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Gender Empowerment in the Natural Resources Development Sector: A case study of the Challenge Program on Water and

Food (CPWF), Limpopo Basin Development Challenge (LBDC) projects

Aliness P. Mumba

 

“Gender talk is everywhere”Pearson (2006:157)

Definition of Gender

• Gender refers to the rules, norms, customs and practices by which biological differences between males and females are translated into socially constructed differences between men and women and boys and girls (Kabeer, 1994:2).

• Ostergaad (1992: 6) has used the term gender to refer to the qualitative and interdependent character of men and women’s position in society.

Feminist Perspectives on Development

The Women in Development (WID) approach- early 1970s

Gender and Development (GAD) - late 1970s

Feminist Perspectives on Development cont.

Gender Mainstreaming

•Transformation

– Changes to gender infrastructure in organizations and institutions

Empowerment Approach

•From Processes to broader outcomes

•Empowerment through self- reliance

CPWF

• Basin Development Challenge (CPWF BDC) is a complex global research-for-development program which brings together a broad range of scientists, development specialists, policy makers and communities to address the challenges of food security, poverty and water scarcity.

CPWF LBDC

• Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique & South Africa

• CPWF Limpopo Basin Development Challenge (CPWF LBDC) research program is focused on improving integrated management of rainwater to improve smallholder productivity and livelihoods and reducing risk.

Problem statement

• Development organizations play a fundamental role in development processes.

• Once international institutions establish their founding ideology, their staff, institutional cultures and structures, change does not easily happen.

Methodology

Qualitative • Case study

Data Collection- Project Documents and Interviews

Analysis – Thematic approach • Political Ecology

Rationale

My study attempts to review and assess the perception, positioning, and treatment of gender within the CPWF LBDC program.

Preliminary findings

• No definition of gender is given • Mentions and Context of gender – No distinction between men and women– No budgets for gender – Gender was Integrated into planning

• In some instances it appears as an add on • *There is an element of GAD approach

-Planning tools were revised to accommodate gender

Next phase

• Conduct in-depth interviews with:

– Project staff

– Donors

– Students affiliated to the projects

Expected Contribution

• Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) reforms

• Framework for Monitoring and Evaluation

• Influence the way people conceptualise and implement gender

Thank you!

Zikomo