Women in Development (WID)

Women are participants in all environmental health activities and are members of village health committees. They participate in all decision-making processes, including siting of wells. They also serve as members of well maintenance committees. Women are the primary targets of health education activities and are the direct beneficiaries of a safe, adequate, more convenient supply of potable water. (CMP FY1983.)

Women are not primary beneficiaries of agricultural extension because women do not have land tenure. In fact, a larger crop may simply increase the work load of the women in the family, as they are responsible for harvesting and threshing. The land tenure system inhibits the improvement of this situation. This project does assist women in improving their families' nutrition through kitchen gardens made possible by the irrigation systems. (O'Malley, Status Report on WID.)

Volunteers formed the Female Extension Workers (FEW) support group to improve the role of women in the Small Farmers Project. A number of WID conferences have been designed and implemented by Volunteers. A WID committee is networking with local women's organizations to serve as resources for village women. (CMP FY1983.)

Female PCVs are serving in all capacities in the program, from regional project managers to environmental education workers. In FY83, PC/SL will actively recruit married PCVs to work as teams in regional IADPs. (Sierra Leone Rural Water Supply Project Description, 1982.)