MEASURES GEARED TOWARD ADVANCING WIDOWS’ RIGHTS

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Written by Thomas Kagwa

Social protection programs for widows contribute to economic empowerment.

There has been an uptick of activities aimed at creating the political consensus for the adoption of macro-level economic policy accelerators that support gender-equitable inclusive growth and more and better jobs for widows, through evidence-based policy analysis and advocacy, technical advice, and capacity strengthening.

Across the board, there is widespread adoption of sectoral and industrial policies that tackle occupational and sectoral segregation and enhance widows’ access to decent employment opportunities, through policy advice, capacity development, and technical support.

Another measure involves ensuring that investments in care service provision for widows – in health, long-term care, and education are costed, financed, and implemented through policy advice, capacity development, and technical support.

Given the interconnected nature of challenges facing women, widow advocacy groups will use integrated approaches that have helped women elsewhere while focusing on systemic outcomes to address the root causes of the injustices and discrimination faced by widows.

The areas that advocacy groups target will centre around four pillars:

  • Widow access to economic opportunities and guarantees.
  • Widows’ social integration and access to legal services.
  • Ending cultural, physical, and psychological abuse against widows, and
  • Widows’ peace and security, especially in conflicts and natural disasters.

Despite the Kenyan government’s efforts, the prevailing cultural and social norms remain a central cause for disproportionately disadvantaging widows and creating multiple constraints for them, including limited ownership, access to, and control of long-term assets, resources, and services; labour market exclusion; high levels of illiteracy and numeracy incapability; limited access to income and decision making over expenditures; high fertility rates and high unmet needs for contraception and sexual and reproductive health education; overburdened with unpaid domestic work; and limited access to financial services; among others. 

Social norms continue to play a big role in determining bargaining power within a household. Limited control over resources and assets and their lack of power and autonomy does not only constrain widow’s well-being, but the well-being of their households and the community as a whole

Social protection programs can accelerate widows’ rights by expanding their opportunities for paid work, boosting ownership of productive assets, enhancing control over incomes, increasing social networks, and raising awareness of widows’ rights. 

Such gains do not flow automatically. Widow advocacy groups such as The Goat Foundation’s implementation strategy for widows’ economic sustainability, together with local realities will affect the extent to which these potential gains amongst widows can be realized in practice.

A social-norms lens is a major criterion for the design of any sustainable and gender-responsive social protection program. A social lens is not an optional add-on, but an integral part of social protection policy and programming if it is to achieve long-term sustainable change for widows. 

Social protection programs for widows should set criteria that are geared towards breaking through any negative stigma and cultural norms, including directing benefits to widows in the first place. As such, a careful review of the conditionalities required for empowering widows’ groups as well as strategies for gathering data on the socio-economic conditions of widows, remain important.

Capacity strengthening at all levels, as well as community sensitization and awareness of the role of both men and women in promoting widows’ economic empowerment, are key. This also means social protection programs must budget for regular training, workshops, dialogues, and the like, inclusive to both men and women in order to fulfil this goal. 

Commitment and priority in financing widow-responsive social protections are key and most important. Governments should mobilize and equitably allocate resources to ensure effective implementation and maximum program outcomes in both quality and quantity. 

HOW CAUSE CAPITALISM IS REDUCING INEQUALITIES 

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Written by Thomas Kagwa

Through socioeconomic support of widows, cause capitalism partnerships to initiate actions to eradicate inequalities.

The Goat Foundation interacts with widows from impoverished communities across Kenya on a regular basis. From our observations, it is apparent that great economic disparities exist among members of Kenyan societies.

Looking objectively, we realize that outcomes of economic disempowerment lead to the loss of basic human rights, particularly for widows. It is for this reason that our efforts are focused on the provision and enablement of sustainable economic solutions for Kenyan widows.

It is a documented fact that historically, women faced social and economic disadvantages in African societies. It, therefore, portends a greater threat to their livelihood when women become widowed, especially as is common, while they are still relatively young.

A moral conundrum facing the world today is the abject poverty surrounding the lavish display of opulent wealth. This was so much that the Chinese nation banned social media influencers from airing wasteful food sampling episodes.

Many rich however feel justified to wallow in their excesses as was the case of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos who took a 90-minute flight to the edge of space at a cost of nearly $100 million while the world reeled in the midst of a pandemic and poor less than 5% of African populations had yet to afford the Covid 19 vaccine.

Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. To this end, there must be the promotion of sustainable, inclusive, and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all, reducing inequalities, raising basic standards of living, fostering equitable social development and inclusion, and promoting integrated and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems.

To be fair, most well-to-do families contribute to charitable causes and are participants in various philanthropic endeavours.

However, as much as individual effort goes towards donations and funding noble cases, very little progress was made toward raising the living standards of the majority of the world’s population.

Evidence-based solutions such as the donation of two goats to widows provide sustainable solutions to poverty eradication.

There are two varieties of economic inequality, that is income inequality and wealth inequality. Besides economic inequality between countries or states, there are important types of economic inequality between different groups of people living in the same country.

In general, technological progress, commercialization, and economic development are factors leading to rises in inequality.

Another major cause of economic inequality within modern market economies is the determination of wages by the market. Where competition is imperfect, information is unevenly distributed. opportunities to acquire education and skills unequal, a market failure results. Since many such imperfect conditions exist in virtually every market, there is in fact little presumption that markets are in general efficient.

Faceless multinational corporations have moved to the least developing nations where regulations are lax.

Variation in individuals’ access to education is key to income inequality. Education, especially in an area where there is a high demand for workers, creates high wages for those with this education.

Whereas globalization has reduced global inequality between nations, it has increased inequality within nations. Globalization increases inequality by putting downward pressure on wages (due to competition from low-wage countries) and also by making it more difficult to tax capital, which further increases inequality.

Inequality leads to higher rates of health and social problems such as obesity, mental illness, homicides, teenage births, incarceration, child conflict, and drug use. Unequal societies experience lower rates of social goods such as life expectancy, educational performance, trust among strangers, women’s status, and social mobility.

An inverse link between income inequality and social cohesion. In more equal societies, people are much more likely to trust each other, and measures of social capital (the benefits of goodwill, fellowship, mutual sympathy, and social connectedness among groups who make up social units) suggest greater community involvement.

Oxfam asserts that worsening inequality is impeding the fight against global poverty. A 2013 report from the group stated that the $240 billion added to the fortunes of the world’s richest billionaires in 2012 was enough to end extreme poverty four times over. Oxfam Executive Director Jeremy Hobbs said that “We can no longer pretend that the creation of wealth for a few will inevitably benefit the many – too often the reverse is true.”

Political corruption, weak institutions, and legislative loopholes allow multinational companies to pollute areas around their operations in poor countries.

Greater income inequality can lead to monopolization of the labor force, resulting in fewer employers requiring fewer workers. Remaining employers can consolidate and take advantage of the relative lack of competition, leading to less consumer choice, market abuses, and relatively higher real prices.

When inequality is associated with political instability and social unrest, rent-seeking and distortive policies, lower capacities for investment in human capital, and a stagnant domestic market, it is mostly expected to harm long-run economic performance, as suggested by many authors.

Accordingly, improving income distribution is expected to foster long-run economic growth, especially in low-income countries where the levels of inequality are usually very high.

The challenge for policymakers is to control structural inequality, which reduces the country’s capacities for economic development, while at the same time keeping in place those positive incentives that are also necessary for growth.

The potential for improving the lives of poor people by finding different ways of distributing current production is nothing compared to the apparently limitless potential of increasing production.

A study by OECD makes a number of suggestions to its member countries, including:

  • Well-targeted income-support policies.
  • Facilitation and encouragement of access to employment.
  • Better job-related training and education for the low-skilled (on-the-job training) would help to boost their productivity potential and future earnings.
  • Better access to formal education.

Progressive taxation reduces absolute income inequality when the higher rates on higher-income individuals are paid and not evaded, and transfer payments and social safety nets result in progressive government spending.

Wage ratio legislation has also been proposed as a means of reducing income inequality. The OECD asserts that public spending is vital in reducing the ever-expanding wealth gap.

Deferred investment programs that increase stock ownership amongst lower income levels can supplement income to compensate for wage stagnation.

Economic inequality leads to political inequality and the beneficiaries of the economic system that gave rise to this inequality are unlikely to implement correction mechanisms.

 

GUARANTEEING ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY FOR WIDOWS’ HOUSEHOLDS

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Written by Thomas Kagwa

Supporting widows to gain sustainable income contributes to inclusive and more sustainable economic growth.

It is well established that a wide range of legal impediments in countries’ domestic laws has prevented minority groups such as widows from achieving full economic empowerment, which in turn has negative macroeconomic implications.

In many countries, laws often reflect and perpetuate mismatched social norms that limit widows’ economic participation, and removal of these impediments through legal reform has been shown to be an effective method to catalyze greater participation of women in the economy—along with the related macroeconomic benefits. 

Once legal barriers are removed and provisions for more equal treatment under the law are embedded, the law can also be employed as a powerful tool to incentivize widows to pursue equal opportunities, change mindsets regarding the role of widows, and hold institutions and individuals accountable for achieving results. 

Accordingly, it is imperative for countries to focus on eliminating existing legal impediments and designing appropriate incentives to increase widows’ participation in the economy.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is concerned about widows’ economic empowerment 

because of its relevance to macroeconomic and financial stability and helping member countries 

to achieve inclusive and more sustainable economic growth. 

Empowering widows to reach their full economic potential, not only tangibly supports the key goal of reducing social inequality, but also, has tremendous significance on the advancement, competitiveness, and future readiness of economies worldwide. 

In this regard, empirical evidence shows that widows’ economic empowerment and the closing of gender gaps in key areas are associated with positive macroeconomic outcomes, including higher economic growth, lower inequality, increased productivity, better financial sector outcomes, and greater financial stability. 

Conversely, the economic disempowerment of widows, gaps in access to education, health, and financial services, and legal barriers to widows’ economic participation can all negatively impact macroeconomic and financial stability and countries’ ability to achieve strong and sustainable economic growth. 

For example, it is estimated that global GDP could increase by US$12 trillion by 2025 through 

reducing social discrimination based on perceptual biases and promoting minorities’ rights such as widows’ economic empowerment, equitable participation in the workforce, or presence in leadership positions. 

Similarly, implementing policy reforms to increase inclusivity, hence equity in the labour force would increase growth in the US by 5%, in Japan by 9%, in the UAE by 12%, and in Egypt by 34%. 

Other macroeconomic impacts of greater widows’ economic empowerment have also been identified. However, despite momentous strides toward improved educational and employment opportunities for widows, social gaps persist, and legal barriers remain. 

Furthermore, the recent impact of COVID-19 threatens to widen the economic gap throughout the world, as widows are disproportionately affected by the economic and social consequences of the pandemic.

Widows are more heavily impacted by the pandemic for a number of reasons: 

(i) they are more likely to work in social sectors that require face-to-face interactions with people who still have biases based on erroneous stereotypes; 

(ii) they are more likely to be employed in the informal sector, which is not covered under most labour laws;

(iii) widows do more unpaid household work than their married counterparts and as a result, bear the brunt of the impact of the shutdown on families; and 

(iv) widows’ children are more likely to drop out of school to help supplement household income lost due to COVID-19.

In addition, there are concerns that the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the inclusivity reforms, including in relation to repealing gender discriminatory laws and the enactment of new laws necessary for social equality reform.

It is widely accepted that widows have no inherent limitations to assuming the same roles as other men and women. However, history, dominant belief systems, and cultural norms have often subjected widows to normal and informal constraints that have become enshrined in countries’ legal frameworks to varying degrees. 

Since laws can incentivize changes in behaviour, legal reforms supportive of social equity can help change cultural biases against widows and promote equality.

Eliminating bias against widows and discrimination in the law is only the first step, but this alone is not enough. In addition, legal reform should also incentivize widows to participate in the economy and encourage employers to hire widows in competitive roles. 

This includes implementing laws that protect widows from discrimination in the workplace due to stigma and cultural beliefs, and which promote a higher presence of widows in leadership roles. In addition, resources should be allocated via policy reforms that make it easier for widows to enter and stay in the workforce, such as counselling services, social-support infrastructure, etc. 

Ultimately, social inclusivity and equity-driven policies on all levels would transform social relations and reform existing structures that cause discrimination.

 

PROMOTING WIDOW’S ACCESS TO  DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

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Written by Thomas Kagwa

Widows need support to be able to provide for themselves and contribute to economic growth.

A society is as strong as its weakest members. Widows are universally recognized as one of the minority groups vulnerable to economic shocks and social disempowerment. Boosting widows’ economic empowerment is key to achieving social justice, but pervasive social norms and discrimination continue to keep widows from accessing and thriving in the workforce. 

Widows are less likely to work than any other women demographic, and their participation in the labour force is limited in developing and developing economies alike. 

Existing laws already restrict 2.7 billion women from having the same jobs as men globally, and given the lower social strata that widows fall in, it only gets worse for them. In 2018, 18 economies still allowed husbands to approve their wives to work, meaning, widows whose husbands died face an even steeper uphill task. What’s more, 104 countries have not passed comprehensive laws guaranteeing widows’ economic opportunities. 

Widows’ economic empowerment helps them gain the skills, resources, and opportunities to participate equally in markets and to control and benefit from their earnings. It is known that social equity that allows for the full economic participation of widows in economic activities helps businesses perform better and supports economic growth overall. 

We must ensure widows are equipped to participate in the economy fully. Widows are less likely to have formal bank accounts and take out loans. Even when widows do have their own accounts, their in-laws might still make the decisions about how their funds are used. Widows also often lack access to other financial services like savings and insurance due to a lack of financial education. In some countries, widows aren’t allowed to own the property of their late husbands without the patronage and permission of their in-laws.

Resources like credit access and bank accounts can help create economic opportunities for widows. Financial literacy programs, reforming laws that allow widows to access collateral and apply for loans, improving widow-disaggregated data, and promoting the development of digital payment systems can all help promote widows’ financial inclusion. 

Society must enforce policies and social protection systems for widows. Widows are less likely to have access to social protections like inheritance, the right to healthcare, social housing schemes, and unemployment benefits. In Africa on average, widows earn 60% to 75% less than what they used to while their husbands were alive. Closing this blatant pay gap is crucial to levelling the playing field. 

For widows that can’t afford to miss work to care for their families, childcare is a game-changer. Flexible work arrangements benefit workers with children regardless of gender to balance the domestic labour burden more fairly. Providing child care and free primary education leave would especially benefit poor widows. A 2% investment in child care in any economy generates a 6% growth in the economy. 

Unpaid care work includes household duties such as cooking, cleaning, water, and fuel collection, child care, or elder care often carried out by women. It is estimated that 16 billion hours are spent on unpaid care work every day. Unpaid care and domestic work contribute to countries’ economies substantially but aren’t seen as real work. 

The total value of unpaid care and domestic work is estimated to be between 10% and 39% of the gross domestic product. Counting unpaid care work in statistics, acknowledging its place in the economy, compensating women for their contributions, and considering unpaid care work when making policy decisions can lessen the burden on women and girls. 

Invest in widows’ organizations and businesses. Grassroots widows’ organizations and movements are underfunded and under attack around the world. Nearly 70% of widow-owned small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries are financially unserved or underserved. 

Widows are also less likely to be entrepreneurs and encounter more obstacles when trying to start a business. Widows’ organizations are supporting initiatives to reduce inequality and increase opportunities for their communities but can’t continue to do so without funding. 

Investing in widows’ ventures helps pave the way for the next generation as widows will spend 80% of their income on their family’s well-being and education.

Widows are more likely to be employed in the informal labour force and are overrepresented in domestic work in rural areas that lack protection and living wages. Widows must receive equal access to education, training, new skills, new technologies, management positions, benefits, and entrepreneurship. 

Workplaces also need to be free of explicit bias, sexual harassment, and violence, safe, up to health standards and promote equal pay. When widows have more employment and leadership opportunities, this type of inclusivity attracts goodwill, and businesses grow and be more effective.