Southern African Network for Women Economists

It is generally acknowledged that macroeconomics have a negative impact on women in Southern Africa. This is because women have limited education, little control over decision-making processes as well as limited access to resources. Thus it has become difficult to improve the economic status of women in the context of micro/macroeconomic policies at local and regional level.

The existence of gender blind or gender-neutral policies is caused by a lack of interaction among women economists and gender specialists. Thus networking and close collaboration among women economists would enable them to make a significant contribution to the promotion of gender sensitive policies and the protection of women’s economic rights.

Thus there was great need to form a network of women economists in Southern Africa. This network would help forge strategic alliances and coalitions among women economists and like-minded organizations, groups and individuals in Southern Africa.

Membership of SANWE is drawn from all SADC countries. The network targets women economists working in:

• The private and business sector
• Public sector and government
• Civil society organizations- local, regional, international
• Academic and research institutions

SANWE is hosted by the E-Knowledge for Women in Southern Africa (EKOWISA). EKOWISA was mandated to implement activities of the network. UNIFEM Southern Africa Regional Office offered financial support although other donors are welcome to lend support, financial and material to the network.

The project encourages the engagement of women economist academia, the media, women entrepreneurs to work together by researching, publishing and applying policies that have been analyzed through a gender lens.

Objectives and Activities
SANWE project objectives are to:

• Carry out and promote gender sensitive research on micro/macroeconomics
• Train and re-tool women economists (capacity building) on gender issues
• Lobby for and advocate gender sensitive economic policies at national, regional and global level
• Promote networking and collaboration with women’s organizations and other organizations focusing on gender and economists

Outputs
SANWE has produced the following outputs:
• 3 workshops- 2 in Zimbabwe and 1 in Zambia
• 2 workshop reports
• 11 presentations
• 8 journal articles

Outcomes
The following are the outcomes of the SANWE project:
• More gender aware women economists
• Journal has increased gender responsive research on economic issues by women economists and other social development experts and gender activists
• Insightful gender analysis of macroeconomic analysis carried out
• Increased gender and economic literacy of women legislators

Read more on SANWE:
• Reports
• Articles

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