THEME: There are good arguments for targeting poorer rural women in Botswana.

Some 48% of rural households and 55% of rural inhabitants in Botswana are poor or very poor. Data show that poverty is most acute in the smallest (low-status ethnic group) settlements, and decreasing in the larger rural population settlements (villages and towns). A 1996 IFAD poverty assessment notes that the greatest poverty is among ethnic groups such as the Basarwa, who live mainly in Remote Area Dweller (RAD) settlements and cattle posts, but are also present in villages, especially around the perimeter. RAD households are still highly dependent for their survival on rapidly depleting natural resources of wildlife and veld foods and products..

The Main Arguments for Targeting Women

The study notes that priority targeting of women may be a good entry point, but is more likely to work in the villages than in RAD settlements. In rural Botswana, there are two main arguments for targeting women:

• The high number of female-headed households. It is estimated that there are 50-60% female-headed households (FHHs) in rural Botswana. Available data suggest about 50-65% in villages (of populations of 500 and higher) and 25-40% in RAD settlements (with considerable variation between them). Although statistics argue that FHHs in rural areas are no poorer than male-headed ones, most are probably just as poor.
• Less apathy and alcoholism. The dependency syndrome is a major problem among ethnic minorities such as the Basarwa. The syndrome involves the view that the government should do everything and is associated with a loss of self-reliance and initiative. Alcoholism is quite probably a related symptom. Women in most settlements and villages are somewhat less affected by these problems, although there are certain settlements where women appear almost equally affected. Therefore, development programmes that prioritize targeting women may have a better chance of success than those which try to work with men.

The Village versus RAD Settlement Decision in Targeting to Rural Women

Poverty-oriented development initiatives may be faced with a choice between targeting to women in villages and targeting to the poorest women, who are to be found in the Remote Area Dweller (bushmen) settlements. RADs are usually remote, isolated settlements with poor road access and a highly marginalized population. Quite often the settlements are socially divided, with conflicts arising between various ethnic minorities and between the hunter-gatherer people and invading cattle herd owners or managers (cattle herds are often actually owned by the urban elite). These factors make any development initiative in the settlements extremely difficult.

The social assessment concluded that, overall, targeting to the poor in villages would be more likely to have an impact than targeting to the poor in RAD settlements or cattle posts. This also applies to targeting to women.

• In most villages (though not all), the dependency syndrome and associated alcohol abuse will be less of a constraint than in RAD settlements.
• Women's organizations are likely to be much more prevalent in villages.
• Village populations tend to have higher levels of education, including literacy.
• There is more market orientation and entrepreneurial understanding and ability in the villages.
• Villages have more of a field support structure, in terms of both government and NGO field staff.

Poverty alleviation initiatives in rural Botswana are faced with a tradeoff: if they focus on village women, most of the very poorest rural women will not be reached. But, if they target the poorest women in the RAD settlements, not only will the cost be higher, but there will also be a greater chance that the initiatives will fail. The only solution for the RAD settlements is a long-term and slow-paced strategy that can best be implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In the case of the RAD settlements it could be argued, that neither adult women nor men, but instead male and female youth are the key target population.

Adapted from:

Heli Perrett. 1996. Botswana: Community Development of Wildlife Management Areas Project: Social Assessment. Rome: IFAD, December.
All other references are as noted in this study.

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