The ARISE&WIN Project is a research project which aims to design supportive structures and systems for self-employed young women in Nigeria.
Who We Are →The COVID-19 pandemic has had disproportionate economic and health impacts on self-employed workers in Nigeria. Self-employed women and youth have been particularly affected. Though uniquely disruptive, the COVID-19 pandemic shares similarities with life events such as childbirth, family emergencies and health emergencies.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had disproportionate economic and health impacts on self-employed workers in Nigeria. Self-employed women and youth have been particularly affected. Though uniquely disruptive, the COVID-19 pandemic shares similarities with life events such as childbirth, family emergencies, and health emergencies.
This phase of the project entails conducting a situational analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other significant life events and experiences on the work and well-being of self-employed young women and comparing these with the experiences of self-employed young men using qualitative interviews, secondary data analysis and digital storytelling.
This phase involves co-producing interventional packages with self-employed young women, using methods of focus group discussions, scoping and systematic reviews, policy analysis, and theory of change workshops aimed at improving their resilience against disruptive significant life events and experiences.
In this phase of the project, we will be conducting a quasi-experimental study to pilot the interventional packages co-produced in phase 2 and find out the effectiveness of various interventions for improving the resilience of self-employed young women.
This project will advance knowledge of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other disruptive life events on the work and wellbeing of self-employed young women and provide co-produced, actionable solutions to mitigate the effects of these disruptors on their work and wellbeing.
As a wife and mother who makes fabric clothes, COVID-19 was really tough for my business. It was hard to get the materials I needed because of supply chain problems, and people were spending less money, so I was not selling as much. It was also difficult because I couldn't meet customers in person like I used to. So, I had to change how I sold my clothes and focused more on selling online. I also started online training for people looking to start a business in making fabric wears. I've had to learn new ways to market and sell online, and I've also had to make clothes that people want to wear at home because that's what customers are looking for now. It's been a tough journey, but I'm proud of how my business has adapted and kept going, and I'm hopeful for a better future as we keep dealing with the effects of the pandemic.
As a fashion designer in Nigeria with limited income, I face many obstacles in my entrepreneurial journey. It's not easy to manage low cash flow and balance multiple responsibilities, especially since I got married and became a mother. Taking care of my family requires a lot of time and effort, and society expects women to prioritize their families. Despite these challenges, I am a strong and determined woman. I see challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, and I will overcome them. With my unwavering determination, I will create my own path to success.”
The project’s first objective is to conduct a gendered situational analysis to address the question of how the COVID-19 pandemic and other disruptive life events affect the paid and unpaid work and the physical, mental and social wellbeing of self-employed young women in Nigeria; their strategies for coping with such events, and how these compare with those of self-employed young men.
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