Factors affecting the participation of rural women in community development: A case study of naboa sub-county budaka district, eastern uganda.

Abstract

This chapter explored the background ofthe study. the statement ofthe problem. purpose ofthe stud>. the objectives of the study, scope of the study. significance of the study and operational definitions of key tenns. 1.1 Background of the study Rural women world o~er are an integral and ~ita1 force in the development processes that are the key to socio-economic progress. Rural women include farmers. wage workers, petty traders. artisans. industrial home workers. micro-producers and domestic servants. The) form the backbone ofthe agricultural labour force across much ofthe developing world and produce 35°/o45% of Gross Domestic Product and well over 50% of the developing world’s food. Yet over haifa billion rural women are poor and lack access to resources and markets. Johnson, D. (2003). Since the First World Conference on Women in Mexico in 1975. significant advancements have been made in awareness of and attention to gender equality issues. women’s rights and the empowerment of women at global, regional and national levels, with more and more explicit attention being paid to the situation of rural women. Article 14 of the Convention on the Itlimination of 411 Fotms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) calls on States parties to eliminate discrimination against rural women. Khan (1999) provided that The Beijing l)eclaration and Platform for Action in 1995 highlighted the need for policies and strategies to improve the situation of women producers in rural areas. increase their incomes and provide household food security. In 2000, the outcome ofthe twenty-third special session of the General Assembly drew attention to the large number of rural women working in the informal economy with low levels of income, little job and social security, and few or none land or inheritance rights. Marlin. Amanda (2013) construed that the realities of the women in sub Saharan Africa is that they remain a vulnerable marginalized group that is yet to enjoy equality in status and access to services and resources,~s ith their counterparts. Women are found at the *ottom rung of poverty