Definitions of Women and Development: An African Perspective

This seminal paper argues that the 'woman's problem' as defined by international development agencies often fails to capture the lived realities of African women. It advocates for a shift in analytical focus from Western-centric developmental metrics toward local cultural priorities and grassroots perspectives.

Prof. Pala demonstrates how the monetization of the economy and subsequent policy shifts during the post-colonial transition disproportionately affected women's access to resources. The work remains a cornerstone for scholars studying Gender and Development (GAD) in an African context.