Session 2: Services to facilitate women's economic participation: some references

Expert Workshop
"Women: Source of Wealth and Job Opportunities"

11-12 April 2005, Tangier (Morocco)

In the countries of North Africa, women are now working in increasing numbers, in both the formal and informal sectors, and in both urban and rural areas. The economic participation of women, including the mothers of young children, is steadily progressing year by year despite the unemployment rate.

The specific characteristic of women's work is the fact that they are required to combine family responsibilities with work. In a context marked by rigid social roles and poor support structures, this is becoming one of the major factors determining the position of women within the economy. Economic studies have shown that most of the income gap separating women and men is due to the difference in family responsibilities, especially those relating to the care of children and other dependents. In rural areas, the burden of family-related tasks can also be linked to a lack of basic services such as water, sanitation and energy.

The public and the private sector have not yet responded adequately to women's needs in such services. Moreover, in this era characterized by reductions in budget deficits, the shifting of social responsibilities onto the household as a whole, and hence onto women, as well as of reduced government intervention and deregulation, it is becoming increasingly difficult to look to the public services for a solution to this problem.

Another special characteristic of women is the fact that by working they actually develop new specific needs, which the market often fails to meet. There include, for instance, needs in terms of housing, health, employment services, advisory services, clothing, cleaning services and personal care. This solvent demand often fails to find a corresponding supply.

In light of these imbalances between supply and demand, particularly in terms of personnel services, some businesswomen have decided to invest in profitable activities linked to personal services, mainly at the local level, providing services such as nurseries, catering, commerce, health, recreation, cultural and sporting activities targeting women and their families. These businesswomen are helping women to fulfill their various family and professional responsibilities harmoniously while at the same time maintaining their economic role.

Efforts are also being made to establish links between the provision of basic services needed by women in rural and peri-urban areas and the promotion of micro- and small businesses and of micro-credits.

Question for the session: How can we create a virtuous circle linking up the economic participation of women and the development of social service businesses, in order to achieve an environment which will help women achieve better economic integration? To find an answer, the experts will need to:

1. Emphasize the opportunities and the major stumbling-blocks

2. Suggest approaches and strategies which have already proved their effectiveness in the countries of the sub region

3. Propose measures which could be adopted by Member states, chambers of commerce and organizations that promote women entrepreneurship

4. Taking account of the mandate of the ECA, suggest activities that could be implemented by the ECA's North Africa Office along with its partners.