W-Women Globally

Under this name the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) designed a programme to support the self-reliance and empowerment of displaced women and girls. They make up a majority of refugees worldwide, yet are often discriminated against. Women Leading for Livelihoods attracts funding from committed private citizens and foundations.

Why Women?

‘People who flee conflict and persecution might be fortunate enough to find security and shelter in a refugee camp. But once they have refuge, what next? Displacement can last years, even decades. Women as a group are limited in their livelihoods opportunities. And women and girls generally constitute 60 to 70% of the refugee population. Women often have less education and formal training. They may not be encouraged to work outside the home. When they do, it is generally in areas such as subsistence agriculture and informal employment. So women find themselves with even fewer livelihoods resources when they are forced to flee their communities.
Realizing the potential of these refugee women to provide stability within their families as well as act as catalyst for change in their own country on return is crucial.

Livelihood is the keyword

Women’s livelihoods are about subsistence – and empowerment. When they are impoverished and reliant on assistance from aid agencies for their daily needs, refugee women are unable to live in a dignified manner. Instead, they struggle every day to cover basic needs for themselves and their families. They sometimes have to resort to survival sex for food, for money, to clothe their children.
Given the opportunity – education, skills training, access to credit schemes – these women will build businesses, support their families and provide the foundation for thriving communities.

The project and its background

Women Leading for Livelihoods (WLL) is an initiative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) aimed at promoting the economic independence and empowerment of refugee women and girls around the world. To WLL women are not victims or passive recipients of aid but – when given the proper resources – are capable of changing their lives and the lives of their children, families and communities.
Refugee women face a series of barriers to work; legal restrictions, physical and psychological trauma, lack of financial resources, child care issues, the wrong skills set for the environment and much more. WLL aims to try and break down these barriers through the funding of a full range of programs aimed at empowering refugee women. Livelihoods offer both short term protection and longer term prospects and both are built into WLL. Projects cover a range of activities such as computer literacy, language and vocational training, innovative farming and market access, micro-credit, small business centres and child care.
WLL draws its resources from individuals and organizations committed to improving the livelihoods of women and girls. It puts the funds it receives to work in projects wherever UNHCR has a mandate to protect refugees and the internally displaced.
In addition, WLL seeks partnerships with highly connected individuals who commit to leveraging their expertise and peer contacts. If you are interested in learning more about how you or your organization can become involved in the WLL initiative we would be honored to speak with you’.

Source: Women Leading For Livehoods 2008

Related links:

http://www.unhcr.org/protect/47ce6f532.html
http://www.neurope.eu/articles/90135.php
WLL Facebook group