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Original Articles

Supporting the collective power of Bolivian women to attain citizenship rights: the Raising Her Voice project

Pages 383-393 | Published online: 25 Nov 2011
 

Abstract

‘Raising Her Voice’ (RHV) is a global programme from Oxfam GB to promote poor women's rights and capacity to participate effectively in governance at every level: raising women voices, increasing their influence, and making decision-making institutions more accountable to women. The present article is based on the findings of a case study of the Bolivian RHV project, prepared for the mid-term evaluation by Soledad Muñiz and Hannah Beardon. The case study was developed using participatory methods to encourage a wide range of perspectives and deep, collective reflection on the challenges and achievements, to date, of the Cochabamba Platform of Women for Citizenship, and the contribution of RHV to these achievements. The present article describes both the key findings of the case study, and the methods used to capture such a complex change process so deeply embedded into external historical and political processes.

Notes

1. Multiple strategies and approaches in different countries can be used as effective ways of working towards the single goal that women's voices are heard. This article focuses on RHV in Bolivia, but in each country the project has developed different activities and programmes based on local expertise, experience and partnerships, to fit the specific needs and nature of the context. In Armenia and Albania, for example, RHV partners worked to create spaces and skills for local women leaders to participate in political decision-making. In other countries, for example Nepal and Indonesia, the project built on grassroots processes of women's empowerment linking them to local and national policy advocacy and public sensitisation work. In eight African countries RHV focused on advocacy for the ratification and implementation of the African Union's Protocol on Women's Rights, as part of the coalition for African women's rights, SOAWR. For more information, please see the following sources: RHV (http://raisinghervoice.ning.com); Oxfam in Bolivia (www.oxfam.org/es/bolivia); IFFI (www.iffi.org.bo/)

2. These countries include: Africa – Gambia, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda; Asia – Nepal, Indonesia (Papua and Aceh), and Pakistan; Latin America – Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, and Chile; Eastern Europe – Albania and Armenia.

3. Critical stories of change’ is a methodology developed for use by development INGOs in exploring their impact and added value as partners in wider, complex processes of social change. More information is available at: http://www.povertyandconservation.info/docs/20080215-AWF-BL-FFI_Cambridge_Workshop_07_Carrol_ActionAid.pdf, and: http://actionaidusa.org/news/publications/stories_of_change/

4. Available in Spanish upon request: [email protected]

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