Female leadership manual launch at International Women's Day

As part of SNV's participation in International Women's Day 2014, SNV Bhutan joined the country and its partners to celebrate by launching the female leadership manual entitled 'Strengthening Female Leadership in Farmers' Groups and Cooperatives'.

Last week, SNV Bhutan joined the country and its partners, such as RENEW organisation, the NCWC and UN agencies, to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March 2014 by launching a new female leadership training manual titled 'Strengthening Female Leadership in Farmers' Groups and Cooperatives'. The launch was presided over by Her Majesty Galyum Sangay Choden Wangchuk, in Haa district. SNV Bhutan was represented at this national event by Ms Tshering Choden, Gender, Inclusion and Governance Advisor and Mr Binai Lama, Agriculture Sector Leader.

The training manual aims to increase female participation and influence on group/cooperative decision making, enhance the leadership skills of existing female executive members, and to catalyse women's leadership potential to take up more leadership roles and bring about positive change in their communities. Furthermore, the manual is also designed to give Bhutanese female farmers control in further educating and empowering themselves to take up actions on key issues affecting their lives.

The manual was developed in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives (DAMC) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, with technical support provided by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation. This manual is part of a wider DAMC project known as 'Capacity building master plan for farmers’ groups and cooperatives.' The SNV and DAMC collaboration first began in 2009 with the Cooperatives and Marketing Programme.