This book is a selection of studies and articles aimed to sensitize planners and decision-makers to the invisible socioeconomic and cultural contribution of women in developing countries. The authors addresss such questions as: How can we make the contribution of women visible and more productive? How can we better utilize human resources that are often illiterate? How can we build on traditional wisdom in order to modernize? How can we reduce poverty? How can we prevent women from being excluded from the more lucrative activities of the informal sector?

This revised and enlarged edition brings the successful original volume of 1984 right up to date, taking into account the most recent developments. Each section begins with an introduction that provides the context for the following documents. There is no comparable volume of its kind available in English, and most documents have not previously been translated.