Empowerment: En begreppsanalys av kvinnlig empowerment i svensk biståndsverksamhet

Sammanfattning: This essay is a concept analysis of women empowerment in Swedish foreign aid. It aims to clarify different views of empowerment with the help of earlier research. With help of this concept analysis a case study is conducted on an international training program led by the organisation International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD). The case study attempts to portray how a giver and a receiver of foreign aid view empowerment and if their views are compatible. The international training program targets women that are politicians in local governments and therefore the focus is on women empowerment. With help of the concept analysis the case study reveals that the views of empowerment of the giver, ICLD, and the receiver, the participants, are both similar and compatible. Empowerment is viewed as a process coming from within the individual but help from an outsider is desirable. While the giver’s goals are on a collective level and more long term the receivers focus on their individual situation. The study also reveals two other views of empowerment, empowerment as a gift and empowerment from within, that do not seem to be compatible with foreign aid.