Background
CRTD.A has been active in the field of women's economic empowerment for more than a decade now. CRTD.A 's work includes supporting the work of rural women cooperatives and women groups in South Lebanon, the Beqaa, and in Akkar albeit to a lesser extent. The multiple forms of interventions include close field accompaniment, field research (mostly qualitative and action-oriented), technical counselling, training and financial support and assistance in developing and accessing local and external market outlets. This work came together into an integrated entity known as the Women Economic Empowerment Programme (WEEP).
During the preceding two-years, a number of researches were carried out and, upon their completion, were shared during a National Knowledge Sharing Seminar which was held back in July 2012. One of the key outputs of this seminar was the identification of additional research gaps and questions to be addressed during the last year of the project and so as to: a) contribute to building knowledge on women's economic empowerment and b) feed into the project's advocacy strategy.
Scope of work
As such, CRTD.A is now seeking to recruit 3 to 4 researchers to undertake the following case study researches which will be carried out in parallel:
-
How is women's work defined within the context of Lebanon
This study will scope the current existing literature and will seek to identify how mainstream institutions define and measure women's work in the informal sector. The study will seek to identify the categories of women's work that are recognised and measured and, consequently, what is left out in an attempt to identify the policy implication of the invisibility of certain aspects of women's work.
-
Cultural perceptions of women's work
This study will be based on individual interviews as well as focus group discussions in order to understand the ways in which various groups of stakeholders perceive women's work and what is their position vis-à-vis women working in the public sphere. The study will attempt to identify elements that serve as either obstacles or otherwise supporters of women's work. Men will be particularly targeted as informants. The study will seek to provide elements for developing strategies which will contribute to a change in men's mindset so that they are able to perceive women as full-fledged breadwinners.
-
How do women, especially women in rural areas, balance care and productive work
Using interviews and timeline analysis, this study will attempt to look at the different tasks and responsibilities that women in rural areas accomplish and the ways in which they balance their reproductive and care responsibilities with their other productive work.
-
Women's work in public economic institutions or private enterprises
Also using interviews with both employers and employees from selected private sector and public sector institutions, this small study will seek to establish the profile of working women in the formal sector with emphasis on entry into the job market, career advancement, personal development and career aspirations. The aim of the study is to draw a mini-profile of women working in the formal economic sector.
