Advancing women in Non-Governmental Organizations

 Non-Governmental Organizations or NGOs across the world have a very low percentage of women leaders, in spite of having mainly female employees and volunteers. A report by The Guardian reveals that only 12% of the largest NGOs in the US and 27% in the UK; have a woman heading their organizations.

All international development organizations are in favour of elevating women’s status in the society and eradicating poverty that victimizes more women than men. Yet, these very organizations, that are trying to help the cause, are failing to provide opportunities to women to help them rise in positions.

British Overseas Aid Group, which is a group of UK's top influential development NGOs, has only one woman leader amongst all the NGOs. Situation isn’t much different elsewhere.  The Guardian reports that only 15%-20% women in Kenya and South Africa are placed at high positions. Another developing economy, Cambodia faces a different set of problems. Due to conservative norms, most women aren’t allowed to get involved in outdoor activities or jobs.

The former executive director of Oxfam Great Britain, Barbara Stocking, told The Guardian, "We're being very complacent about this and we have to face up to it... how can we help women through the system... you can't do anything until you recognize that it's not going to work the way we're doing it."

So what is the right way to initiate more women into these NGOs? Women in this profession face almost the same challenges as women in the sectors. Warigia Razia, a Kenyan development consultant, believes NGOs should be considerate of women with infants and provide required services to help women advance in the sector.

NGOs in Bhuj>

On the other hand, Joanna Kerr, executive director of ActionAid International and former executive director of the Association for Women's Rights in Development, feels that most people aren’t receptive to a different style of leading, “What I have tried to build as co-creative leadership has been billed as weak or indecisive. And when I am decisive it is perceived as too aggressive or challenging.”

Women in parts of Africa are also discriminated against, because of their race by international organizations’ employees. Another factor that adds on this problem, especially in developing countries, is the lack education provided to women.

To bring a change in these current conditions, some major steps will have to be taken. “If you need to train up women then let's train them up. Let's stop saying it's not possible or that women are second rate because they have an enormous amount of skills; life skills, survival skills, in these developing countries,” says Barbara Stocking.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: The Guardian

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/aug/01/women-in-leadership-international-ngos