Developing Core Elements of Women's Empowerment : A Minor Field Study on an NGO-led Development Intervention in Nepal

Sammanfattning: This thesis is a qualitative case study of a development intervention aimed at women’s empowerment. The case is the ‘Danfe’ program, led by a non-governmental organization in Nepal. The research explores how the Danfe program impacted on the empowerment of the participants. The thesis follows the initial, feminist understanding of empowerment as a process involving personal development and changes in self-perception. The study is based on a theoretical framework that distinguishes certain ‘core elements’ as central for women’s empowerment. The thesis is based on data from interviews with former Danfe participants, which were conducted during a two-month long field study in Nepal. The data was analyzed to trace how Danfe had encouraged the development of core elements. The analysis traces on what levels in the women’s lives that the elements were developed: individual level, in close relationships, and in relationships with the community. The research found that the Danfe program helped the development of many core elements, predominantly on individual level, followed by the level of close relationships. However, less elements were developed in relationships with the community. A key finding was that the women in general lacked elements of collective empowerment. The lack of collective empowerment inhibited core elements in the relationships with the community, and discouraged actions in favor of greater gender justice.