Since COVID-19, CARE has undertaken concerted efforts to listen to women and girls and learn the impacts of the pandemic on women's lives, their greatest needs, and how they are responding. A segment of women and girls CARE engaged in these conversations have been members of VSLAs. This case study features the story of 65-year-old VSLA treasurer Fati Musa from North-Eastern Nigeria. Fati was interviewed in April 2021 as part of CARE's Women Respond initiative.
A CARE multi-country study analyzing government-supported community health worker programs in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Nigeria and the United States using the CHW Assessment and Improvement Matrix (AIM) found that insufficient funding of these programs affects remuneration and other incentives for community health workers but also leads to inadequate resources for training, data collection, and equipment and supplies. This negatively impacts community health workers’ motivation, retention, and recognition and, in general, poses major barriers to achieving Universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. Governments must step their support and investment in community health workers, properly integrate them into health systems and ensure a broader enabling environment for them to unleash their full potential. Read More
Increases in global conflict, the economic impact of COVID-19, market inflation, and the growing effects of climate change are compounding global crises. Those crises disproportionately affect the most vulnerable communities, especially women and girls. Addressing the unprecedented and overwhelming humanitarian crisis requires response and recovery efforts to listen to and address the needs of those affected the most, especially women and girls. Read More
Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WFSS) is a vital approach during emergencies, as they offer safety, well-being and empowerment to crisis-affected women and girls. Learn more in this two-page overview of Women and Girls’ Safe Spaces (WGSS) approach. Read More