Thursday, 06 June 2024
Recognising and paying for the invisible, unpaid work women do in rural communities is empowering and has a positive ripple effect on the local community and economy according to new research. Experts are now calling on governments to adopt these practices more widely.
Researchers from the University of Nottingham have worked with Ético The Ethical Trading Company Ltd, Cooperatives, and Social Business Network in Nicaragua to analyse the impact of this novel supply chain model which recognises women in rural communities for their previously unpaid work.
The research team evaluated the model, taking testimonials from the women, men and employers involved in the cooperatives and from this developed a strategy with key recommendations for rolling this practice out more widely. The policy brief, an infographic and a video were launched on 5 June.
The three key recommendations made in the policy are:
- Include the cost of the unpaid and unrecognised work of rural women in imported or locally produced agricultural goods.
- Champion those cooperatives that remunerate and recognise women’s unpaid work and champion small cooperatives fully owned by women.
- Develop strategies to introduce small cooperatives that empower rural women to business networks and markets.
The work that rural women do to support production is invisible and unrecognised. About 67% of Latin American women earn less than the national minimum wage and suffer violence as a result of traditional attitudes to female subservience and have little protection from domestic abuse.
An innovative cooperative food supply chain to recognise the unpaid work of rural women involved in sesame oil production in Nicaragua was co-produced by The Ethical Trading Company Ltd (Ético), the Juan Francisco Paz Silva Cooperative (JFPS), Prof. Catherine Hoskins (Professor Emerita, Coventry University, UK), and the charity Social Business Network (SBN). Fair Trade companies are supporting this initiative.
The cooperative supply chain strategy used by Ético and its partners to recognise and remunerate the unpaid work of rural women has created a positive effect on local communities.
The policy briefing presents a strategy to recognise and remunerate the unpaid work of rural women, highlighting its impact onempowering women, furthering gender equality and stimulating local development. It sets out specific policy changes needed across the different levels of the food supply chains for these impacts to be realised. Insights from Nicaraguan rural women and men have informed this briefing. One woman commented: “‘Before, I used to live like I was
submerged, looking after my six children, I did not have the right to go out, to talk to other women, to meet other people. Now I am able to socialize, and my husband understands the importance of allowing me to grow and learn new skills’
It was clear from evaluating the work of the social cooperatives that the women being paid for their work felt empowered and this also led to strengthening of local economies and the social fabric. Recognising the work that women do will help to create healthier food systems and will strengthen global and local food supplies.
Nicholas Hoskyns from Ético said: “This pioneering initiative from Nicaragua, shows that all actors in product supply chains can collaborate to empower women. The cooperatives are ensuring this initiative delivers transformational, empowerment enterprises with the women in their communities. We are so inspired by the impact it has created so far and see this as just the start, its potential is huge.”
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Zinnia Gonazalez-Carranza on zinnia.gonzalez-carranza@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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