Marginalized Knowledge: An Agenda for Indigenous Knowledge Development and Integration with Other Forms of Knowledge

Mendi Hadebe⁴⁹ – [e-mail]

Department of Development Studies and Anthropology

University of Zululand

South Africa

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly realized that community development cannot separate itself from women. The UN decade for women highlighted the importance of women in the development process, establishing that women perform two thirds of the world’s work, receive only ten percent of the world’s income, and own only one percent of the means of production (Mosse, 1993). The aim of the study is to explore the role of women in small-scale community development. KwaNdaya case study will be used to determine that women play a major role in sustaining community development inspite of the challenges they are faced with on daily basis,

1. Introduction
Research in most of sub-Saharan Africa shows that the activities of women in support of their families usually determines how much food is available for family consumption and hence the nutritional status of family members living at home. Women make their most effective contribution to family nutrition chiefly as food producers by means of small-scale farming and livestock raising, but they also buy food with cash that they earn (Price, 1982).The focus of this article is on the role played by rural women in small-scale community development. It tells a successful story of KwaNdaya co-operative in KwaZulu/Natal- Umbumbulu. Mendi Hadebe was the facilitator of phase one in this project when she was appointed as a social consultant by Ilembe District Municipality in 1999-2001
The KwaNdaya case study will provide evidence that by including women in development positive results are being achieved, since research proves that women are seen as the backbone of rural development and by using them sustainability will be achieved.