Gender and Social Inclusion

Gender Equality Issues
  • Women and poverty: Women and girls are disproportionately affected by poverty, water scarcity, and energy poverty. They spend significant time collecting water and fuelwood, which increases safety risks during times when they are away from home and limits education and economic opportunities.
  • Many countries have made progress in gender equality through legal frameworks. Zambia, for example, has enacted the Gender Equity and Equality Act and formulated the 2023 National Gender Policy, but there are still significant challenges, particularly in combating gender-based violence, improving women’s economic participation, and increasing political representation.
  • Regional gender equality challenges:
    • Gender-based violence: 36% of Zambian women (15–49) face physical violence, often linked to alcohol abuse
    • Early marriage: 29% of girls married before 18, many teenage mothers
    • Economic inequality: Women underrepresented in formal employment, higher poverty rates
    • Political representation: Only 15% of MPs are women
    • Similar issues persist in Malawi and Zimbabwe
  • NACRO’s focus on gender equality: NACRO works with governments and stakeholders to advance SDG 5 (Gender Equality), targeting:
    • End discrimination against women and girls
    • Eliminate violence, trafficking, and exploitation
    • End harmful practices like child marriage and FGM
    • Ensure reproductive health rights
    • Reform economic rights for women (land, property, finance, inheritance)
Youth Development Issues
  • Economic challenges:
    • Unemployment: High rates despite higher education levels
    • Limited access to finance: Barriers to entrepreneurship due to lack of credit/capital
  • Educational challenges:
    • Inadequate education: Poor access and quality, limited progression to higher levels
    • Skills gap: Lack of literacy, numeracy, problem-solving, and work ethic for job market
  • Health and well-being:
    • Sexual and reproductive health: Limited services, high teenage pregnancy and HIV rates
    • Mental health: Anxiety and depression linked to poverty and lack of support
Vulnerability to violence: Youth face exploitation and abuse, need GBV awareness. NACRO’s Inclusion Strategy
  • Mainstream inclusion across all programmes by:
    • Ensuring equal rights regardless of gender or identity
    • Inclusive access to education, health, and other social services (including for people with disabilities)
    • Empowering vulnerable groups: women, youth, persons with disabilities, orphans
Examples of NACRO Inclusion Projects
  • Group Savings & Lending: Zambia (Eastern & Western Provinces), targeting women and youth to save to create affordable capital for investment in businesses.
  • Water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH): Mantapala Refugee Camp, Nchelenge District, Zambia,  and targeting displaced persons mostly from the Democratic Republic of Congo with WASH and agricultural extension services
  • Early Childhood Care & Development Centres: Malawi, targeting early childhood learners and parents, combining education with Village Savings & Loans
  • Energy Cooperatives: Petauke, Zambia – clean water & biogas, reducing women’s labour burden
  • Climate Resilient WASH in Schools: Kalabo District, Zambia – girl-friendly sanitation facilities
  • Support persons with disabilities: Jairosi Jiri School for the Handicapped, Zimbabwe, targeting children with disabilities with food, shelter and education
Overall Goal for Inclusion NACRO strives to empower women, youth, and vulnerable and/or marginalized groups by enabling participation in value chains, improving access to markets, and ensuring education, health, and wellbeing services.
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