In this interview Esther Nekambi, Director of the Uganda Flower Exporter Association (UFEA), sheds some light on the challenges women workers face and how an organization like UFEA can help.
Examining the gendered needs and rights of employees working in the flower farms has never been timelier. While women account for 70 to 80 percent of workers in the highly lucrative horticulture sector, they are often in seasonal employment or taking on board as casual laborers. Since they are encumbered by the reproductive and care roles, flower farms seems to prefer men to women when it comes to permanent employment.
The Alliance for Zambia Informal Economy Associations (AZIEA) Secretary General Lameck Kashiwa says the informal markets are already feeling the devastating impact of COVID-19.
Ten leading flower farms have been using the CSR Africa Portal in the past two years to help them boost their social performance.
While an audit inspection in a flower farm is supposed to reflect both strength and weaknesses of the systems of the flower farms, the reality is different. Interviews with workers in these flower farms reveal that the management of the farms have made audits pointless. They said the audits have been turned in routine exercises, whose impact is not being felt by the workers.
In a joint appeal, fifty development, human rights and emergency aid organizations argue that support for developing countries and civil society organizations in those countries should be part of the Dutch government’s emergency measures to combat COVID-19. The organizations are concerned about the lack of international coordination and solidarity in combating the corona crisis. Although […]
We must not forget clean procurement in response to COVID-19 March 30, 2020 Opinion by Sally Akinyi, March 27, 2020 As the world copes with the COVID-19 health crisis, governments’ initial responses have been rapid in rushing to guarantee citizens of their health, well-being and safety. We have witnessed quick measures through lockdowns to stem […]
More than four years ago, Hivos embarked on a major campaign to address and improve the working conditions of women working on the horticultural value chain: the Women@Work Campaign. In 2020, faces of happiness and stories of success in improving their welfare can be told.
“After surviving the horrors of war for nine years, all that time fighting for peace, human rights, and democracy for the Syrian people, it is this pandemic that frightens me the most.” These are the words of Rajaa Altalli, a Syrian women’s rights activist, and co-founder and co-director of Hivos partner the Center for Civil […]
Up to 25 million jobs could be lost worldwide at the heart of the COVID-19 crisis is a latest profound statistic from the ILO in these unprecedented times.
Around the world, people are being advised or obliged to work from home. Most of them rely on digital tools to do this and to communicate with others. But how to stay safe? The Digital First Aid Kit helps activists, human rights defenders and journalists handle common digital security attacks. The First Aid Kit is […]
Data art is a tremendous tool for freedom of expression. Pollicy, knows its power all too well particularly in shaping how governments interact with citizens. Delivery of essential social services in sub- Saharan Africa has faced significant challenges particularly when it comes to provision of clean water, sanitation, and health care amongst others. Citizens in […]