Working Women’s Forum – Indian Cooperative Network for Women (WWF-ICNW) Parallel event at the United Nations 68th Session of the Commission on Status of Women (UNCSW 68) from U.N. H.Q. New York., (held in Chennai)
“Building Leadership of Young Women in Cooperatives in combating inequalities, enhancing productivity towards 2030 Global agenda: Working Women’s Forum –Indian Cooperative Network for Women”
Dr.Nandini Azad, President, Working Women’s Forum – Indian Cooperative Network for Women (WWF-ICNW) welcomed all to this historic parallelevent of the United Nations 68th Session of the Commission on Status of Women (UNCSW 68) is being held for the fourth time in the city of Chennai, India.
Last year too we were also privileged by the UN Commission on Status of Women(2024) to award us the only virtual parallel event on girls in cooperatives worldwide – This year we are the one of among 100 events globally. We are grateful to them for having trusted this iconic grassroots movement like ours (with 28years UN consultative status) Now atthe H.Q of the legendary Working Women’s Forum and Indian Cooperative Network for Women H.Q,on behalf of the membersfrom13 Cooperative branches in the four Southern States of India (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Telangana) having reached 6,20,000 poor women members.
A members from the new International Network for Women in Cooperatives announced 1 year before (watching us online all over the India and the world).Our CEO’sand myself, we welcome, greet and arehere tobe inspired by you & us, she stated.
Further she said, today thismovements clout and its rise to global leadership is wherein in 45 years they are key players on global high tables of policy with their voices and issues heard. Be it New York, Germany, Rome.
WWF-ICNW stand’srepresented on most global unions/alliances of the International Cooperative Movement today “through elections”. Active global player on gender, livelihood and cooperative issues i.e., the poor women from the informal sector she stated.
Next, she said the panel today is online I’m honoured to facilitate it as I lead the themas their President.The event has mostly all the major networks/unions on cooperatives, UN agencies worldwide represented, she said.
Mr. Andreas Kappes, Secretary General, the International Raiffeisen Union (IRU), Germany. Globally, ICNW said Dr.Nandini Azad has been privileged to be the first woman in 50 years on their global board and re-elected again Inequalities faced by young women with statistics are highlighted. Cooperatives he stated are effective means of creating opportunities for young women in various sectors and quotes ICNW as an historic example. He elaborates on role of cooperatives from DGRV (Eg: of Directorate of German banks example) with young women’s case studies.
To quote him: We are Honoured to build leadership among young women.Many women facing structural barrier’s, educational issue’s, financial resources/crunch, cultural norms, discrimination and ownership and women’s participation in economic and social activity is challenging.
Women have mostly burden of care work but have to be equally considered in decision making.
(Women’s Farmer Cooperative) – Telangana (case study video). They are producing vegetables, through participation in group meetings of Women’s Forum Cooperative.
He said that we have to with integrity follow gender equality, empowering their education also their employment and economic participation.
This is needed because women are not just only for beneficiaries, they are mentor’s for the success of the community.
He concludes by saying that together we should make commitments for upholding values and principles of education, equality, participation of women in all aspects.
Ms Lana Zaman, Sustainable Development Officer at UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UN.H.Q. NY thenext panellist spoke on gender disparities that begin from childhood & escalate during adolescence, she discusses the challenges & opportunities faced by young women in Agriculture.
Elaborating on the UN programs for women in Agriculture (accelerating progress towards the economic empowerment of rural women) and future generations.
Further she states: Opportunities & challenges for young women in cooperatives like Global food insecurity 1. Feeding growing population 2. Rapid urbanization 3. Climate change.
Then Women in Agriculture
To quote women have make up 43% of global agricultural workforce also at the same time women have a significant discrimination on reaching their full potential of wages and leadership.
Challenges facing women in agriculture:
A. Limitation to land & livestock, land ownership (women don’t have equal land property).
B. Discrimination in equal pay.
C. Limited access to financial services, health care & education.
D. Less access to household resource and institutional barriers.
On average women run farms produce 20 – 30% less crops than farms run by men due to discrimination.
Role of cooperatives:
Benefits: 1.Economics 2.Increasing yields management systems.
Provide support in the form of ( Education & extension services (Improved inputs.
Women’s only cooperatives play vital role in agricultural sector.
Opportunities for next generation of young women
A.Education – more young women have to educated
B.Digitalization
C.Information & communication
D.Climate smart agriculture
E.Agro ecological practices
F.Cooperative action
Next speaker was Mr. Hirofumi Kobayashi, Executive Director, Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (IDACA) Japan. providesfigures on the Gender Gap Index (GGI) in the Asian countries and women’s representation in higher echelons of cooperatives. He highlightsyoung women’s participation at training courses in the IDACA (and reservation of quotas for training).
To quote: Thanking the Working Women’s Forum & Indian Cooperative Network for Women for continuous efforts in organizing this kind of workshops.
Explaining about the action plan proposed by the participants at ICA-MAFF training course for Rural Women implemented by IDACA he said.
Countries & their action plan
India – To Increase income of rural women weavers in Kerala
Thailand – by producing silk and woven fabrics – by silk cooperative
Through vegetable farming
Rice plan, farmers position in Malaysian strengthened by value chain.
Another approach was Japan agricultural news, March 10, 2024. Women’s participation to farm management.
Ration of farm management with women’s participants in 2020 of commodity ( Dairy – 43%, Vegetable – 43%, flowers & trees – 41%, he concluded.
Next speaker, The Deputy Program Manager of The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM Secretariat) from Guyana in South America. Ms.MilagroMatus, highlightedthe challenges, opportunities and gaps for women in the countries of CARICOM region, such as are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
To quote her it women had same access of productive resources to men production it will increase 20/3rd percent leading to 12 percent decrease in hunger.
In CARICOM, there is special space for women and youth in Planning, Policy development & Programming
Investment at national level
Such as poultry, meat, soya, eggs, crops such as coconut, herbs, spices for youth and women’s development.
Caricom region have taken a position to special space for women & youth on agriculture, food, nutrition security in international level.
At regional level:
Caricom has strong companion with support of world food programme showcasing women and youth in agriculture production.
Caricom youth in agriculture
Together the youth representing each members state contributing to youth policy ( their policy recommendation for implementation both in regional & international level, she concluded.
CARICOM Pays attention speedily.
Food development of women, youth
Finally, she concluded by thanking WWF- Indian Cooperative Network for Women.
Next the inspiring words of Ms Kati Partanen, World Farmers Organization (WFO) Global Board Member, International Secretariat, Italy will spoke with commitment on the role of women/girls in agriculture cooperatives.
A Farmer from Finland and Board member of the World Farmers Organization (WFO) she spoke of the WFO initiated “Gymnasium programme” to recognize the importance of young women farmers. This high level capacity building initiative aims to train young farmers, preparing them to emerge as future leaders in the agriculture sector. The programme provides lessons from International leaders across various policy areas and facilitates active engagement in global events related to agriculture. By investing in the education and empowerment of young women in agriculture, we can equip them with necessary tools to overcome challenges in the agriculture sector.
Together, we can harness the immense potential of women in agriculture for a sustainable and equitable future.
ICNW & WWF for organizing this very important event.
Study of Young Women Entrepreneurs of the WWF-ICNW – Nandini Azad facilitates (shown as 5 case studies on video on line speaking and with English transcription).
All the girls hail from poor backgrounds and begin with zone zero inputs in terms of background, resources or leverage for entrepreneurship (Tamilnadu, Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh) (no back up at all but minus inputs such as poverty, illiteracy, etc.,) that makes them late starters.
There are fewer young women entrepreneurs in WWF-ICNW under the age of 30 and higher in the range of 30- to 35-years. This is due to the fact many women experiencing life – cycle difficulties i.e., after marriage and reproductive roles (children) with zero backing.
•Many young women’s spouses work only as wage workers. Their background’s are problematic due to poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, underemployment to support client, families as daily wagers (alcoholic/irregular or poor income contribution). Often unable to provide children with suitable skills/education/ housing/ food security/ nutrition.
•Most unable to obtain financing from lenders (exorbitant interest) young women started business with no collateral, assets etc.,
•Majority of girls entrepreneurs had only primary education; likewise uneducated.
•Even if educated, they were unable to work outside lacking day / child care, (unorganised sector). Many had irregular support in child care as parents survival daily wage workers; extended family unable to facilitate them.
•Many thus opted to work independently to care for families, ply petty business with low-interest financial support from WWF-ICNW (i.e., work from home) with no collateral, no husbands guarantee.
•After joining Forum, they emerge as successful entrepreneurs after 7-8 loan cycles, transitioning from informal to pre-formal sector. Five cases were presented in Video form.
Entrepreneurial History
•Many ICNW women members work in family farming activities related to agriculture, fisheries, and lace manufacturing.
•Young Women learnt traditional skills by observing family members work, reviving the business through competition; continuing tradition in the second generation, preserving cultural heritage (UNESCO).
•In the ICNW Kancheepuram cooperative branch (the forum is formed for silk weavers) Government policy protected only male weavers through its cooperatives. The cash assistance from Government was also pledged by male weavers to money lenders/ spent on liquor.
• WWF-ICNW intervened and assisted women weavers as members of Weaver’s Cooperative Society to avail their entitlements/ facilities /benefits available to male weavers.
•In other work related fields, such as the clothing industry, retail stores, beauty salons etc., some young women start out with one business, expand with others; hire two more staff to work with.
•For instance, if a woman begins a clothing business during four to five loan cycles, builds a provision store, hires three other staff, and pays for children’s education;
•Creating income, assets & investments (girls education, technology or business/ home related).
•Young women members in the WWF-ICNW are now capable of taking decisions, understanding rights, marketing produce, and digitalizing businesses as a result of empowerment, digital financial literacy, and financial training.
•Many young women knew of WWF-ICNW through family members, already member (mother / mother in law/ sisters) or through community peer groups. Family support (husband/ mother/ mother in law), important element for poor women to upgrade skills.
Working &Studying :
•Few young women at 25 years, working & studying were engaged in entrepreneurial work (with family support) alongwith continuing studies, (without parental support) being independent & inspiring others.
Experiment of WWF-ICNW:
•The experiment of WWF-ICNW demonstrates that even the youngest, poorest and semi-literate women can manage and run institutions.
•Following the principles of cooperative management if they have the right kind of training/orientation and field exposure.
•The model that perceives co-operation as a instrument for poor women engaged in struggle for freedom, human dignity and transformations in economic /social structure.
•Cooperatives also have potential of imparting training to the culturally deprived sections in management skills, economic operations and other vocations.
•To a certain extent, prepare them to shoulder responsibilities and transferring labour surplus and power into hands of working classes.
A Counter Culture said Dr.Nandini Azad
•Thus, WWF/ ICNW has been able to bring women from their closed shell to the outside world instilling self confidence and courage.
•This inturn made them socially/financially independent.
•The experiment further proves that poor women had made an effort to achieve high level of competence in effecting the social change process even amidst all challenges & poverty.
Jaya Arunachalam Awards for excellence in women entrepreneurship in South India.
This year 9 Jaya Arunachalam awardees were announced in February 2024 at the UNCSocD62.
Nine Women entrepreneurs who for over 30 years been our members, obtaining i.e, even loans often Rs.200 (Approx. 2 $) initially, and now receiving higher. Today they have been able to avail through various holistic services, aspire, educate their children as doctors and engineers.
Also moving encouraging young entrepreneurs to slowly move from the informal into the pre-formal sector. They are from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka their testimony in cases was given before by video.
Micro entrepreneurs, who have taken subsequent loans from ICNW-WWF, increased employment, moved from informal to pre-formal sector, educated their children, empowered and involved in the WWF/ICNW women based activity). Many women members will provided case studies from South India today and their acceptance speech. Grateful for the financial inclusion that transformed their lives from poverty to success and performance. Girl children educated in higher education and boys as engineers/doctors and into the main street food security ensured and higher investment. Thanked by the Cooperative staff and their President.
President WWF-ICNW said
Gender based violence solutions are important to Women’s Human rights, the right to live in dignity as women, entrepreneurs, home managers community leaders. President WWF said Youth forums against gender violence, work through street theatre and sports, training to resocialize men away from patriarchy towards gender equality for its cooperative members too.
The visit of Mme. Hillary Clinton as U.S. Secretary of State to our WWF/ICNW H.Q., and ICPRD statement on changing boys minds from patriarchy for combating gender violence was also highlighted here too.
Indeed this event heralds a clarion call by Dr.Nandini Azad, WWF-ICNW and ICPRD organizations to male/female cooperative leaders to integrate financial inclusion with Gender violence – i.e., the Gender based violence product in micro finance.
This parallel event highlighted the key issues and the manner in which poor young women are transformed from atomized women workers into cooperative leaders, based on WWF-ICNW experience. Cases too from different regions of the world will be presented through panel discussion. As young women experience more disadvantages in cooperatives and their economic empowerment & equal participation in work is crucial to eliminate poverty and strengthen the global economy.
The theme of the program highlights is Young women hailing from poor background with no backup & zero inputs (poverty, illiteracy, etc.,) make them as late starters (after 30 years), as they experience life cycle difficulties (after marriage & reproductive roles) as the WWF-ICNW experience points out. Their spouses are problematic (alcoholic/ irregular or poor income contribution). Some unable to go for work even if educated, as they to take care of home & children. Some young women, aged around 25 years work & study (independent & inspiring), are also engaged in entrepreneurial work without parental support. This is possible only through cooperatives like WWF-ICNW, which play a important role in poverty reduction. Even the youngest, poorest & semi-literate women can manage & run institutions (such as WWF-ICNW) through financial inclusion of cooperatives, transforming them & their families from survival to indebtness to further development/ empowerment & gender consciousness, ensuring financial inclusion.
Young women learnt traditional skills by continuing the tradition in second generation (silk weaving in Kanchipuram, agricultural families etc). They also expand their business, creating assets, investments & generating employment. Demonstrating that Young, poor and semi illiterate women can also lead & manage business & households.
The visit of Mme. Hillary Clinton as U.S. Secretary of State to WWF/ICNW H.Q., was a historic event. World leaders have increasingly admired our gender and equity model. We welcome you on behalf of our 1000membersfrom 13 branches that are watching and resolve to continue our work of the International Network of Women in Cooperatives (based at our headquarters at Chennai)
