What Oxfam is Doing
- Promoting Economic Opportunity
- Increasing Political Participation
- Preventing Conflict
INCREASING POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Oxfam America assists West African farmers and other small-scale business people make a decent living, voice their concerns to government, and build peace in conflict areas.
Despite the promise of democracy throughout the region, most West Africans are have little voice in decision-making bodies. As a result, government programs that could make a tremendous difference in fighting poverty—education, health care, and local government practices—have little input from the people who would benefit the most.
Nevertheless, the number of citizen organizations committed to improving the accountability of government is increasing, and Oxfam America is supporting their work representing the interests of farmers, female entrepreneurs, youth, and others who are traditionally excluded. Our partners in this effort include human rights monitoring groups, peasant farmer associations, women’s rights groups, and youth organizations.