehavetosharethetasksandearnincometogethertohaveastrongerfamily.Sheseemsmoreconfidentasshedidnotusedtodarespeakouttomeaboutanythingbeforetheproject.Itwasgreatbecausethevillageheadencouragedmywifetoattendthegendertrainingandheidentifiedwomeninthevillagebynamesothattheyhadtogotothemeetings.

Allofmychildrengotoschool.Myoldestboyis15yearsandhasadisability.HeisatsecondaryschoolinTangyern.IfeltsobadforhimhavingtowalktoTangyern,thatIhavelenthimmymotorbike.Inowhavetowalkeverywhere–butIfeelgoodasheisgettinganeducation.Myotherchildrenareatprimaryschoolinthevillage.Mychildrenhelpinthehouseandmydaughtersareabletocarrythewaternowwehaveacart.

Ihavenoworriesaboutthechangesinthevillage.Themorewechange,thebetterourliveswillbe.Iwillkeepthetraditionsandthecustoms,butIthinktheymayslowlydisappear.Oneexampleisthatweusedtothinkthatstrangerscouldnotenterourhouse.Butnowwedon’tthinkthatistrueanymore.Thisisbettersothatwecanwelcomepeopleintoourhouses.

Village:DakDenVillage

Name:MsMonneVong

Occupation:Uplandricefarming,coffeeplantation

Assets:nonerecorded

Date:27/01/15

Ms.MonneVongis40yearsoldandismarriedwithnochildrenofherown.MonNeVonghasbeenworkingwithCAREsince2010.OverthetimeMonNeVonghasbeenworkingwithCAREshebelievesherfamilyhaveexperiencedsignificantchange.

‘BeforeIstartedworkingwithCAREourliveswerehard–Iwouldwakeeverydayat3amtopoundriceanddomyworkaroundthehousebeforeleavingtoworkinthericefield.Ialsohadtospendbetween3to4hoursadaycollectingwater’.

SincethattimeMonNeVongbelievesherfamilyhasbenefittedfromherparticipationintheproject.Herfamilyincomehasincreasedandthatthisismainlyduetotheproductionofcoffee.MonNeVonghasthreecoffeegardens–theyvaryismaturityfrom10years;4yearsand1yearold.CoffeegardeningwasnotanewactivityforMonNeVongasshepreviouslyworkedasalaboureronacoffeefarminPaksong–itwastherethatshefirstlearntaboutgrowingcoffeeandbroughtseedshometoexperimentandseeshecouldgrowcoffee.HoweverafterattendingatrainingwithCAREinPaksongMonNeVongbelieveshertechniqueshaveimproved,‘beforeIdidnothavetheformaltraininganunderstandinginhowtoplantandgrowthecoffeebutnowIcanseethechangeinmyproduction–itismuchhigherthanbeforewhichiswhywedecidedtoplantanothergarden’.MonNeVong’sharvestlastyearwashermostsuccessfultodate–shewasabletosellthetotalharvestfromtwogardensfor12millionkip.HoweverthisyearMonNeVongisworriedwhattheharvestwillbelikeastheweatherhasbeenchangingandbecomingmuchwarmerthanisnormal.MonNeVongisalsointerestedtostartgrowinghighervaluevarietiesbutsheisnotsurewheretosourcetheseedsfrom.

MonNeVongsellstoLaostraderswhocomefromSekongandtoVietnamesetraderswhocomefromDakCheungTowntoDakDentobuythebeans.MonNeVongsharesinformationoncurrentmarketpriceswithothervillagersandtogetherthevillageagreesinadvancehowmuchtheywillselltheirbeansfor,‘IhaverelativeslivinginPaksongandsoIcallthemtofindoutwhatthecurrentmarketpriceisforthebeansandthenwecomparethatwiththepricethetraderoffersus’.MonNeVongdoesnotfeelshecouldnegotiatewiththetradersdirectlyandpreferstoletthevillagetaxcommitteenegotiatedirectlywiththetraders‘becauseoncethetradershavepaidourmoney,thecommitteetakestaxforthevillagefundandthensharesouttothevillagers’.Thevillagefundisusedtosupportvillageneedssuchaspurchasingfoodduringdifficulttimesforvulnerablefamilies.MonNeVongdoesnotfeelshehastheabilityorconfidencetosellherproductsdirectlyinPaksongorDakCheung,‘therearemanychallengestothatidea’shesays‘firstlyitistoodifficultformetotransporttheproductIhavetotown–theroadsarenogoodandIdonothaveanytransportunlessIshareamotorbikewithmyhusbandoraneighbour.SecondlytosellintownIneeddocumentstoshowthetaxdepartmentandIdon’tknowhowtogetthosedocumentsandIcannotreadorwrite.FinallyIamalsoafraidtotakemyproducttoPaksongorDakCheung–whatifnoonebuysfromme?It’stooriskyformetodothat–thereisnowaytoknowifIwillbeabletosell’.

MonNeVonghasusedtheincomefromcoffeetomeetbasichouseholdneedssuchassalt,cookingoil,andsoap.Howevertogetherwithherhusbandtheyhavealsomadelonger-terminvestmentssuchasrebuildingthehouseandpayingtheuniversityfeesforMonNeVong’sniecewhoisstudyinginSekong,‘Idon’thavechildrenofmyownsoIsupportmyniece-itmakesmehappytodothat’.

MonNeVongandherhusbandmakedecisionsabouthowtospendthefamilyincometogether,‘wediscusstogetherasawholefamily.ImarriedmyhusbandwhenIwas13–hewasanorphanandheneededsomeonetohelphimlookafterthehouse.Heisakindmanandhenowliveswithmeandmyfamily–soIdiscusswiththewholefamily,notjustmyhusband,whatthefamilyneedsareandthendecidewhattobuy’.

MonNeVongalsobelievesherfamilyismorefoodsecuresinceshestartedworkingwithCARE,‘Beforetheprojectwecollectedfoodfromtheforestandboileditwithsalt–eventhoughIwouldspendthetimeIhadafterpoundingriceandworkinginthericefieldIonlyevermanagedtocollectasmallamount’.HoweverreceivingequipmentandseedsfromCAREandafterattendingpaddyimprovementtrainingprovidedbyDAFOMonNeVongstartedusingnewtechniquesinhowsheplantedandmaintainedthepaddy–thepaddyfieldnowproduces20bagscomparedto9bagsbeforetheproject.Thefamilynowhasenoughricetolasttheyearwhereaspreviouslyitlastforonly6months.MonNeVongwasunsurewhethertheirrigationsysteminthevillagewaspartoftheCAREprojectornot,butshebelievesithasmadeadifferencetoherproductivity,‘withtheirrigationwecannowproducemorericetwiceayear’.

Village:DakDenVillage

Name:MsPhetSaVanh

Occupation:Vegetablegarden,coffeegarden,lowlandricefarming

Assets:nonerecorded

Date:27/01/15

Ms.PhetSaVanhis41yearsoldandismarriedwithsixchildren.PhetSaVanhhasbeenworkingwithCAREforalongtime–shebelievesitmayevenbesince2002untilnow.OverthetimePhetSaVanhhasbeenworkingwithCAREshebelievesthatbothherselfandherfamilyhaveexperiencedsuchsignificantchangethat‘todaywearecompletelydifferenttowhatwewerebeforeCARE’.

‘BeforeIstartedworkingwithCAREourliveswerehard–Iwouldwakeeverydayat3amtopoundriceanddomyworkaroundthehousebeforeleavingtoworkinthericefield.Wehadnounderstandingorwaytomakeanincomeatthattime–wereliedonourlabourinthefieldandonthefoodwecouldcollect’.

SincethattimePhetSaVanhbelievesherfamilyhasbenefittedfromherparticipationintheproject.PhetSaVanhbelievesherfamilyincomehasincreasedsinceshestartedworkingwiththeCAREprojectandthatthisismainlyduetotheproductionofcoffee.PhetSaVanhhasthreecoffeegardens.CoffeegardeningwasanewactivityforPhetSaVanhbutherhusbandattendedatrainingwithCAREinPaksong.PhetSaVanhwouldhavelikedtoattendthetraininginPakSongbutshewasnotabletotravelbecausesheneededtolookafterthechildrenandhouse,soherhusbandattendedforthefamily.HoweverPhetSaVanh’shusbandwasquicktosharetheknowledgehegainedduringthetrainingandtogethertheyagreedtoestablishtheircoffeegardensonebyone.Ittookthreeyearsbeforetheycouldharvesttheirfirstcropfromherfirstgarden.PhetSaVanh’slastharvestsoldfor5millionkipwhichisasignificantamount-PhetSaVanhproudlysharedthatshegrowsacombinationofhighervaluecoffeevarieties(‘white’beans)andstandardvarieties(‘blackbeans’)andthatshemainlysellsdriedbeanswhichhaveahighervaluethanthefreshcherries.OnlyoccasionallywillPhetSaVanhsellhercoffeecherriesdirectlyinDakCheungtownwhensheisinurgentneedofmoneyforsupplies.

PhetSaVanhsellstoLaostraderswhocomefromSekongandtoVietnamesetraderswhocomefromDakCheungTown.PhetSaVanhagreesinadvancewithothervillagersgrowingcoffeehowmuchtheywillselltheirbeansfor–eitherbytankorbykg,‘wecanagreetosellforbetween85000kip-92000kip/tank(onetank=10kg)’.PhetSaVanhdoesnotfeelshecouldnegotiatewiththetradersdirectlyandpreferstoletthevillagetaxcommitteenegotiatedirectlywiththetraders‘becauseoncethetradershavepaidourmoney,thecommitteetakestaxforthevillagefundandthensharesouttothevillagers’.Thevillagefundisusedtosupportvillageneedssuchaspurchasingfoodduringdifficulttimesforvulnerablefamilies.

PhetSaVanhhasusedtheincomefromcoffeetomeetbasichouseholdneedssuchassalt,cookingoil,andsoap.Howevertogetherwithherhusbandtheyhavealsomadelonger-terminvestmentssuchasrebuildingthehouseandpayinghighschoolanduniversityfeesfortheirthreedaughters.PhetSaVanhandherhusbandhavealsoinvestedintheirassetbasetoincreasetheiragriculturalproductivityincludingbuyingasmalltractorandhiringlabourinthericefieldsothattheyhavemoretimefortheircoffee.Theyhavealsopurchasedanumberofpigsandarebreedingpigletstoeitherbarterorraiseandsell,‘wecanbarterpigletsfordieselorwecanraiseabigpigandsellittoothervillagersforceremoniesfor2.5millionkip’.

GenerallyPhetSaVanhandherhusbandmakedecisionsabouthowtospendthefamilyincometogether,‘wediscusstogetherwhatthefamilyneedsareandwebothdecidewhattobuy.Forexample,IsawanotherfamilyusingthesmalltractorandIconvincedmyhusbandtobuyoneforourfamily’.PhetSaVanhalsosaysthatshehasmadeasmallincomefromsellinghersurplusvegetableproduceinDakCheungtown.Shemainlyusesthemoneyearnedfromsellinghervegetablestobuyhouseholditemsandsmalldriedgoods.Themoneythatsheearnsfromsellingvegetablesisforhertomanageandspendasshedecides.Howevermoneyearnedfromthecoffeeandthesaleofpigsmustbediscussedtogetherwithherhusbandasitis‘familymoney’.

PhetSaVanhalsobelievesherfamilyismorefoodsecuresinceshestartedworkingwithCARE,‘Beforetheprojectwecollectedfoodfromtheforestandboileditwithsalt–eventhoughIwouldspendthetimeIhadafterpoundingriceandworkinginthefieldIonlyevermanagedtocollectasmallamount’.HoweverafterattendingpaddyimprovementtrainingandonceCAREhadrehabilitatedtheirrigationsysteminDakDen,PhetSaVanhstartedusingnewtechniquesinhowsheplantedandmaintainedthepaddy–thepaddyfieldnowproduces20bagscomparedto5bagsbeforetheproject.Thefamilynowhasenoughricetolasttheyearwhereaspreviouslyitlastforonly6months.

Annex5:QuantificationofvotesinSpokesexercisesfromfocusgroups

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10%12%14%16%18%20%

Lessonstoridemotorbike

Familyplanning

Laolessons

EncouragewomentospeakmoreinLao

Encouragewifetobeinvovledinpublicac7vi7es

Menhelpwivesmore

Businesstraining

Coffeeplanta7ontraining

Livestocktraining

Teachwomentotrade/marke7ng

Teachwifeveggrowingtechnique

Teachwifehowtosellbiglivestock

Mentoinvestmoneyinsmallshopforwomen

omicadvancemen

Men'ssuggesXonsforaddressingwomen'schallengeswithincomeearning.%ofvotes(n=184)

Annex6:Bibliography

Backgroundliterature

UNWomenLaoPDRFactsheet

Chapter7:Laos,Ethno-linguisticDiversityandDisadvantage,ElizabethM.KingWorldBank,DominiquevandeWalleWorldBank.RevisedNovember2009;revisedMarch2010

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CountryTechnicalNotesonIndigenousPeoples’Issues,LAOPEOPLE'SDEMOCRATICREPUBLIC,IFAD2012

Women’sEmpowermentImpactMeasurementInitiative,(parts1–4)Contentadaptedfrom:Picard,M.andGillingham,S.(2012)Women'sEmpowermentImpactMeasurementInitiativeGuidance

StrongWomen,StrongCommunities,CARE’sHolisticApproachtoEmpoweringWomenandGirlsintheFightAgainstPoverty

GoodPracticesFramework,GenderAnalysis.CareInternationalGenderNetwork,May2012

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PhongsalyFoodSecurityandCapacityBuildingProject.ProjectdocumentsubmittedbyCAREInternationalinLaoPDRtoEU

PhongsalyFoodSecurityandCapacityBuildingProjectFinalReview

ReducingUXORiskandImprovingLivelihoodsofEthnicCommunitiesinSekongProvinceprojectBaselinestudyBySteeveDaviau.FundedbytheAusAIDLao-AustraliaNGOCooperationAgreement(LANGOCA)Program,Sekong,May2008

REDUCINGUXORISKANDIMPROVINGLIVELIHOODSOFETHNICCOMMUNITIESINSEKONGPROVINCEActivityDesignDocumentforLaoAustraliaNGOCooperationAgreementProgram(LANGOCA)SubmittedtoAusAID20June2007Organisation:CAREAustralia

REDUCINGUXORISKANDIMPROVINGLIVELIHOODSOFETHNICCOMMUNITIESINSEKONGPROVINCEActivityDesignDocumentforLaoAustraliaNGOCooperationAgreementProgram(LANGOCA)SubmittedtoAusAID25June2007Organisation:CAREAustraliaFINALVERSION

EndofProjectIndependentFinalEvaluation,LANGOCALONGTERMACTIVTY(LTA),REDUCINGUXORISKANDIMPROVINGLIVELIHOODSOFETHNICCOMMUNITIESINSEKONGPROVINCE.AUSAIDAGREEMENTNUMBER37891/9,LAOPDR.CAREINTERNATIONALINLAOPDRDecember2013

ActivityCompletionReportLANGOCALONGTERMACTIVTY(LTA)REDUCINGUXORISKANDIMPROVINGLIVELIHOODSOFETHNICCOMMUNITIESINSEKONGPROVINCE,AusAIDAGREEMENTNUMBER37891/9CAREINTERNATIONALINLAOPDR28FEBRUARY2014

LaosAustraliaNGOCooperationAgreement(LANGOCA)ProgramING310.FinalEvaluationReport.RhondaChapmanDavidFarrowJuly2014.DFAT.

MidtermReviewCARELaosReducingUXORiskandImprovingLivelihoodsofEthnicCommunitiesinSekongProvince.February,2011RichardHackman

ReducingUXOriskandimprovinglivelihoodsofethniccommunitiesinSekongprovince(LongTermActivity)andSupportingLaoDisabledPeople’sAssociationtoEnableSocialandEconomicInclusionofPeoplewithDisabilities

inSekongProvince(ISPD)(ShortTermActivity)6MonthlyProgressReport:1stJuly2010–31stDecember2010.Implementedby:CAREInternationalinLaoPDRSubmitted:15March2011Organisation:CAREAustralia

LANGOCAAnnualReport.July2009–June2010

PovertyAlleviationinRemoteUplandAreas(PARUA),PhaseIIDesignDocument,SubmittedtoSwissAgencyforDevelopmentandCooperation.November2007AdamFolkard(consultant)onbehalfofCAREInternationalinLaoPDR

EvaluationoftheVillageVeterinaryNetwork.SaysathaneDistrict,SayabouryProvince.FinalReportMrStuartLingandMsViphoneThammavongIndependentConsultantsJanuary2012

ReportoftheMidtermReviewofthe“PovertyAlleviationinRemoteUplandAreasProject”(PARUA)PhaseII.December2010KristenEwersAndersen,KoulapSysourath

PovertyAlleviationinRuralUplandsArea(PARUAII)FinalProgressReport50months01/03/08–30/04/12

SeveralPARUAIIinterimreportsofsixreportingperiods.

DakCheungFoodSecurityProject(DFSP)ProjectDocument:2009FoodSecurityProgrammeforLAOPDR.EuropeanCommissionGrantApplicationForm,Budgetline:210201,Reference:EuropeAid/128-090/L/ACT/LA.15June2009

DakCheungFoodSecurityProject,EndofProjectEvaluation,Finalreport30thJanuary2014JoelCoudrayplusmissionpowerpointpresentation

DakCheungFoodSecurityProject,EndofProjectEvaluation,Gendercomponent.December2013Consultant:DrLindaMalam

DakCheungFoodSecurityProject,MidtermReviewReport2012KoutianeSitthivong

ANCPProposal:StrategicsupporttoCAREInternationalintheLaoPRD’sprograminterventions:RuralDevelopment&Women’sEmpowerment.PhongsalyRuralDevelopmentProject(PPRDP)andLegalAwarenessandLifeSkillsProject(LALS)July2011

ImprovingLivelihoodandHealthOptionsforRemoteEthnicCommunitiesANCPAnnualPlan2013–2014

PhongsalyRuralDevelopmentProject(PRDP),FinalEvaluationReport23rdMay–25thJune2014Submittedby: KoutianeSitthivong

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