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Women Empowerment

Development Project

Empowering Women

When women earn their own income, their families benefit—and so does local wildlife.

In rural Botswana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, women are often the economic backbone of their households, yet have the fewest opportunities to earn a living. Without an independent source of income, they depend on livestock—a reliance that can bring them into conflict with lions, elephants and other wildlife.

Our women’s empowerment programme addresses this directly: we support women in starting their own businesses in locally established sectors such as vegetable growing, poultry farming, basket weaving and food processing. We provide training in bookkeeping, marketing and leadership—and access to markets that were previously out of reach.

“While their children attend our E4C playgroups, women have time to work on their projects and grow their businesses. Empowering women means empowering the world.”

— Wabotlhe Letubo, Director of SAVE Botswana

Here, we empower women

Botswana – Okavango region: Three locations around Maun and the Okavango Delta: Quqao, Matsaudi and Nxaraga. Key activities include larger-scale cooperative vegetable growing, poultry farming and basket weaving using local natural fibres.

DR Congo – Virunga region: Activities are centred in Kanyabayonga, Kabaya and Rumangabo, around Virunga National Park. The focus is on sustainable agriculture, larger-scale tomato growing, food processing (e.g. chilli oil) and establishing community-based organisations.

Botswana

Environmental Education in the Okavango Delta

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Democratic Republic of the Congo

Environmental Education at Virunga National Park

Three women-led initiatives in Botswana

Quqao – A group of 18 women is expanding an existing vegetable garden into a larger growing site, with the aim of supplying lodges and schools across the wider area. Support includes a solar power system, irrigation and protective netting.

Matsaudi – 31 women have formed a producer group. On land provided by the village community, they grow vegetables, raise chickens and weave baskets. By marketing their products collectively, they can secure better prices and reach more customers.

Nxaraga – 31 women, including young female school leavers, have formed a cultural group focused on basketry and handicrafts made from local materials. The aim is to build on their existing craft skills, increase production to meet market demand and develop new sales channels.

Women’s empowerment in North Kivu, DR Congo

In villages around Virunga National Park, we work with more than 1,000 women involved in over 60 community-based organisations. Most live in a region affected by decades of armed conflict and displacement. Many are single mothers without formal vocational qualifications.

Examples of our work:

Kanyabayonga – 89 women have received training in sustainable agriculture. More than 70 have since established their own income-generating activities. A tomato-growing project covering approximately two hectares is central to this work.

Kabaya & Rumangabo – On the doorstep of mountain gorilla habitat, women collectively cultivate around five hectares of farmland—helping feed their families while reducing pressure on the surrounding protected area.

Chilli oil production – Adding value beyond raw produce: women receive training in processing chillies into high-quality chilli oil. Using two processing machines, they produce a local product for sale across the region.

Achievements

Women Engaged in Income-Generating Activities

Locations in Botswana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Economic Sectors: Agriculture, Skilled Trades, Food Processing

How you can help

The women we work with are entrepreneurs, farmers and craftswomen. What they often lack is not initiative or skill, but start-up capital, access to markets and training in bookkeeping and marketing. Your donation helps meet these needs.