An Assessment of the Participationof Female Household Heads in Community Development Activities in Northern Division, Soroti Municipality, Soroti District

Abstract

This study focused on the participation of female household heads in community activities in northern division in Soroti municipality in Soroti district. The Objectives of the study were to establish the the female household heads community development activities, challenges hindering female household heads active participation in community development activities and identifying practical strategies of improving female household heads active participation in community development activities in northern division in Soroti municipality in Soroti district.

The researcher used a qualitative approach and a case-study research design. The population of the research constituted the female household heads, CDO, the local leaders and NGOs workers. In this study 10 women were interviews. The researcher used interview guides and focus group discussions to collect data about the three specific objectives and their corresponding questions.

The research findings revealed that the female household heads were involved in different responsibilities such mobilizers, coordinators, treasurers as in different community development activities in Soroti municipality such as Formation of Village savings, agricultural production and Loans associations, enterprises/petty businesses. On the second objective, the study found out that women in Soroti Municipality fully participate in community development programmes. The major challenges hindering female household heads active participation in community development programmes include; limited access to education and health care, limited opportunities for employment and income-generating activities, gender-based stereotypes and discrimination, women are often overburdened and don’t have time to fully engage in decision making processes. The practical strategies of improving female household heads active participation in community development activities include; implementation of women rights, policies, women’s economic rights and empowerment policies; also creation of job opportunities and integration of women into global economies.

The researcher recommends that the Government, the women, local leaders, and the Civil Society organisations should work jointly to support and empower female heading households and their children through establishment and implementation of policies on active participation by female from community development with the hope that this will bring a steady change in women’s affairs in the area.

Login to download()