Making it happen: the programme. Collective action for change.

To bring about change in the lives of poor women, I set up the program working with women in urban areas (PROFEMU), and introduced gender components into program for which I am responsible, as well as working with the Senegal team to implement the gender policy in our funding and non-funding work. Some of the blockages to change on gender have been a lack of collective intervention at a national level. There are many actors, many approaches, and agencies in competition. Work pressure, changes in structures, and a lack of understanding of the new gender orientation in the field have been other problems. I set up and support women's networks, and work as a resource person with national NGOs to ensure a focus on poor women's interests. I have taken part in setting up a more gender-focused women's network, Collectif Dakar 94 - Beijing 95, and work on building women's leadership and awareness.