Women leaders and the sense of power: clientelism and citizenship at the Dantokpa market in Cotonou, Benin

Abstract:
This book chapter focuses on women’s market associations at the Dantokpa Market in Cotonou (Benin). It discusses how the leadership of the organisations has networked and bargained with different levels of government, in advocating for the interests of the members. Moreover, the focus is on how the associations have exercised their collective voice to influence the management of the market. The article also discusses gender aspects of market organisations. The local market women’s associations are federated in the Union Nationale des Commerantes du Bénin (UNACOBE). In addition to advocacy to the local government and the market management, some of the associations are developing international networks. International aspects of organising, cooperation with StreetNet and Union Network International (UNI) are central for the association’s capacity building attempts, such as battling illiteracy.