BuaNews (Tshwane)
Thapelo Sakoana
22 April 2007
There is a need for rural women in the world to flourish out of poverty and participate in the mainstream economy of their countries.
This is the message that Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is taking to a 4th World Congress on Rural Women (WCRW) on Monday, when she addresses more than 2 000 delegates expected to attend the event.
Spokesperson for the Deputy President, Thabang Chiloane told BuaNews on Sunday that the gist of Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka's message would be on finding ways to take women out of the poverty.
"Basically it will be about finding ways of dealing with rural poverty among women and the second economy, so that they can get a share in the growing mainstream economies," he said.
Mr Chiloane said the South African government had a "great deal" of programmes aimed at ensuring the participation of rural women in the economy.
He cited that the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) had the potential of creating jobs and developing skills for rural women.
The programme has been implemented at all spheres of government and has gained positive spin-offs at local level.
Through the EPWP, businesses owned by women in rural areas also get contracts from government for infrastructure development.
This also ensures that they employ their counterparts as part of government's drive to create jobs.
Mr Chiloane said the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa was also instrumental in ensuring that rural women in the country benefited from the growing economy.
The three-day congress is expected to discuss issues such as globalisation, rural economy, health, social issues as well as access to resources and governance.
The WCRW, which was founded in Australia in 1994, is held every four years under different themes.
In 2002, it was held in Spain.
South Africa was chosen to host the 4th congress due to its history of women's activism in the struggle against apartheid and the continued efforts to place rural women at the centre of developing the rural economy.
The WCRW is a cross-sector global initiative aimed at discussing issues pertaining to rural women and finding practical solutions to challenges they face in the 21st century.
Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka and First Lady Zanele Mbeki are among local and international speakers expected to address the congress.
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