CWEDC-CPDECF - About Us - Women-centred CED?

What is CED?

Community Economic Development (CED) is local economic development that is focuses on people, employment, self-employment, inclusion and sustainability. Its goal is to provide meaningful work for all, at a level of income that provides a secure livelihood, in jobs that are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

Why Women-Centred CED?

Women’s life experiences, concerns, responsibilities and needs are different from those of men due to their respective roles in society, the family and the business world. Mainstream organizations, including mainstream CED organizations, often do not meet women’s needs.

Women-centred CED adapts the CED framework to accomplish changes for women. It starts with women’s lives and challenges deeper and more systemic elements of economic and social equality in a practical way, working with women at the grass roots level and building a foundation to increase women’s economic security and independence. It is built on a foundation of empowerment, uses inclusive models and offers a holistic, long term approach to development. It includes (but is not limited to):

Addressing basic needs
Education, Training and Skills development
Addressing basic needs
Co-operatives
Small business development supports
Social Purpose Enterprises
Micro Lending

Why Women?

In Canada, 2.7 million women live in poverty. Women’s ability to successfully engage in the economy is limited by lack of access to:

quality child care / elder care
information & resources
transportation alternatives
networking & support
funding or credit
training & education
housing

Women are much more likely to be involved in non-standard work, outside the protections and benefits of mainstream employment.

Which Women?

The Council aims to represent women who can benefit from CED as a means to break the cycle of poverty and create possibilities for women to improve their situation. These women include:

Low-income women
Women in or at risk of persistent poverty
Aboriginal women
Immigrant and refugee women
Visible Minority women
Women who experience mental illness as a barrier to work

Women who are exploited in their work – unpaid and underpaid
Women who have experienced domestic violence
Disabled women
Homeless women
Displaced working women

The Council acknowledges that many women in out national community face economic, social and political exclusion on more than the basis of their gender. We respect and support their choice to fight these forms of oppression as they see fit: before or while focusing on gender discrimination.