Women's Contributions to Development in West Africa: Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Lives

by Kelly Ann Krawczyk (Editor), Bridgett A. King (Editor)

Overview

This book examines women’s participation in social, economic and political development in West Africa. The book looks at women from the premise of being active agents in the development processes within their communities, thereby subverting the dominate narrative of women as passive recipients of development.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789811981890
Publisher:	Springer Nature Singapore
Publication date:	03/01/2023
Series:	Globalization, Urbanization and Development in Africa
Edition description:	2023
Pages:	306
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Kelly Ann Krawczyk is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Director of the Ph.D. Program in Public Administration & Public Policy at Auburn University.

​Bridgett A. King is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Director of the Master of Public Administration Program at Auburn University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: A Dichotomy of Development: Women’s Empowerment and Women’s Inequality.- Section One: The Role of Women in Social Development in West Africa.- Chapter 2 I’ll Find a Way or Make a Way: A Case Study of BASICS International’s Social Community Development work in Ghana, West Africa.- Chapter 3 Women Traders at the Elmina Fishing Harbor: Harbingers of Ghana’s Social Development .- Chapter 4 Women’s Organizations on the Frontline: The Peacebuilding Project and the Fight Against Ebola and COVID-19.- Section Two: The Role of Women in Economic Development in West Africa.- Chapter 5 Women and Microfinance in The Gambia: A Path to Empowerment and Financial Inclusion .- Abstract .- Chapter 6 Informally Formal: Women’s Mutual Aid Organizations in the Informal Sector of the Economy.- Chapter 7 The Role of Market Associations in Facilitating Women’s Informal Political Participation and Economic Development in Ghana.- Section Three: The Role of Women in Political Development in West Africa.- Chapter 8 The Invisibility Syndrome: Gambian Women in Politics.- Chapter 9 Gender and Politics in Ayawaso West Wuogon: Women Standing for Parliament.- Chapter 10 Relative Peace in the Midst of Unrest: Guinean Women’s Peace Advocacy during the Mano River Wars.- Chapter 11 Redefining Liberian Women’s Political Activism: The Legacy of the Women’s Peacebuilding Movement.- Chapter 12 Conclusion: Promoting Development By Women, For Women.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“This edited volume zooms-in on the human-centric aspects of sustainable development, illuminating the various barriers that women in West African countries face in social, economic, and political spheres. The book capitalizes upon rich empirical material and rigorous qualitative social science approaches to document such barriers as well as describe how women rely on both formal and informal institutions to achieve better voice and representation. The many lessons drawn from this work offer practical insights and ideas for future research that are applicable to a variety of developing democracy contexts beyond the African continent.”

—Alisa Moldavanova, University of Delaware, USA

“Considering the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’s principle of ‘leave no one behind’ which seeks to target the most vulnerable populations, this collection about the contributions by women to social, economic and political development in West Africa is on point. The qualitative approaches showcase stories that underline the voices of often the poorest of the poor. The authors recognize the challenges with entrenched discrimination and inequalities for women while also empirically demonstrating their relational agency and entrepreneurial spirit.”

—Susan Appe, University at Albany, USA