Inclusive Governance
The equal participation of women in decision-making bodies, processes, and civil society leadership is vital for both community and environmental well-being—and for long-term peace. Due to gendered roles in many fragile and conflict-affected settings, women’s knowledge and experiences of natural resource management constitute a particular entry point to include them more meaningfully in political and decision-making processes at all levels.
Decisions impacting the management of natural resources can take place at the sub-national, national, and regional levels, and across a number of institutions, such as national ministries and regional representation bodies, land commissions, water resource boards, or forestry committees. At the local level in particular, the engagement of women in the governance of natural resources has been shown to yield positive outcomes for community livelihoods and conflict prevention.
However, ensuring women’s engagement in decision-making processes often requires confronting deeply embedded socio-cultural barriers. Significant negative cultural beliefs and practices entrenched in society can create resistance, especially where the allocation of economically valuable natural resources is concerned. Furthermore, low literacy rates, particularly in rural women, can constitute an obstacle to participation and prevent awareness of the potential impacts specific decisions can have on their lives.
In order to address these challenges, it is vital that more attention be paid to reducing the gendered barriers to participation, in particular where these intersect with other factors of marginalization. This includes training and capacity building to increase women’s effective participation in natural resource governance processes; providing gender expertise to teams developing policies and other governance tools around natural resource management in peacebuilding contexts, including in supply chain certification mechanisms, benefit-sharing schemes, and transparency initiatives; and empowering diverse civil society organizations and women’s networks.
Key Resources
Gender and Post-Conflict Governance: Understanding the Challenges
Around the world, as countries undertake transitions towards peace, good governance and democracy, women have asserted their demands for participation, representation, accountability and political freedom.As universal…
Resources
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Regional Multistakeholder Event on Gender and Human Rights Mainstreaming in Preventing and Countering Organized Crime for Central Asia and Southern Caucasus
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Climate Watch: CSO Urges Rivers to Implement Action Plan on Gender, Climate Change
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Despite directly impacting our communities, health, and livelihoods, climate-related reports usually take a back seat to dominant news beats like politics and business.
Afghanistan: This Forestry Project in Afghanistan is Pushing Women to the Forefront of Climate Action
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Israel/Palestine: How Israel’s Flooding of Gaza’s Tunnels Will Impact Freshwater Supply
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Resource ownership has been associated with power, which has been greatly influenced by patriarchy. The role of women in organising, planning, allocating, and controlling the…