The Role of Eu Funds And Other Partners for Development in Improving Woman Participation in the Development of Rural Sector
Jola Himci KEPI
| University of Tirana, Faculty of Economy, Marketing Department, Coordinator at Council of Ministers, Albania. E-mail: jola.himci@gmail.com ABSTRACT The Participation of Women in the economy and their empowerment is crutial to strengthen their rights and it enables women to endavour influence into the society. As elsewere in the World, Women are key agents for economic development, in Albania there are still constraints of propotion of equality between woman and man. Their equality constitutes a fundamental right for all, and it is of essential value for Albania’s democracy and integration to the big family of European Union. In order to achieve equality between men and woman, firstly it should be legally recognized and secondly, recognition should be applied fairly in all aspects of life; economic, political, social and cultural. Despite many efforts by the Government of Albania on planning strategically and delivering policies for achieving gender equality in the economy participation, as well as its commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) Agenda 2030, equality for woman is not yet a reality. In practice, woman do not enjoy the same rights as man do. Some inequalities are a result of social constructs based on numerous gender stereotypes inherited by families in the organization of the society, in political processes, in public life and administrative procedures. Empowering Women is essential to the Albania’s economy to the well-being of individuals, families and rural communities; it increases overall economic productivity, given their presence in the agricultural workforce worldwide. This sector creates the majority of jobs in rural areas and is the main source of income for the rural households. In rural areas around 55% of the jobs are created in agriculture, compared to 22% in urban areas. Albanian rural areas are highly dependent on agriculture sector. The Agriculture Sector employs around 54% of active women in Albania and more than 85% of these women support their family workers, classified as unpaid labour. In terms of skills, knowledge and capacities, the rural women in Albania do not represent a homogenous group and they have different needs which requires pro-active approach by policy making authorities while designing programmes and policies for women empowerment in rural areas. JEL Classification: G01; G21; C23. Keywords: Promoting Woman Empowering; Rural Sector; EU Funds. Full Text (.pdf) |