Gender, Resource Management and

Livelihood Security

Component Contributors:Ingrid Nyborg, Gulcheen Aqil,

Nazir Ahmed, Kulsoom Farman

Purpose of ResearchExamine women’s and men’s roles in resource managementGo beyond, to see strategic issues of access to and control over resources

Content of ResearchComprised of many smaller studies in Basho and other areas in Baltistan.– Health and Food Situation in Basho– Gender Roles in NRM and Food Security in Basho– Effects of Child Labor on Education, Baltistan– Gender Roles in NRM and Food Security in Satpara– Comparison of Male and Female Headed Househilds– Comparison of Basho and Satpara in Gender Roles in

NRM and Livelihood Security

PhD Dissertation

MethodologyField-based research, anthropological

approaches i.e. paticipant observationFocus interviews, PRA techniquesGroup and individual interviews with both men and women of different agesUse of secondary data, and discussion with other researchersQuantitative data to complement our qualitative data

Main AssumptionDecisions concerning resource management should to the greatest degree possible be made by those actually managing the resources.– Who is managing the resources and in

what ways?

Structure of Presentation

Focus on women’s roles in NRMLinks to Social DevelopmentExamine distributional issues and processes of negotiation over access to and control over resources

Throughout presentation, discuss policy implications– AKRSP policies of implementation– Broader policy implications

Women’s Roles in NRMFlexible gender rolesExtend of women’s contribution to NRM- Forestry: Competence and experience in forest management – Firewood and NWFP collection – Tree marking and cutting

- Livestock ManagementHerdingWinter stall feeding

Women’s Roles in NRM - Agriculture

Irrigation systems/Water mangement (upper vs lower villages)

– Strategic decisions vs practical everyday decisions made by women

- Shifts in roles and responsibilities due to male out-migration

increased workloadinability to utilize farm resources to their fullest

Women’s Roles in NRM Policy:

- AKRSP focus on VO channel construction ignores water management, and thus women’s roles in water management. Refocus on NRM after channel construction and include women in deciding use and management.

- More emphasis on management in forestry, livestock and agriculture leads to women-focused programs

Links Between NRM and Social Development

Workload and health– Curative vs preventive aspects

Policy:Stress the importance of preventive health in AKRSP’s future policy for social development.

Links Between NRM and Social Development (Cont.)Child labor in NRM– Herding, firewood collection, agriculture,

domestic work, channel workPolicy: – Innovative thinking in organizing education– Motivation of parents, change parents

perceptions of education – Labor-saving technologies to decrease child

labor demand

Links Between NRM and Social Development (Cont.)

Local perceptions of good and bad quality of life– Wealth ranking with criteria decided by

villagers themselves– Wealth, well-being and poverty

Different preferences + different abilities to choose = choices in resource management and livelihood

Power Differences and Institutions

Negotiation over resources– Dynamic– Powered– Extensive use of social networks

FamilyOther allies

Negotiation over Resources

How do women and men negotiate over resources?

-Land and negotiation within households-Negotiation over time-Morality and negotiation-Flexibility and negotiation-Silent negotiation

Systematic negotiations

ConclusionsDevelopment of institutions and policies which consider the dynamic and powered nature of negotiations, in order to ensure more equitable access to resources.- Whose rights are we securing, in which ways, and whose rights are weakened?- Maintain communal management of resources

- Support women’s rights of land ownership

ConclusionsIf AKRSP would like to focus on women’s needs, then it is clear that a focus on NRM activities would be an effective way to improve the lives of womenResearch results focus on management, where women are often the main managers.– Golden opportunity to mainstream women in

resource management training New or adjusted institutional arrangements

where women as resource managers can have a voice.