LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND RURAL WOMEN IN A DEVELOPMENT PARADIGM: A PERSPECTIVE OF VULINDLELA IN KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

In South Africa, many rural households are female-headed even though women are the most disadvantaged and the poorest part of the population. Their economic empowerment is thus critical to implementing the ideals of South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) This paper reports on a quantitative study focused on local economic development opportunities for rural women as a strategic intervention for creating income-generating activities and sustainable livelihoods for women. It happened in Vulindlela, a rural district within the Msunduzi Municipality in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Severe poverty, lack of basic infrastructure, and a high level of unemployment can characterize Vulindlela, like any other rural area in South Africa. This study mainly aimed to establish the perceptions of the women of Vulindlela concerning accessing local economic development opportunities. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The research sampling used non-probability and purposive sampling techniques. The study results revealed that females encounter numerous challenges in accessing local economic opportunities. Furthermore, the study results showed that women do not have the same possibilities as men due to gender biases in the employment sector and cultural constraints that continue to plague rural societies. Finally, driven by a broad scope of stakeholder interest, this article recommends implementing a gender-responsive budget and investment in infrastructure, skills development and training, and a meaningful execution of gender-sensitive programs such as affording women an equal opportunity to participate in local economic development initiatives.