Women’s Economic Empowerment: Building Strong Economies and Communities in Canada and Internationally

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The Canadian CED Network's International Committee held its sixth webinar session on Tuesday January 31, 2012, this time looking at Women’s Economic Empowerment: Building Strong Economies and Communities in Canada and Internationally.  
 

BACKGROUND

In nearly every country, women work longer hours than men, but are usually paid less and are more likely to live in poverty. In subsistence economies, women spend much of the day performing tasks to maintain the household, such as carrying water and collecting fuel wood. In Canada, women continue to face systemic wage discrimination and their unequal domestic responsibilities continue to limit their employment options.

Around the world, gender equality is key to economic development.  This session will look at how women’s economic empowerment in Canada and internationally is contributing to stronger economies and communities, and what Canadians can do both here and abroad.

This webinar makes the connection between issues in the North and the South and highlights the diversity and impact of women’s community economic development approaches across Canada and internationally.  Rosalind describes PARO’s work training women to develop enterprises in northern Ontario and the work of the Women’s Economic Council. Myriam shares her extensive international experience and her work with CECI in Africa with the Women Rice Parboilers and Cooperatives for Women Shea Producers in Burkina Faso.
 

SPEAKERS

  • Myriam Lafrance,  Centre for International Studies and Co-operation (CÉCI):  CÉCI is a leading Canadian NGOs in international development. It mobilizes resources and promotes the exchange of know-how. Myriam Lafrance has over 20 years experience in consulting,  project management and small and medium enterprise development in Canada and internationally.  She is currently in charge of the project "Women and Food Security in Niger"  and supports projects in Haiti and Rwanda. She is also coordinating projects in Africa on the economic empowerment of women in rice and shea production in Burkina Faso.
  • Rosalind Lockyer PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise and  Women’s Economic Council (WEC):  Rosalind founded PARO in 1995 and was the founding President of the national WEC in 2002. She is also CCEDNet Policy Council Chair and Board member and she is a recipient of the prestigious Influential Women of Northern Ontario Award.   PARO is a dynamic, multi-faceted, women-centred CED program that supports women from diverse cultures and communities throughout Northern Ontario. WEC was founded to advance women-centred community economic development to improve the lives of women, their families and communities.
  • Moderator:  Ethel Côté, Canadian Centre for Community Renewal
     

WATCH THE WEBINAR

The webinar was recorded. To watch and listen to the session, click here
 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

THANKS!

The Canadian CED Network’s International Committee webinar series is made possible in partnership with Uniterra