CAUSES OF POVERTY AMONG WOMEN

This is a joint one-year project with a research team at Maseno University, Kenya, funded by the British Academy in partnership with the Association of Commonwealth Universities under its special joint project programme for UK and Commonwealth academic institutions. Dr Ahawo-Omondi gained a PhD at the School.

Poverty among women in Kisumu is related to land reform, migration and lack of welfare as elsewhere in urban and rural Kenya. Despite the Kenyan Government’s commitment to poverty reduction, these factors continue to affect women’s economic status.

Qualitative data on levels and trends in the impoverishment of economically active women in Kisumu will be collected, alongside an examination of gender budget analysis strategies in Kenya and the UK in order to inform policy recommendations. Kisumu has been declared the First UN Millennium City, committing it to eradicating poverty, promoting gender equality and empowerment and reducing child mortality, among a range of anti-poverty goals.