Inclusive market systems development is increasingly recognised as a powerful approach to empower rural women across various regions in Zambia. Such market systems have the potential to significantly improve women’s lives, yielding widespread development benefits for both individuals and their communities.
When market systems are genuinely inclusive, their structures enable and facilitate equal access to resources for women. They empower women with the ability and freedom to make strategic marketing decisions based on their own needs and aspirations, allowing them to compete fairly and benefit equally.
Inclusive market systems specifically engage and support groups typically excluded or exploited by traditional market arrangements. Women’s empowerment is realised when women and girls gain the ability to act freely, exercise their rights, and achieve their full potential. Although empowerment often starts within individuals, cultural norms, social structures, and institutional frameworks either promote or hinder empowerment opportunities for rural women. This process is gradual and involves changes across multiple aspects of a woman’s life, particularly in rural settings.
Members of the Rural Women’s Assembly (RWA) in Shibuyunji district recently completed a three-day training programme focused on women’s economic empowerment through inclusive market access in fisheries. Conducted in three phases, the training involved 50 women and covered:
- Enhancing women’s and youth involvement in fish trading
- Building resilience to climate change and approaching farming as a profitable business
- Business management, including village banking and savings
Mulife Lungobe, an RWA member who participated in the training, highlighted its benefits. She noted that the training equipped women with skills in climate-smart agriculture, emphasizing efficient maize cultivation techniques:
“We learned that it’s more beneficial to grow maize on smaller plots where we can focus better on quality and yield. We were also taught complementary activities like irrigation potholes and bee farming, and we were encouraged to learn from each other through farmer exchange visits. Additionally, we gained knowledge about different soya bean varieties—early maturity (Kafue), medium (Safari), and late (Dina)—and protective crop spraying techniques with products like Grec-force, Snow, and Amino Boosts,” said Mulife.
Another participant, Loveness Chiluma, found the second day particularly valuable, covering budgeting, savings, investment, debt control, and managing farming as a business:
“Day two was particularly engaging. I learned how to budget effectively, save money, and strategically invest in farming. Understanding expenditures, profits, and accurate record-keeping—tracking money coming in and going out—were crucial lessons,” explained Loveness.
Sinever Shimenda echoed this appreciation, emphasizing insights from the financial management and village banking sessions:
“My key takeaway was learning how to grow my business through effective advertising and disciplined spending. Maintaining a positive mindset even during slow business periods or setbacks, identifying weaknesses, and continuously improving strengths are crucial for business growth,” Sinever noted.
Members of RWA in Shibuyunji district proudly showcased their achievements and dedication.
Agricultural expert Dr. Oliver Bulaya praised the Zambia Chapter of the Rural Women’s Assembly for their leadership in tackling climate change and promoting organic manure for crop enhancement. Dr. Bulaya emphasized the severe impacts of climate change on rural women farmers, urging the government and citizens to support RWA’s efforts in environmental restoration through regenerative agriculture and maintaining healthy soils.
“In today’s competitive agricultural market, knowledge of business strategies, financial management, market analysis, and climate-smart agricultural practices is essential, especially in rural communities,” concluded Dr. Bulaya.
