The Equality Project: Starting from Home. Reducing gender inequalities in Kenya and Tanzania

Published: 1 March 2022

The University of Glasgow partnered with the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, and Strathmore University in Nairobi to address and reduce domestic gender inequalities in Kenya and Tanzania.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the greatest Gender Inequality Index in the world, with Kenya being ranked 142 out of 189 worldwide countries and Tanzania 154.

The project was driven by the acceptance of the idea that gender equality starts at home. The household is a domain where unequal social norms are, sometimes, initially taught and reinforced. The research team developed a series of community workshops on addressing domestic gender inequalities among low-income families in Kenya and Tanzania. The overall message of the programme was that couples can work together as a team and develop a shared vision for their family, paying particular attention to gendered decisions and messages shared among the members of the family.

Designing household equality

The team, involving Dr Katarzyna Borkowska, Dr Lavinia Hirsu, Dr Amina Kamando and Dr Nancy Niiraini, developed the programme to be attentive to the problems that women and men face due to social and cultural gender stereotyping.

The programme was designed, following extensive consultations with local Non-Government Organisations and academics, to recognise problems related to gender injustice at a household level. It consisted of four workshops promoting equality in relation to: Household Tasks & Leisure Time, Managing Household Finances, Goals for Our Children and Communication Between Partners.

The programme was piloted in informal settlements both in Kenya and Tanzania throughout August and the beginning of September 2020. Each of the workshops focused on individual experiences so that participants could identify individual solutions to household inequalities and learn why addressing these inequalities can have a positive impact on their family.

At the same time, participants were encouraged to create ‘plans of action’ for their respective households. Couples learned about possible ways in which they can more effectively manage their time, manage their finances, motivate children to reach their potential, and communicate as a couple.

One project participant noted, “Couples were encouraged to implement their plans in real-life and reflect on these throughout the programme and beyond. Focusing on individual experiences is important, with research programmes like this we need to engage directly with the local community, ensuring their voices are heard and that they are at the fore of decision making and the design of future projects.”

Collaboration to address global issues locally

The project has been co-produced with the local community to ensure real and measurable impact on participants’ gender attitudes and family lives. Pre- and post-assessment surveys were conducted to measure participants’ perspectives on gender equality in relation to the four key workshop thematic areas. Semi-structured interviews were used to investigate participants’ individual perspectives in depth after the programme was concluded. The outcome of these interviews will be used to determine the success of the programme.

Through the project, collaborations were strengthened with universities and third sector organisations in emerging areas of the world (Kenya and Tanzania). Two partner meetings – one in Nairobi, and one in Dar-es-Salaam – involving partners from Strathmore University, University of Dar-es-salaam, and University of Glasgow significantly strengthened the relationship between the partners. The academic partners from Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam also assisted the University in the establishment of a relationship with local NGOS, Inua Kike (Kenya) and People’s Development Forum (Tanzania).

Reflecting on the project, a team member commented, “It was crucial to involve the local community and our partner universities in tailoring the programme. Otherwise, it could fail to meet the specific needs of those in urban informal settlements in Africa.

Everyone took great care to ensure that all partners were involved at every stage, including completing literature reviews and country profiles, agreeing the major themes for the project, developing the activities for each workshop and designing the appropriate data collection tools. Collaboration was key to the success of this project and the relationships built continue to grow.”

Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the greatest Gender Inequality Index in the world, with Kenya being ranked 142 out of 189 worldwide countries and Tanzania 154.

The project was driven by the acceptance of the idea that gender equality starts at home. The household is a domain where unequal social norms are, sometimes, initially taught and reinforced. The research team developed a series of community workshops on addressing domestic gender inequalities among low-income families in Kenya and Tanzania. The overall message of the programme was that couples can work together as a team and develop a shared vision for their family, paying particular attention to gendered decisions and messages shared among the members of the family.

Designing household equality

The team, involving Dr Katarzyna Borkowska, Dr Lavinia Hirsu, Dr Amina Kamando and Dr Nancy Niiraini, developed the programme to be attentive to the problems that women and men face due to social and cultural gender stereotyping.

The programme was designed, following extensive consultations with local Non-Government Organisations and academics, to recognise problems related to gender injustice at a household level. It consisted of four workshops promoting equality in relation to: Household Tasks & Leisure Time, Managing Household Finances, Goals for Our Children and Communication Between Partners.

The programme was piloted in informal settlements both in Kenya and Tanzania throughout August and the beginning of September 2020. Each of the workshops focused on individual experiences so that participants could identify individual solutions to household inequalities and learn why addressing these inequalities can have a positive impact on their family.

At the same time, participants were encouraged to create ‘plans of action’ for their respective households. Couples learned about possible ways in which they can more effectively manage their time, manage their finances, motivate children to reach their potential, and communicate as a couple.

One project participant noted, “Couples were encouraged to implement their plans in real-life and reflect on these throughout the programme and beyond. Focusing on individual experiences is important, with research programmes like this we need to engage directly with the local community, ensuring their voices are heard and that they are at the fore of decision making and the design of future projects.”

Collaboration to address global issues locally

The project has been co-produced with the local community to ensure real and measurable impact on participants’ gender attitudes and family lives. Pre- and post-assessment surveys were conducted to measure participants’ perspectives on gender equality in relation to the four key workshop thematic areas. Semi-structured interviews were used to investigate participants’ individual perspectives in depth after the programme was concluded. The outcome of these interviews will be used to determine the success of the programme.

Through the project, collaborations were strengthened with universities and third sector organisations in emerging areas of the world (Kenya and Tanzania). Two partner meetings – one in Nairobi, and one in Dar-es-Salaam – involving partners from Strathmore University, University of Dar-es-salaam, and University of Glasgow significantly strengthened the relationship between the partners. The academic partners from Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam also assisted the University in the establishment of a relationship with local NGOS, Inua Kike (Kenya) and People’s Development Forum (Tanzania).

Reflecting on the project, a team member commented, “It was crucial to involve the local community and our partner universities in tailoring the programme. Otherwise, it could fail to meet the specific needs of those in urban informal settlements in Africa.

Everyone took great care to ensure that all partners were involved at every stage, including completing literature reviews and country profiles, agreeing the major themes for the project, developing the activities for each workshop and designing the appropriate data collection tools. Collaboration was key to the success of this project and the relationships built continue to grow.”

Key facts

  • A £70,520 SFC Global Challenges Research Fund grant enabled the design, implementation and evaluation of community workshops which addressed domestic gender inequalities among low-income families in Kenya and Tanzania.
  • The programme was designed, following extensive consultations with local Non-Government Organisations and academics, to recognise problems related to gender injustice at a household level.
  • Workshops focused on individual experiences, enabling the development of individual solutions to household inequalities.
  • Through the project, collaborations were strengthened with universities and third sector organisations in emerging areas of the world (Kenya and Tanzania).

First published: 1 March 2022