African Journal of Gender and Women Studies

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

From Policy to Practice: Assessing the Impact of Higher Education Transformation on Gender Equity at Gauteng University of Technology

Yvonne Senne¹* and Robert Rugimbana²

¹Department of Management and Enterprise, Faculty of Management Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa.
²Business School, Faculty of Management Sciences Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa.

Accepted 9 November, 2025

The need for more equitable workplace opportunities for employees is a well-documented area in management literature. More recently, research on the role of gender equity strategies is also prominent in the literature. An important lacuna in the equal employment opportunities (EEO) literature appears, however, to be the lack of focus on gender equity in higher education. Specifically, the in- attention to the influence of organizational policies, practices and processes on equity. This study applies a case study approach to study gender equity in South Africa, as a means of measuring the progress of gender equity in the South African higher education sector. The study examines pre- and post- level attainment of gender equity using gender representation as a measure of progress. Using gender profiling, findings suggests that current gender equity strategies may be at odds with the intentions of the transformational agenda in post-apartheid South Africa. As such, the paper highlights the need to fully utilize gender mainstreaming strategies as a means of guiding, planning and monitoring achievements of gender equity in South African Higher Education Institutions.

Key words: Equity, gender, transformation.
 

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 1, January 2026 | pp. 9–16
DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000102

Review Article

Maternal Health Disparities and Rural Healthcare Infrastructure in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda

Grace Akello¹, Aisha Namubiru²

¹Department of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
²Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda

Abstract: Post-conflict reconstruction in northern Uganda continues to grapple with severe maternal health disparities, disproportionately affecting displaced and rural women. This systematic review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature from 2018 to 2025 examining infrastructural decay, skilled birth attendant shortages, and obstetric fistula prevalence in the Acholi sub-region. Synthesizing data across 24 empirical studies, the review notes that emergency obstetric referral times exceed 3.5 hours on average, contributing to a maternal mortality ratio estimated at 385 per 100,000 live births. Findings indicate that rebuilding physical clinics is insufficient without addressing community-level distrust in formal health systems and integrating traditional birth attendants into the primary healthcare referral matrix. Furthermore, gender-based violence linked to historical conflict trauma exacerbates psychological distress during pregnancy. The paper advocates for decentralized maternal health interventions, mobile obstetric units, and community-led psychosocial support systems tailored to post-conflict realities.

Keywords: Maternal health, post-conflict reconstruction, rural healthcare, obstetric fistula, northern Uganda

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 18, 2025; Revised: December 02, 2025; Accepted: December 18, 2025; Published: January 15, 2026

Citation: Akello, G., & Namubiru, A. (2026). Maternal Health Disparities and Rural Healthcare Infrastructure in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(1), 9–16. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000102

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 1, January 2026 | pp. 1–8
DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000101

Research Article

Digital Microfinance and Women’s Economic Empowerment: Evidence from Urban Market Cooperatives in Lagos

Amina Bello¹, Chidinma Okafor²

¹Department of Economics, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
²Department of Sociology, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of digital microfinance platforms on the economic autonomy of female market traders in urban Nigeria. Despite rapid fintech growth, structural barriers often limit low-income women from scaling their enterprises. Utilizing a mixed-methods design, we surveyed 450 female cooperative members and conducted 30 in-depth interviews across three major commercial hubs in Lagos. Statistical analysis using a multiple regression model reveals a positive correlation between mobile credit access and monthly business revenue, with a mean increase of 32.5 percent (p < 0.01). However, qualitative findings highlight persistent challenges, including high interest rates, digital literacy gaps, and coercive loan recovery tactics by unregulated apps. The results demonstrate that while digital microfinance enhances immediate cash-flow liquidity, long-term empowerment remains constrained without targeted digital skills training and gender-responsive regulatory frameworks. Policymakers must mandate transparent pricing models and foster cooperative-led digital platforms to ensure inclusive financial growth.

Keywords: Digital microfinance, women empowerment, fintech, market traders, economic autonomy, Nigeria

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 12, 2025; Revised: November 28, 2025; Accepted: December 15, 2025; Published: January 10, 2026

Citation: Bello, A., & Okafor, C. (2026). Digital Microfinance and Women’s Economic Empowerment: Evidence from Urban Market Cooperatives in Lagos. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(1), 1–8. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000101