Women, Development and Social Justice in Côte d’Ivoire: Rethinking Social Policies through the Lens of Capabilities.

AbstractThis chapter analyzes the impact of social policies in Côte d’Ivoire on women’s economic trajectories, drawing on Amartya Sen’s capability approach. It is based on the experiences of women who benefited from state support — in financing, education, and training — and who subsequently improved their living conditions. These stories show that when social policies are accessible and adapted, they can transform women’s capabilities and promote their inclusion.The central question is: to what extent do Ivorian social policies enable women to develop their real capabilities, and how can the barriers to accessibility be overcome? The analysis reveals a coexistence of individual success stories and persistent inaccessibility for the majority of women, due to administrative, territorial, and informational constraints.The analytical framework is grounded in the capability approach, which emphasizes concrete freedoms to act and to choose. This perspective makes it possible to assess social policies not by their formal existence but by their ability to expand women’s real opportunities, taking into account their aspirations and living contexts.The methodology is ethnographic, based on fieldwork conducted in both urban and rural areas (Abidjan, Bouaké, Korhogo, Hermankono Diès, Férémandougou). Qualitative interviews collected women’s expectations, experiences, and perceptions regarding social policy mechanisms.Findings show that some women have accessed resources that transformed their lives — the creation of economic activities, financial autonomy, and social recognition. However, many remain excluded, not out of lack of will, but because of structural inaccessibility. To address this, the chapter suggests aligning social policies with Amartya Sen’s five instrumental freedoms:Political freedoms: Involving women in the design and evaluation of social policies.Economic facilities: Strengthening access to credit, training, and funding.Social opportunities: Ensuring equitable access to education, health, and information.Transparency guarantees: Simplifying administrative procedures and making information more accessible.Protective security: Reinforcing social protection mechanisms.This approach helps transform available resources into real capabilities and build social justice based on autonomy, choice, and sustainable inclusion.Keywords: Women, capabilities, social justice, social policies, Côte d’Ivoire, inclusive development.