Literacy Programmes with a Focus on Women to Reduce Gender Disparities: Case Studies from UNESCO Effective Literacy and Numeracy Practices Database (LitBase). http://www.unesco.org/uil/litbase/
Author: Kairies, Jan, Ed.
Date: 2013-00-00
Type: Collected Works - General
Subjects: Literacy Education,Females,Womens Education,Literacy,Developing Nations,Illiteracy,Economic Development,Community Development,Gender Differences,Empowerment,Program Implementation,International Organizations,Poverty,Case Studies,Best Practices,Basic Skills,Poetry,Child Health,Foreign Countries,Pregnancy,Bilingualism,Adult Literacy,Mothers,Disadvantaged,Justice,Early Childhood Education,Sexuality,Employees,Program Descriptions

Literacy is the foundation of lifelong learning and a crucial element in the universally recognised right to education. However, illiteracy continues to exist as a global challenge, and many individuals still lack the basic literacy skills that are needed to engage in further learning opportunities and for the economic and social development of their communities. In order to redress this persistent gender disparity, the need to empower women through the acquisition of literacy skills is gaining increasing recognition. A number of countries are already implementing effective literacy programmes that directly target women, including various E-9 countries (The E-9 is a forum of nine countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan), LIFE (UNESCO launched the Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE, 2006-2015) as a collaborative effort to accelerate literacy action in thirty-six of the world's most challenged countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen) countries and countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). This publication offers a selection of women's literacy programmes that have been effectively implemented around the world. Each case study presents an example of a best practice in the field of literacy and basic skills, specifically demonstrating the importance of increasing literacy levels among women. The collection is meant to serve as a resource to inspire the implementation and continuation of literacy programmes for women, though this is only a small sample of many successful initiatives. The following case studies are included in this publication: Africa: (1) Ethiopia: Integrated Women's Empowerment Programme (IWEP); (2) Liberia: Economic Empowerment for Adolescent Girls (EPAG); (3) Mozambique: Promoting Women's Literacy in Angola and Mozambique; (4) Nigeria: Mother and Child Education Programme (MCEP); and (5) Senegal: The Tostan Community Empowerment Program. Arab States: (6) Morocco: Means of Socio-economic Empowerment and Integration for Women; (7) Palestine: The Early Childhood, Family and Community Education Programme; and (8) Yemen: Literacy Through Poetry (LTPP). Asia and the Pacific: (9) Cambodia: Community Self-prevention Against Trafficking of Women and Children (CSPATWC); (10) India: Khabar Lahariya (News Waves); (11) India: Sahajani Shiksha Kendra: Literacy and Education for Women's Empowerment; (12) India: Saakshar Bharat Mission; (13) Indonesia: Gender Justice Education for Marginalised Women; (14) Pakistan: Adult Female Functional Literacy Programme (AFFLP); (15) Pakistan: Mobile-Based Post Literacy Programme; (16) Philippines: Supporting Maternal and Child Health Improvement and Building Literate Environment (SMILE) Mindanao Project; and (17) Republic of Korea: Mothers' School. Latin America: (18) Bolivia: Bilingual Literacy and Reproductive Health; and (19) Mexico: Bilingual Literacy for Life. Europe: (20) Turkey: Family Literacy Programmes (FLPs); and (21) Turkey: Functional Adult Literacy and Women's Support Program. [Individual case studies contain references. This publication was edited with the help of Laura Fox and Justin P. Jimenez.]