Gender norms and stereotypes constrain the opportunities for both women and men. According to World Bank gender overview, gender inequality has put females at a disadvantage with women facing legal and social barriers that prevent them from owning or inheriting assets, and accessing credit. In most parts of the world, women take on the burden of unpaid care work including fetching water, and generally domestic chores among others. According to UN women statistics , Gender-based violence is the most extreme constraint and human rights violation worldwide affecting approximately one in three women.
In the global fight against poverty, much progress cannot be realised without addressing the key drivers of inequality, gender being one of them. This book is demonstrating that with methodologies such as GALS, achieving gender justice is possible. It details a contribution to current efforts to challenge and change gender inequalities in development programmes. The result is a detailed description of 4 models of integrating GALS in Village Savings and Lending Associations, Functional Adult Literacy, agricultural extension and advocacy. When both men and women have equal access to services and resources, enjoy equal rights and get equal opportunity to develop capabilities, then the development of a country would be faster and more sustainable.