Vi Agroforestry is a Swedish non-profit foundation established in 1983. We work with local partner organisations in East Africa, mainly in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda to empower smallholders’ farmers and their organisations to improving their living conditions.
Vi Agroforestry has 37 years of experience in promoting agroforestry, sustainable agriculture, human rights-based approaches, gender equality and empowerment of women, men, youth and children. Vi Agroforestry works in partnership with farmer organisations, government agencies and other civil society organisations to promote sustainable food production, safe environment, and human rights-based approaches that benefits women, men, young people and children.
Vi Agroforestry has been working with the Fair Resource Allocation Strategy (FRAS) as part of its gender equality strategy since 2016. FRAS was aimed to ensure that more that 50% of the resources are allocated to women during budgeting and implementation of the programme. In 2019, a decision was made to move beyond FRAS to FRAS+ where we not only look at resources allocated to women but also be cognisant of the issues that affect women’s active and meaningful participation; underlying changes and impact of allocated resources. In 2019, five partners (drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda) were selected for a detailed study through qualitative data collection and analysis. Based on the study findings and recommendations, strategies were put in place to ensure women’s access to resources and their active participation in project activities. Five partners have been implementing FRAS+ on a pilot basis for the last one year. We find it prudent that a study is undertaken at this point to understand current gender equality strategies and position of FRAS+ in improving the situation of women by enabling them to participate actively and meaningfully both within and outside the partner organisations.
