A Home Run For Yacine in Senegal

How Legal, Economic, & Civic Empowerment Can Unlock the Potential of Senegalese Women

Over the past several decades, Senegal has made significant strides towards gender equality.  This progress is evident, for example, in the classrooms where gender parity is almost achieved at primary and secondary levels. There is, however, work to do to improve women’s understanding of ownership and management of land. 

SUXALI JIGEEN

This is particularly true in rural areas where people have limited access to information, which makes it difficult to address traditional imbalances between men and women. 

To address this, over the past four years USAID has  an activity called Suxali Jigeen, which means ”Women Empowered” in Wolof. As part of its work, the activity supported over 1,300 women in 15 villages to increase their participation in their community.

YACINE CISS

One of these women is Yacine Ciss. Over time the assistance from USAID allowed her to become an entrepreneur and radio reporter. As a result of this assistance, she also improved her skills as an elected municipal councilor. 

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Besides providing business related training, Suxali Jigeen helped women access loans to buy crops or small animals and start a small farming business. When women generate an income, their role and voice increase dramatically in their family and community.

“I received two small grants that helped with my sheep business. The revenues it generated allowed me to pay for the repairs of a very damaged wall in our house and for hospital bills for my oldest daughter, who has a heart problem.”  

LEGAL EMPOWERMENT

Senegalese law states that women and men have equal access to -and control over- land and natural resources. However, most women are unaware of their rights. In addition, those who do own land face the threat of their land being forcibly and illegally seized. 

This is why Suxali Jigeen provided legal information on this matter. This proved critical for Yacine when local authorities tried to take her land but were unsuccessful in their attempt.

“Thanks to the training I received I understand my role in front of decision making bodies in my community and was able to fight for my rights as a landowner. I negotiated a relocation to an area nearby and obtained a bigger lot.” 

CIVIC EMPOWERMENT

Over time Suxali Jigeen equipped and trained 60 women in 60 villages to improve their skills as community reporters. Every week, these reporters prepare news segments and documentaries about issues that affect their community. They record all their material on mobile phones then use WhatsApp to send their reporting to a radio station. 

Similarly to economic empowerment, this has given women a voice. It also increased their political, social, and leadership roles. “I interview local authorities and women leaders in the area on their roles and responsibilities in the municipality.”

GINDIKU RADIO FM

USAID supports a local radio station called Radio Gindiku FM where women reporters, along with various other community members, air their reporting or conduct live interviews. 

Radio Gindiku FM is run entirely by women. The station broadcasts programs on topics of interest to women, such as political leadership, education, and land management.

POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT

Yacine's legal, economic, and civic empowerment grew alongside the development of her leadership skills and a steady deepening of her community engagement. Yacine was recently re-elected as a municipal council representative in Notto Diobass. 

TOWARDS A BRIGHT FUTURE

“My dream is to become mayor. We need more women engaged in local government bodies in our area.”  

Achieving gender equality and promoting women’s empowerment has been a shared development goal in the partnership between USAID and Senegal. Activities like USAID Suxali Jiggen have positively affected the quality of life of women and their families in rural Senegal. 

Project Description

The Suxali Jigeen project, administered by the United States Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), supported the empowerment and leadership of women in the Thies and Diourbel regions for four years. The project has improved women’s understanding of how the local government works and how they can participate in their communities as spokespersons and political actors. It has also strengthened the operations of Radio Gindiku FM, whose programming gives voice to women’s issues in the region and supported income-generating activities for women-owned businesses.