Session 4 of the talk series was held on September 9, 2024. The theme country was Republic of Namibia. A Namibian student, Ester, presented the topic of " Social Inclusion and Navigate Work-Life Balance for Women."

【Ms. Ester Oufrou Shangadi (Public Finance Program)】

According to her, although women in Namibia were not previously included in the workforce, the introduction of the government’s affirmative action policies has led to a slightly higher labor force participation rate than in Japan. The proportion of women in leadership roles, such as members of parliament, and efforts towards gender equality are ranked among the top in the world, showing numerical progress.

However, traditional gender perceptions still persist, and in reality, it remains a male-dominated society. Issues such as wage disparities between men and women, low higher education enrollment rates for girls due to early pregnancy and poverty, severe violence against women and children in rural areas (including domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking), poverty among single mothers, and the cycle of poverty were highlighted. Additionally, women are the primary caregivers and responsible for household chores. Despite Namibian women being hardworking and highly motivated, balancing household chores and work remains a challenge, making work-life balance a significant issue. She noted that these gender-related issues in work-life balance and child-rearing are common problems in both Japan and Namibia.

She emphasized that achieving gender equality requires amplifying women’s voices and taking action. Her mission is to focus on boys and girls living in rural Namibia and advocate for ‘educational equity.’ Ensuring that all children, both boys and girls, have access to education is what contributes to increasing opportunities for women.

During the Q&A session, discussions touched on topics such as the community in Namibia from a security perspective, specific measures by the government towards gender equality, and the role of fathers in the household and the impact of their absence. When asked by a participant about her thoughts on the issue of fathers’ absence negatively affecting children’s development and well-being in African societies, Ester emphasized the need to strengthen the role of fathers, the importance of community-wide efforts to support children, the significance of self-care and seeking support, and once again, the importance of equitable education.

After the session, the participants enjoyed two types of Namibian sweets provided by one of the participants while continuing further discussions.

Additionally, the facilitator of this session was Ms. Amanda Perera from Sri Lanka (Two-year Master's Program of Public Policy ). Two days after this talk, both Ester-san and Amanda-san graduated from GRIPS. Congratulations and thank you so much for your cooperation.　【Ms. Amanda Perera (far right)】