Grant Amount: US$ 29,947

Keywords: GENDER, EMPOWERMENT, EMPLOYMENT, MARKETING, MALAYSIA

Geographic coverage: Malaysia

Objective

The objective of this project is to assist disadvantaged women who are confined to their homes due to disabilities and other circumstances.

Research context

This project targets disadvantaged women who, due to disabilities and other circumstances, are confined to their homes and as a result are economically constrained. The project explores the possibility of developing an integrated system of information and communications technology (ICT) tools such as computers, Internet, telephone, Short Message System (SMS), facsimile and others to free the women from the confines of their homes. Through utilization of tools already available to them, or supplied through this project, the women can provide products and services to the external market.

Target beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of this project are 50 women who were short-listed from a group of 200 women.

Outputs

First, the project explored the feasibility, adaptability and effectiveness of using a combination of ICT tools as opposed to over-dependence on one mode such as the Internet. Second, a core group of economically empowered women was formed as role models for others in similar circumstances. Finally, the project sought to expose the Malaysian corporate sector to the use of decentralized skills and talents.

Research results and outcomes

This project focused its efforts on development of technical solutions and building the capacity of women to offer marketable skills. It did run into several difficulties, in particular it noted some serious problems related to its IT partner. Due to financial constraints, the project selected the partner based on the lowest price quoted, not the best technology. This led to technical problems, which delayed the handover of the application until six months after the project period was over. The project also mentioned that the application delivered has quite a high maintenance cost, which has obvious implications for the projects sustainability. Reflecting on this, eHomemakers concluded that working with a commercial entity was problematic and that a better partner would have been a university or a non-profit research institution, although none was available at the project design period.

Despite this, the project set up an English language marketing website (http://www.justmarketing.info). The project also developed a Distributed Work Management Application (DWMA) using mobile telephones. The necessary server hardware, interconnectivity cables and mobile handsets were purchased for the DWMA application. System integration between the mobile handset and the server was conducted and basic SMS sending and receiving functions were tested to support a large number of recipients. Business logic functions are still pending and will commence once the applications have been migrated to the production server.

The DWMA system uses Malay language and a numeric code system for replies. It is designed to cater to multiple products and services, requires minimal typing and includes a distress system for unexpected incidents. Using its beta DWMA system, the project developed and conducted two training sessions, one in Ipoh and one in Klang Valley. The project reported that the system was positively received and is confident it is applicable to the women’s needs. The project stresses that technology is a tool only and without complementary efforts in ICT and non-ICT related capacity development training, marketing and continual product development the technology use will not be maximized.

By using the integrated platform to a manage supply chain through a not-for-profit entity like eHomemakers, a model for poverty reduction using entrepreneurial principles and ICTs was created. Poor urban women are now linked through the platform to group market their products, thus earning income for the household and reducing reliance on aid. The project envisions that this ICT platform will grow further to allow women to participate in eHomemakers’ gender governance framework where women own and manage the information network for and by themselves.

Since project completion the user network has expanded beyond the original 50 subjects to include 200 women of different races and with a range of skills. The model was presented as a best practice model to Thailand and Indonesia during a press launch. Because of the media attention this received, interest was seeded in the Malaysian government to use such an integrated platform to address poverty reduction. The impact from the project was presented to policy makers to demonstrate that the pilot effort was fruitful and can be replicated.

Awards

eHomemakers was chosen as a runner-up in the Gender and ICT Awards. (http://www.genderawards.net) sponsored by the Association for Progressive Communications Women's Networking Support Programme (http://www.apcwomen.org) and the Global Knowledge Partnership (http://www.globalknowledge.org). The Award recognizes the project for being able to “... provide choices and opportunities for women, provide strong encouragement for women to fulfil their potential, and enable women to acquire the voice and capability to counter their lack of socio-economic-political power in the community.”

Duration

Start Date: April 2004
End Date: April 2005
Total Duration: 13 Months

Contact information

Chong Sheau Ching
eHomemakers
c/o Corpcom Services Sdn. Bhd.
Box 3031, Taman Tun Dr Ismail
Kuala Lumpur 60000, Malaysia
Telephone/Fax: +60 3 7727 3959
Email: scchong@ehomemakers.net

Website: http://www.ehomemakers.net

Reference website: http://www.justmarketing.info