Livelihood, empowerment and conflict resolution in the lives of indigenous women in Uzbekistan

Women’s savings networks serve as a livelihood resilience mechanism for social and economic empowerment in the Tashkent region. These networks represent a collective movement and action against the economic dependency of women on men and the state micro-loan bank system which women at the grassroots level do not use. This research shows how women’s approach to community development is built on knowledge, power, and action achieved through (1) livelihood mobilisation, “gap” and “chernaya kassa;” (2) healing; (3) reclaiming sacred space and action; (4) ecological peacebuilding; and (5) agency.Doctor of Philosoph