‘Rural market women, unsung economic forces of local communities’

An international human rights lawyer, Dr. Cynthia Umezulike, has made an urgent call for structural and financial reforms that recognise rural women as key drivers of economic development. She made this statement at the recent United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) World Food Forum, Thematic Youth Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

Organised in technical cooperation with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the forum focused on advancing sustainable economic opportunities for rural women.

In her report, titled: “Strategies for Fostering Sustainable Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion for Rural Market Women in Enugu State, Nigeria,” Umezulike provided a critical analysis of the challenges and economic vulnerabilities faced by young female traders in rural Nigeria.

The report, based on interviews and surveys with rural market women, all under the age of 30, highlighted the barriers to economic stability, financial inclusion, and sustainable employment.

Umezulike, who is an Associate Professor, and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development, Energy Transitions, and Climate Change at the University of Bedfordshire, UK, highlighted the role rural market women play in sustaining local economies.

“Rural market women are the unsung economic forces of local communities, the backbone of informal economies, yet they continue to operate without formal protections, employment benefits, or access to stable financial resources. Despite their significant contributions to food security, rural employment, and local trade networks, they face systemic financial exclusion and economic instability.”

Umezulike’s research findings revealed several pressing challenges that prevent these women from securing decent and sustainable employment. The first-hand accounts she got from these women, reflect the systemic barriers that continue to marginalise rural women, making it nearly impossible for them to achieve financial stability or business growth.

Some of the problems include: struggling with rapid price fluctuations, making it impossible to maintain stock levels and effectively plan their business; reduced customer-spending amid soaring fuel and transportation costs that has drastically limited profitability; denied access to affordable credit, forcing them to operate with inadequate stock and stifling business expansion; sharp decline in sales, particularly for perishable goods, plus unregulated levies and commissions that has further reduced earnings and worsened financial instability.

Umezulike proposed solutions and practical interventions that can empower rural market women and ensure sustainable livelihoods, which include low-interest microloans and targeted grants to provide financial capital for business expansion and protection against inflation. Bulk purchase agreements and cooperative buying systems to regulate price volatility and increase profitability.

Training in pricing strategies, financial management, and business planning to enhance financial literacy and sustainability. Women-led business cooperatives to facilitate bulk purchasing, emergency funds, and community-driven empowerment initiatives.

Dr. Umezulike emphasized that economic justice for rural women is not just a human rights issue, but an economic necessity. She, therefore, urged governments, financial institutions, and development agencies to transform informal economy into a structured, thriving, and inclusive financial ecosystem that prioritises women’s economic empowerment.

With a career dedicated to human rights, sustainability, and climate action, Dr. Umezulike continues to lead global efforts toward equitable development. As President of the Global Human Rights Centre, she has advised governments, international organizations, and the private sector on human rights due diligence, sustainable development, and climate policy.