Enhancing Women's Economic Empowerment Through Constituency Projects: (a Case Study of Nassarawa Federal Constituency of Kano State)

Abstract The economic empowerment of women remains a critical component of inclusive and sustainable development, especially in developing countries where gender disparities in access to resources and opportunities persist. This study investigates the role of constituency projects (CPs) in enhancing women's economic empowerment, using Nassarawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, Nigeria, as a case study. The research is anchored on four primary objectives: to assess the impact of constituency projects on women’s economic empowerment in the study area; to examine the perspectives of women beneficiaries regarding the effectiveness of such projects; to identify the challenges women face in accessing these initiatives; and to propose actionable recommendations for improving their accessibility and impact. Adopting a qualitative and quantitative research approach, data were collected through structured interviews, questionnaires involving women beneficiaries, community leaders, and project coordinators. The findings reveal that while CPs have contributed to economic improvements for some women—particularly through skill acquisition programs, petty trading support, and vocational training—many beneficiaries report inconsistencies in implementation, poor targeting, lack of transparency, and limited community engagement in project selection. Moreover, sociocultural barriers, political exclusion, and limited information dissemination further constrain women’s access to CPs. The study concludes that although constituency projects have the potential to drive women’s economic empowerment, their current design and execution often fall short of achieving this goal. To enhance impact, the study recommends the adoption of gender-inclusive planning, regular monitoring and evaluation of projects, transparent beneficiary selection processes, and greater collaboration with women's groups and civil society organizations. These steps are essential in ensuring that CPs serve as effective tools for reducing gender inequality and promoting women’s economic participation at the grassroots level.