1. 56th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
Dolapo Adeniji-Neill, Ph.D.
56th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

2. Promoting Capacity Through Cooperation between Urban and Rural Women

3. Definition of Rural
in, relating to, or characteristic of the countryside rather than the town: remote-rural areas. (

4. Rural
"Rural" - just away from the city, or lacking in amenities, infrastructure, education, information, proper health care…

5. Urban/Urbanite
Urban: in, relating to, or characteristic of a town or city: the urban population (Oxford dictionary).
Urbanite: someone who live in the city or similar urban areas or a demographic class of young, socially conscious urban professionals.

6. Urbanites

7. Panorama of Dar es Salaam city a few minutes before dusk
Panorama of Dar es Salaam city a few minutes before dusk. Photo by Benjamin William Mkapa

8. Research on the Urban Life “Ten Great Expectations”
Expecting to live a meaningful and experience-rich urban life
Expecting to succeed in multiple areas of life (not just career)
Expecting to get substantial fulfilment from work (not just cash)
Expecting to be at the hub of a large friendship network
Expecting the traditional ideal of “true love” in the modern world
Expecting to have to “make time” in order to have and enjoy time
Expecting to avoid the use of debt to have what they need or would want
Expecting to have a progressive government that delivers
Expecting to live in a pleasant “urban village” area of their city
Expecting to live a responsible life as a consumer
(From the British commuter newspaper ”Metro”’s qualitative research, 2001;
(From the British commuter newspaper ”Metro”’s qualitative research, 2001;

9. Enabling Rural Women’s Capacity”
What objective does this assume/capacity to do what?:
Self-sustaining?
Independent-minded?
Active participants in the making of policy and life choices?

10. What do rural African Women and Urban African Women have in Common?
Village of birth or have grand parents and other family members who still live in the village
Other suggestions?

11. What are the differences that are obstacles to their cooperation?
Western education
Distance
Prejudice
Class
Others obstacles?

12. How to overcome obstacles to their cooperation
Use the same 4 rules of networking:
Level 1 – Acquaintance (go and visit-casual)
Level 2 – Associate (Spend time, become working partners)
Level 3 – Advocate (Become friends- share resources, give service, demonstrate integrity and competence)
Level 4 – Ally (ultimate level of relationship-collaborators and teammates)
Adapted from The Urban Professional: Investing in Social Capital By Michael Rice 
Acquaintances - The first level of Urban Networking relationships are Acquaintances. These are individuals you know causally, you may or may not know their names. You acknowledge them at meetings or events but you do not have their or phone numbers. Acquaintances are individuals on the same schedule with you. You see them at the bus stop, the coffee shop, in the elevator, at lunch or at the super market. Acquaintances know nothing about your personal life, job or business.
Associates - The second level is Associates. These are individuals who you may consider to be friends. They work with you, live next to you and spend time with you. They know your full name and a little about you. You might invite them to your birthday party and to have a drink after work. You may confide in them and share personal stories.
Advocates – These are Associates who have moved into a higher role. They know you and promote you to others. They know your name and the initiatives, products, resources and services you represent. They believe in what you are doing and are willing to stand behind you because you have demonstrated integrity and competence. Advocates can be mentors, coaches and teachers.
Allies – These individuals represent the ultimate level of relationship that urban professional/networkers are striving for. These individuals are working together with you in a mutually beneficial relationship. They are collaborators, partners and teammates. The Urban Professional: Investing in Social Capital
By Michael Rice

13. Fostering Interaction
Religious institutions
Village/"tribal" associations
Ask professional associations to start projects with rural women

14. Who can facilitate the co-operation between rural and urban Women? How?
Government
International agencies
Embassies in the country
Businesses
Religious institution
cultural associations

15. “Educate a woman, you educate a nation.”(Anne Mungai)
Education is the key:
Adult literacy (not only reading and writing)
Without literacy it is impossible to move forward

16. How to promote the capacity of Rural Women
Projects that will generate resources
Access to funding
Grants and loans for rural women projects such as
irrigation
Clean water
primary health care
literacy classes
Etc.

17. How could urban professional women help?
Cooperation
Dialogue
Listen
Point the way to where the funds are and help get them
Educate with respect

18. How could urban women help?
Co-construct solutions to issues of:
Self sufficiency
Illiteracy
Health problems such as HIV/Aids education
Maternal and Child health and educational care
Find access to solutions and implement with the help of all stakeholders

19. How could urban women help?
Educate for democracy
Pay Back!!!!
Reach back
Remember…

20. http://www. google. com/imgres. imgurl=https://d1q3aux3aignky

21. How Could Urban Women Help?
Become allies (An ally is not a bystander, she is there with her rural sisters)
working together with rural women in a mutually beneficial relationship
Become collaborators, partners and teammates
Speak for/as ally-advocates of rural women where they could not be present (urban/local institutions)
Explain how things work and how to be effective + recognize sisterhood
Listen.

22. “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Luke 12:48
Wangari Maathai

23. “A mad woman.” Said: Kenyan President Arap Moi of Wangari Maathai!
In 1997 she started the Green Belt Movement that engaged rural women in planting of 45 million trees.
In 2004, she became the first African Woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace. 

24. We need more mad urban women!
Questions and suggestions?

25. Thank you!