Civil Society Organisations and Women Empowerment; A Case Study of Wawa in Bosaso District, Somalia

ABSTRACT 

This study examined the role of WAWA in empowering women in Bosaso District, Somalia. It was guided by three research objectives that is; identifying the various activities undertaken by WAWA in empowering women, examining how WAWA empowers women and how WAWA’s empowerment programmes have improved socio-economic status of women in Bosaso District, Somalia. The study used a case study design in analyzing the position of civil society organizations in empowering women in Bosaso, Somalia. Using WAWA as an example the study employed questionnaires and an interview guide as the main data collection instruments and a sample of 103 respondents. Findings showed that 67 (65.05%) of the women in Bosaso were aware of the roles played by WAWA in women empowerment in Bosaso District. The findings showed that nineteen percent of the women noted that WAWA promotes political participation among women. This is mainly through engaging them into training, equipping them with leadership skills, political education and also encouraging them to formulate women development groups. Twenty one percent of the respondents suggested that WAWA conducts advocacy for women rights through capacity building programs creating awareness of women rights and also working towards ending human rights violations. Fourteen percent of the respondents noted that WAWA is engaged in projects aiming to eradicate poverty especially among women. Another 12% reported that WAWA has been active in fighting domestic violence in the region and has achieved positive results from this. The study concludes that CSOs such as WAWA indeed empower women to voice out the opinions and secure their rights using holistic approaches. Generally the study has also shown that WAWA as CSOs empower women politically and socio economically. The study recommends that funding should be allocated to CSOs to implement women empowerment programs. There is need for CSOs to educate the public and politicians about their roles to avoid political interference.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ................................. i

APPROVAL ....................................... ii

DEDICATION................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............... iv

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS............. v

TABLE OF CONTENTS................... vi

LIST OF TABLES............................. ix

ABSTRACT........................................ x

CHAPTER ONE ...............................1

GENERAL INTRODUCTION...............................1

1.0 Introduction...................................1

1.1Background of the Study ...............1

1.1.1Historical perspective..................1

1.1.2Theoretical perspective ...............3

1.1.3 Conceptual Perspective ..............3

1.1.4 Contextual perspective...............4

1.2Problem statement..........................5

1.3 Purpose of the Study .....................5

1.4 Objectives of the Study.................6

1.4.1General Objective .......................6

1.4.2 Specific Objectives ....................6

1.5 Research Questions.......................6

1.6 Hypothesis.....................................6

1.7. Scope of the Study .......................6

1.7.1Geographical Scope ....................6

1.7.2Content Scope .............................7

1.8 Significance of the Study ..............7

CHAPTER TWO....................8

LITERATURE REVIEW..................................8

2.0 Introduction....................................8

2.1 Theoretical framework..................8

2.2 Conceptual Framework.................9

2.3.2 Women empowerment activities carried out by CSOs in Africa and Somalia ..................................10

2.3.2 CSOs and Women Empowerment .....................................................................................................11

2.3.2.1 Global evidence of CSOs and Women Empowerment...................................................................11

2.3.2.2 WAWA and Women Empowerment in Bosaso..............................................................................13

2.3.3 How CSOs empowerment programmes have improved socio-economic status of women...............16

2.4 Related studies............................17

2.5 Gaps in Literature .......................21

CHAPTER THREE..............23

METHODOLOGY ...............23

3.0 Introduction...........................23

3.1 Research Design....................23

3.2 Study Area ..................................23

3.2.1 Study Population......................23

3.3 Sample Size.................................24

3.3.1 Quantitative Sample.................24

3.3.2 Qualitative sample ...................24

3.6 Research approaches and instruments.................................25

3.7 Validity and reliability of instrument...............................26

3.7.1 Validity ....................................26

3.7.2 Reliability.................................26

3.8 Data Processing and Analysis........................26

3.9 Ethical Considerations................27

3.10 Limitation of the study..............28

CHAPTER FOUR ...............29

DATA PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS................................................29

4.1 Introduction................................29

4.2 Demographic characteristics of the respondents...................................................................................29

4.3 Activities undertaken by WAWA in empowering women in Bosaso Somalia.....................................31

4.4 How WAWA empowers women in Bosaso, Somalia...........................................................................33

4.2.2 Cross tabulation for WAWA and women Empowerment in Bosaso.................................................34

4.5 WAWA’s empowerment programmes and socio-economic status of women in Bosaso District, Somalia ............................................38

CHAPTER FIVE.................42

DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................42

5.0 Introduction................................42

5.1 Discussions of findings..............42

5.1.1 Demographic characteristics of the respondents................................................................................42

5.1.2 Findings on role of WAWA in women empowerment in Bosaso, Somalia ......................................43

5.1.3 Findings on activities undertaken by WAWA in empowering women in .........................................44

5.1.4 Findings on ways how WAWA’s empowerment programmes have improved socio-economic status of women in Bosaso District, Somalia....45

5.2 Contribution to the existing knowledge ..........................................49

5.3 Conclusions................................47

5.3.1 Role of WAWA in women empowerment in Bosaso District, Somalia ............................................47

5.3.2 Women empowerment activities carried out by WAWA in Bosaso District, Somalia......................47

5.3.3 Ways how WAWA’s empowerment programmes have improved socio-economic status of women in Bosaso District, Somalia..............48

5.4 Recommendations......................48

5.4 Areas for further research ...................................................49

REFERENCES....................50

APPENDICES .....................53

Appendix I: Semi Structured Questionnaire for WAWA staff ...............................................................53

Appendix II: Interview Guide for key informants..................................................................................57