Empowering Women and Putting an End to the Poor African Economy

According to Quartz Africa, it has been stated that a majority of the world's population will experience its growth in Africa, a continent that has been projected to have more than half of the Earth by 2100.

It has become a well-known fact that one of the biggest challenges that Africa has had to deal with is creating enough quality jobs that can absorb the population growth. Women represent half of the African population, and despite being considered a vital pillar of economic development, they suffer from an unjust social heritage. The relationship between Africa's development and the female labor force participation rate is like a 'U' shape. At low levels of income, where most countries in Africa tend to fall, women are forced to work at the family farm or even in household enterprises.

Consequently, as the economy begins to advance and the income of the family increases, women sink back into at-home production duties such as taking care of the children and the elderly.

The only way we can bridge the gap between gender within the labor market is if women are given better educational opportunities and the chance to obtain a higher level of income.

According to a post by The Brookings Institute, it was estimated that around 75 to 90 percent of non-agriculture-based employment is low-paid and informal work where women are three times more likely to have jobs as the primary breadwinner of their family. This also means that women are often not given proper wages and are more vulnerable to exploitation.

Empowers Africa - The Silver Lining of the Future of Africa

Fortunately, we are witnessing many organizations that are popping up and are working towards making a change in these current unjust circumstances in Africa.

Empowers Africa is a highly acclaimed American public charity under the IRC Section 501(c)(3) that focuses on supporting human empowerment programs in sub-Saharan Africa, including the empowerment of women through small business development and increased educational opportunities. The organization also supports projects that are involved in wildlife protection and land conservation in sub-Saharan Africa. It has partnered up with some of the most effective and influential organizations on the ground in Africa that have been creating sustainable and lasting change.

This organization was founded in 2013 by 20 trustees and an advisory committee that includes Krista Krieger, who was also the former chair of the Africa Foundation (USA) and former trustee of African Wildlife Foundation. Krieger has said, "We are an all-female-run organization that support programs that focus on human empowerment, land conservation, and wildlife protection. We look for organizations run by well-organized, successful organizations and research each project to make sure it is measurable, sustainable, and has the endorsement of the local communities and governments."

Empowers Africa is primarily focused on funding programs that support wildlife protection, funding programs that help communities that live near wildlife areas or World Heritage Sites and funding programs in urban communities where tourism is a strong source of development. Since 2013, Empowers Africa has granted donations to more than 60 organizations in 15 countries.