Women and children are hit the highest as they make up 54% of the total 72,886 refugee children out of school, 85% are girls (Humanitarian Needs Overview Cameroon, 2021). Women are also heavily affected by the loss of livelihoods caused by violence. Low living standards and lack of access to essential services has led to a rise in morbidity. Heightened with the fact that they lack access to income-generating activities, women depend solely on emergencies which often are not sustainable nor constant. Investing in women’s economic empowerment sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth.
CAWI’s humanitarian programmes are geared towards achieving this. It will be able to send to school girls at school age and provide them with school materials. While those at non schooling ages will pick within the trades introduced to gain skills through vocational training and support given to groups to start businesses of their own which are sustainable. Once educated and empowered marginalized girls and women can bring income for themselves which allows women to rise out of impoverished living situation to a better life.
When women work, economies grow and increasing their educational empowerment contributes to more inclusive economic growth. Empowering refugee women to end extreme poverty will also enable developing nations to progress closer to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
