Empowering women for gender mainstreaming in conservation and

poverty alleviation Outline

Brief Presentation

of ARECO;

Overview of approach used

Key Outcomes

Influencing Factors

Key lessons

Brief presentation of ARECO

• Association Rwandaise des Ecologistes(ARECO-RWANDA NZIZA)

• Founded in 1991, granted legal entity by the Ministry ofJustice in April 1992 and registered now at RGB;

• Seeks to promote a sound and pleasant environment for asustainable social and economic development;

• Extends its activities all over the country, with a specialemphasis on fragile zones and Protected Areas inparticular: Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Mukura-G NPs as wellas Rugezi Wetland..

• Main areas of intervention: CBNRM, EPA, Advocacy

• Member of IUCN and affiliated to other organisationslinking environ&poverty at international and local levels

Approach used

• Empowering women for gender mainstreaming in biodiversity conservation and CBNRM was identified a good approach to promote sustainability;

• Women, key actors(energy, agriculture, water, …) but less involved in decision making and less benefits

• Poor consideration of gender dimension in ENRM sector

• Enabling policy&institutional framework (Const: at least 30% in decision, right to land tenure and inheritage, …)

• ARECO has started the approach

from 2004 on Mukura Reserve and

has extended activities on volcanoes

and Nyungwe National Parks, Rugezi

Key outcomes

• Awareness and advocacy campaigns on potential role of women in biodiversity conservation and ENR in PA zones;

• Trainings of women on cooperative management, small enterprises based on forestry development including bamboo propagation and processing, energy saving, rain water harvesting, beekeeping, …..

• Creation of women based cooperatives and increased number of women in other CBOs;

• Self confidence, active participation and strong ownership of women in programs&projects;

• Income generation from activities: bamboo(seedlings, sticks, crafts) , …

Rugezi Wet

Location

Influencing Factors • Positive

Enabling environment: priority at national and local levels

Strong collaboration and partnership with other stakeholders: Local Government, Women structures(NWC), Park Authorities and partners in conservation(WCS,IGCP, REDO, CBOs, …)

Support of men in the process;

Credibility of women in conservation mechanisms;

Linkages and synergies with other enabling institutions: REFADD. GGCA, GWA, ANMF,….

• Negative

Poverty , low education and multiple tasks that affect the availability of women especially widows heading around 30% of households;

Poor monitoring of achievement a

Lessons learned

• Culture barriers and negative attitudes can be changed into positive practices;

• Women based enterprises have served as model of linking environment to poverty alleviation;

• Women are strong actors with long term vision, good managers of projects and ownership capacity,

• Importance of partnerships and synergies;

• Need to share best practices and to use them for policy advocacy