by FBOs and , most of all , their capacities to influence decisions within those groups . Strategies to improve women ’ s inclusion in FBOs include making membership requirements more flexible through sensitization of FBOs on gender-responsive services and encouraging male farmers to register their wives and bring them to meetings and trainings . An additional way for FBOs to be more inclusive is to accept as members women who concentrate in the marketing of commodities or in production as family laborers , helping their husbands ( harvesting , handling , transport ). Finally , affirmative action , such as setting quotas to improve women ’ s positioning in executive functions or creating women-only organizations , can also be encouraged when gender gaps are too great . 2SCALE facilitates the integration of women in FBOs , as shown in the following examples .
Creation of Women ’ s Cooperatives and Capacity Building in Planning – Dairy Partnership , Nigeria
The dairy partnership between FrieslandCampina and 2SCALE fostered the creation of women cooperatives to address the numerous challenges faced by Fulani women largely due to cultural and social norms . Fulani women tend to be relegated to the background , despite their involvement in dairy activities , and do not participate significantly in various production decisions . They face greater constraints than men in the use of natural resources , access to extension services , marketing opportunities , and access to finance , mainly because of their restricted mobility .
After identifying these challenges during focus group discussions led by 2SCALE , women were trained and encouraged to form cooperatives . The program organized a training in cooperative formation in each major community .
Cooperative building with Fulani women – Dairy Partnership , led by FrieslandCampina , Nigeria .
In total , 57 female milk producers from different camps elected a president , engaged in the cooperatives ’ registration process , and were encouraged to contribute financially . They developed actions plans at the community level to guide them in their first joint activities .
As a result , their decision-making power , as well as their visibility and recognition as key actors , was strengthened . Consequently , their access to extension services and assistance from FrieslandCampina improved . Immediately after the cooperative formation was initiated , the women also engaged in saving schemes , which are fundamental to the cooperatives ’ sustainability .
Youths are trained as spray service providers to turn pesticide risk management into business opportunities – Mango / Pineapple Partnership , led by HPW Fresh and Dry , Ghana .
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