Angolan parliamentarian Djamila de Almeida has called for the creation of a Regional Parliamentary Mechanism to monitor women's economic empowerment in the Great Lakes region. This proposal was made during the third day of the Conference of Women Parliamentarians of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Parliamentary Forum. The mechanism aims to transform political commitments into concrete actions, providing access to financing, markets, and safe cross-border trade.
According to Djamila de Almeida, the proposed mechanism will focus on legislation, budgeting, and oversight as key pillars of parliamentary action to promote women's economic autonomy. She emphasized the need to improve legal instruments to facilitate women's access to credit, property, land, vocational training, and markets. Additionally, she stressed the importance of allocating public resources to programs that encourage female entrepreneurship.
Djamila de Almeida highlighted Angola's experience as a reference point, citing the Credit Guarantee Fund and financing lines for projects led by women as instruments to support female entrepreneurship. However, she cautioned that approving laws and allocating funds do not guarantee concrete results, and therefore, parliamentary oversight is essential to monitor policy implementation and evaluate its impact on beneficiaries.
To ensure effective implementation, Djamila de Almeida proposed strengthening parliamentary oversight using indicators such as the number of women financed, businesses created, and jobs generated. She also suggested conducting hearings and direct consultations with communities. Furthermore, she recommended establishing a regional plan of action with clear goals, deadlines, and responsibilities within 12 months.
The proposed regional plan of action will involve parliaments, governments, financial institutions, and women's organizations in the Great Lakes region. The plan will include quarterly and annual reports to track progress, identify challenges, and evaluate the results of women's economic empowerment policies. This initiative aims to promote women's economic empowerment and resilience in the region.
Djamila de Almeida's proposal has significant implications for the Great Lakes region, where women's economic empowerment is crucial for sustainable development. By creating a regional parliamentary mechanism, the region can work towards creating a more enabling environment for women to access financing, markets, and other resources. This, in turn, can contribute to reducing poverty and promoting economic growth.
The implementation of Djamila de Almeida's proposal will require close collaboration among stakeholders, including parliaments, governments, and civil society organizations. If successful, the regional mechanism can serve as a model for other regions, promoting women's economic empowerment and contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals.
Key points
- Djamila de Almeida proposes creating a Regional Parliamentary Mechanism to monitor women's economic empowerment in the Great Lakes region.
- The proposed mechanism will focus on legislation, budgeting, and oversight to promote women's economic autonomy.
- A regional plan of action with clear goals, deadlines, and responsibilities will be established within 12 months to track progress and evaluate results.
