Households become more resilient when they develop a ''Savings Culture''. This would be even more effective when women exercise full ''control'' of such resources.... While flexible micro-credit programmes (following Grameen Bank model) have been advocated for in many contexts of developing countries, women tend to be more reluctant to fully participate and apply for credit (even when such services are available nearby, and easily accessible) if they are NOT sure of having control of their hard earned income from credit-financed business, and when more ''trust'' is not promoted among couples.
Such opportunities to earning more income for women, especially in drought-affected areas could be supported through encouraging diversification to off-farm incomes. For example, with appropriate support programmes, women often proved to be effective local traders, delivering agricultural products (e.g crops, livstocks, etc) to urban and semi-urban areas, and in turn availing ''industrial'' products to rural people (e.g soup, edible oil, salt, clothes, etc) -- thus satisfying demands for such commodities, but (often) also creating new demands (and propmoting aspirations for more hard work to earn income to acquiring such goods).... When rural-urban roads are deficient, women manage this by travelling long distances by foot.... CARE, CRS and others have been supporting such efforts through ''micofranchise women programmes'' in some East African countries (Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda....??)
Regards, Getaneh
M. Getaneh Gobezie