The kick-off meeting for The Equality Project: Starting From Home (TEP) took place in Nairobi, Kenya between the 16^th and 19^th October. This project brings together partner researchers from the Universities of Glasgow, Strathmore, Dar es Salaam, and Botswana as well as local NGOs to pilot a new programme of workshops exploring gender equality at a household level by engaging with both men and women.

Partners from each African University all share a connection as former PhD graduates from the School of Education, University of Glasgow.  Dr Amina Kamando (Lecturer of Education, University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania), Dr Keneilwe Molosi-France (Lecturer in Education, University of Botswana), Dr Nancy Njiraini (Lecturer in Business, Strathmore University, Kenya).

TEP is in development stages, and during this meeting, the partners agreed on future steps. The programme of workshops in informal settlements in participating countries is due to start in March 2020, with data collection and research findings to follow later in the year.

Part of the meeting consisted of visits to local NGOs including Akili Dada (http://akilidada.org/), an organization promoting female leadership and increased influence in society.  Partners also visited a volunteer-led group in one of Nairobi’s informal settlements, which supports women from 18 – 35 to obtain formal secondary education qualifications. Often women feel social and financial pressure to start families and/or work rather than pursuing educational opportunities. Considerations such as these will be central to TEP.

Partners will meet again in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) in January 2020, after which more updates will be forthcoming.

This project is funded by the University of Glasgow internal call under the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) via the Scottish Funding Council.

Here is the link to the previous article on the project: The Equality Project: Starting from Home - Reducing Gender Inequalities in Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania

David Jackson
University of Glasgow

Picture 1 from left to right: Dr Nancy Njiraini (Strathmore University, Kenya); Dr Amina Kamando (University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania), David Jackson (University of Glasgow), Dr Keneilwe Molosi-France (University of Botswana), Dr Katarzyna Borkowska (University of Glasgow)

Picture 2 from left to right: David Jackson (University of Glasgow), two community workers from a Nairobi informal settlement, Dr Nancy Njiraini (Strathmore University, Kenya), Dr Amina Kamando (University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania), Dr Keneilwe Molosi-France (University of Botswana), a community development worker from Akili Dada, Dr Katarzyna Borkowska (University of Glasgow)

Picture 3 from left to right: David Jackson (University of Glasgow), Dr John Olukuru (Strathmore University, Kenya),  Dr Amina Kamando (University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania), Dr Keneilwe Molosi-France (University of Botswana), Dr Nancy Njiraini (Strathmore University, Kenya), Dr Katarzyna Borkowska (University of Glasgow)