Empowering women through financial inclusion, training, and leadership

Women Empowerment Collectives

Women are amongst the most vulnerable people in rural communities, like Togo, and face high levels of poverty. They often do not experience the same educational or economic opportunities as men, with nearly half of women aged 15-24 unable to read or write having had to sacrifice their education to support their families.

With little access to family planning advice or contraception, and nearly a quarter of women being married under the age of 19, they are subject to family responsibilities and unpaid work from a young age.

Women are financially excluded, with only one in five women in rural Togo having access to a bank account, without which they are unable to access capital to work their way out of poverty and so the cycle continues.

At Deki we are passionate about gender equality and enabling women to fulfil their potential.

Through our 232 Women’s Empowerment Collectives women come together to learn about their rights, become leaders and build their own businesses.

These regular meetings help them develop skills, build their confidence and decision-making abilities and give these women the opportunity to create a business that will support them and their families to be financially independent.

In 2024 alone, Deki delivered:

192 workshops around the prevention of Gender Based violence
49 workshops in the production of liquid soap to provide income while also improving community health
Ethical micro loan schemes which gave 1,649 women access to microfinance and entrepreneurial skills training which helped improve their small businesses and gave them a platform for change.

With their own sources of income, women are empowered to shape their own futures and work their way out of poverty.