Self esteem can be developed in a number of ways. The IFAD co-financed MARENASS project was implemented from 1997 to 2003, in the South-East and South Central parts of Peru, in the Departments of Apurimac, and parts of Ayacucho and Cuzco. The project focused on technical assistance for the recuperation and conservation of natural resources. The strategy was to encourage decentralized, self-managed activities by communities. Development of self-esteem was an essential part of the approach. A 2000 study by IFAD reviewed the gender approach taken by the project, including the self-esteem aspect. Design of the MARENASS project had stressed that women were socially marginalized and discriminated against. But, at the same time, design documents recognize that this situation applied to indigenous men as well as to women. In the project design, the gender strategy was more one of ‘women in development,’ although somewhat ambiguous. However, during implementation, there was a shift towards a gender approach. Development of self-esteem could be viewed as part of it, although the rationale was broader. The project developed self-esteem of indigenous men and women in basically two ways. One way was to transfer funds for the purchase of seeds and for payment for technical assistance, directly to the rural organizations, in order that the peasant farmers could administer it and decide on its use. Therefore the project demonstrated confidence in the community based organizations, whether they consisted of men, women or were mixed. This, in turn, strengthened self-esteem. Unfortunately, the men leaders did not have similar confidence in women’s integrity and money management skills. During the second project year the community associations were to transfer funds to the women’s seed production groups. However, the study notes that they were sometimes unwilling to do so. The second way the project developed self-esteem was through self-esteem workshops. These self-esteem workshops were a condition for participation in the project, and were organized in all communities. Initially, they were principally targeted to women, but project staff felt it was also important to include men. The workshops focused on the value of the indigenous culture and on equality issues. They were organized by a local NGO. In the ones organized in 1998, on a pilot basis in 21 communities, 85% of the participants were women. In order to develop awareness of the triple role of women, the workshops organized group-based role playing, with role reversal between men and women. Later, the participants analyzed the value of each of women’s work domains, the associated workload of each one, and power relations within the family. Thirdly, there were cultural events organized and fairs to sell products. In a sense these also developed self-esteem: they not only highlighted the indigenous culture but also facilitated access to markets, and therefore to a cash income. While projects often focus on developing women’s self-esteem, it makes sense in cases such as the above, to also include men. A multi-faceted approach to esteem development will be likely to have greater impact than a training-based approach alone. Based on: IFAD, Programa de Fortalecimiento en los Aspectos de Genero Para los Proyectos Fida del Cono Sur e Integrantes del PROCASUR: Estudio Diagnostico – El Enfoque de Genero en la Ejecucion de los Proyectos FIDA Integrantes de PROCASUR: Rome: IFAD. |
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