RESEARCH SYNOPSIS

Contributions of NGOs in women empowerment:

In the context of Bangladesh

Submitted by:
Farjana Rahman
Department of Management Studies
University of Dhaka

Submitted to:
Department of International Business
Faculty of Business Studies
University of Dhaka

January, 2014

1.0 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

Empowering means a process which enables individuals/groups to access to
personal/collective power, authority and influence, and to employ that strength when
engaging with other people, institutions or society. Then what is women's
empowerment? Empowerment of women focuses on recognizing and equalizing power
disparity and giving women more autonomy to manage their own lives.
In this 21st century women are half in ratio of the total population of the world. But they
are still much more likely than men to be poor and illiterate. They usually have less
access than men to medical care, property ownership, credit, training and employment.
They are far less likely than men to be politically active and far more likely to be victims
of domestic violence. Women empowerment is women's sense of self-worth; their right
to have and to determine choices; their right to have access to opportunities and
resources; their right to have the power to control their own lives, both within and
outside the home; and their ability to influence the direction of social change to create a
more social and economic order, nationally and internationally.Guidelines on women
empowerment by United Nations Population Fund. Empowerment increases womens
knowledge about their options in everyday life. Women empowerment enables women to
understand about their personal and collective strengths and weaknesses of past and
present which will increase their ability to set up future purposes and they will become
able to consciously determine their lifetime goals of their own interests. Empowered
women become more able to cope with the conflicts in their relationships. The
empowerment and autonomy of women and the improvement of their political, social,
economic and health status is a highly important end in itself. In addition, it is essential
for the achievement of sustainable development. The full participation and partnership of
both women and men is required in productive and reproductive life, including shared
responsibilities for the care and nurturing of children and maintenance of the household.
NGOs have a vital role in the socio economic conditions of the third world countries like
Bangladesh. They are bringing Changes in condition of homestead, housing facilities,
education, training activities, health, family planning, sanitation, employment and
income earning, savings and expenditure activities, land ownership pattern, socio
economic pattern and most importantly women participation in decision-making. NGOs
in Bangladesh like to manifest themselves as activist of social change. For bringing
effective social change the first priority is to eradicate all kinds of discrimination in the
society-it can be sexual, racial or any other kind. For effective social change in
Bangladesh, empowerment of women is the first thing to do. No doubt, the poorest
women are the most disadvantaged section in the society, especially because they do
not have access to information and resources. So they are lagging behind in the process
of development. NGOs would like to involve these women and enhance their
participation in the development process. So, it is important to find out the contributions
of various national and international NGOs in women empowerment of Bangladesh and
evaluate their activities regarding the purpose. So that the NGOs can design their
programs in effect and overcome their shortcomings. Some other studies have been
conducted in other countries like African countries, India, Iran, South Asian counties and
in Bangladesh also, but the studies were conducted on rural women, vulnerable women
with one variable like education, technology or logistic support etc. To the best of the
researchers knowledge not enough study has been performed on women empowerment
in Bangladesh in considering all the major issues of NGOs. Though all of the NGOs main
focusing point is gender equality through women empowerment, there are some
differences in the activities of national and international NGOs in empowering women.
Their activities are also different in urban and rural areas. Thus, there should be a study
on NGOs contributions in women empowerment in Bangladesh in a broader context.

2.0 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED STUDY:

The main objective of the proposed study is to examine and find out the direct and
indirect contributions of NGOs in women empowerment in Bangladesh. Some specific
objectives are

To find out the existing programs and policies of national and international NGOs
regarding women empowerment in Bangladesh.
To find out their proposed/under planning programs regarding women
empowerment.
To find out the influencing factors of women empowerment in Bangladesh.
To find out the opportunities of women empowerment in Bangladesh.
To find out the lacking or gaps to set up and implement women empowerment
programs by NGOs.
To identify the current status of women in rural areas and urban areas of
Bangladesh.
To examine the Programs of NGOs for rural women and urban women.
To identify the effects of women empowerment programs in rural areas and
urban areas.
To identify the effect of women empowerment in the socio-economic
development.
To make suggestions for the NGOs to set up and implement more effective
programs to empower the women in Bangladesh.

3.0 JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED STUDY

Women empowerment has significant influence in family, society and for the country as
a whole. When a woman is empowered economically, socially and politically, she
becomes a better partner, home maker, community leader and a better contributor to
national development. Now a days, in our country NGOs are facing a lot of problems
working with women and their empowerment programs are not becoming as successful
as they hoped. There may be many reasons behind it among which the traditional and
cultural factors may be crucial. The proposed study will find out those problems and the
strategies taken by the NGOs to solve those problems. The proposed study will attempt
to measure the actual programs and policies of foreign and national NGOs of Bangladesh
regarding women empowerment. The proposed study will have both practical and
academic value, as there is shortage in research studies in this area in Bangladesh with
all the women empowerment issues of NGOs. On the other hand, the findings of the
study will help policy makers of the country and the NGOs in formulating pragmatic
polices regarding women empowerment and implement them in a better way. The
proposed study will interest all those involved with women studies, rural development,
and voluntary, initiatives at the grassroots level.

4.0 METHODOLOGY OF THE PROPOSED STUDY:

4.1 Population
The population of the proposed study is the total number of NGOs working for and with
women. Every NGO is working with women empowerment by giving them job in their
organization or by some effective programs. So the population will be the total number
of NGOs working in Bangladesh. The total number of NGOs is 2291(List of NGOs Upto
November 30, 2013 - NGOAB)

4.2 Sample

From the existing NGOs the sample of the proposed study will be consisted of 2 national
NGOs and 2 international NGOs.
4.3 Variables
The following variables are to be considered in the proposed study:
Independent Variables:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Cultural factors
Education
Family
Area of living: rural or urban
Marital and social status
Empowerment
Peoples view regarding women empowerment
Violence
Law, rules and regulations

Dependent variables:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Social development
Economic development
Reproductive and sexual health
Gender inequality
Poverty alienation
Participation in the work and decision making
Sense of self worth

4.4 Collection of data:

The proposed study will be conducted with the help of the survey method, key
information method and interview method. Information for the purpose of the study
would be collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data will be
collected through questionnaire and discussion schedule from the NGOs in Bangladesh
and from some women who are under the programs of the NGOs. The documentary
aspect relating to women empowerment and the NGOs participation would be collected
from annual report, survey reports, statistical year books, journals, periodicals and
internet which would help to gain a better research output.

4.5 Hypotheses:
The following hypotheses are formulated in the light of the review of literature and
objectives in the proposed study:
1. Social factors such as culture, religion, access to resources, prone to violence etc.
have significant effect on the contribution of NGOs in women empowerment in
Bangladesh.
2. Education, area of living, sense of self worth etc. have significant influence on the
activities of NGOs regarding women empowerment in Bangladesh.
3. Effective programs of NGOs regarding women empowerment have significant
influence on socio- economic development of Bangladesh including poverty
alienation.
4. Effective programs of NGOs regarding women empowerment have positive influence
on reproductive and sexual health of women and gender equality as well.
5. The urban women have the propensity to response with the NGO programs than the
women of rural areas.
4.6 Analysis of Data:
The data collected for the proposed study will be processed through computer using
Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS developed by Nie et al (1975). Descriptive
and Inferential Statistics will be used to analyse the data. Subject will be divided into
national NGOs that are working with and for women living in rural areas and urban areas
and International NGOs that working with and for women living in rural areas and urban
areas of Bangladesh.

5.0 TIME SCHEDULE OF THE PROPOSED STUDY (THESIS PART):

1. Review of literature................................................2 months

2. Preparation of questionnaire....................................1 month
3. Pilot Study............................................................1 month
4. Field Survey..........................................................3 months
5. Assembly of Data...................................................1 month
6. Analysis of Data.....................................................1 month
7. Preparation of Preliminary Report.............................2 months
8. Finalizing and Submission of Final Report..................1 month
....................................................................................................................
Total= 12 months

BIBILIOGRAPHY:

Sushama Sahay, Women and Empowerment Approaches and Strategies,Discovery

Publishing House, Dayaganj, New Delhi, India, 1998.
Murray R. Spiegel & Larry J. Stephens, Statistics, Third edition, New York, McGraw Hill
international Edittions, Schaums Outline Series, 1999.
R.L. Panigrahy, Dasarathi Bhuyan, Women Empowerment, Discovery Publishing House,
Dayaganj, New Delhi, India, 2006.
Mrs. Sheela Margaret & Dr. N. Kala , A study on impact of NGO interventions on the
women empowerment, Journal of Business Management and Social Science Research,
vol2, No.-3, March, 2013.
Websites:

www.wikipedia.com
http://www.unfpa.org/gender/icl_07.htm
www.ngoab.gov.bd/Files/NGO_LIST.pdf
www.un.org/popin/unfpa/taskforce/guide/iatfwemp.gdl.html