Promoting gender

Gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and the human rights-based approach are important aspects of the Forest Smallholders Project. In pilot projects, the Project is contributing to narrowing the implementation gaps of the national gender commitments by testing approaches to promoting gender equality among MSMEs in the forest sector. The human rights-based approach guides the delivery of the Project.

Promoting gender

Gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and the human rights-based approach are important aspects of the Forest Smallholders Project. In pilot projects, the Project is contributing to narrowing the implementation gaps of the national gender commitments by testing approaches to promoting gender equality among MSMEs in the forest sector. The human rights-based approach guides the delivery of the Project.

The policy framework

Gender equality through women’s economic empowerment and participation is enshrined in the national regulatory and policy frameworks of Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam. These national frameworks are the countries’ efforts to fulfil binding and voluntary commitments to various international standards. They include, but are not limited to, the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality.

Gender equality gaps among MSMEs

The implementation of national gender equality commitments has been challenging and the gap between policies and practice remains large. Among MSMEs, gender inequalities are pronounced. Multiple layers of obstacles have hindered efforts to promote gender equality, especially for women engaged in wood-based micro and small businesses. In Viet Nam, for example, the gender wage gap in the household business and micro-enterprise segment of the wood-processing industry was 51.4% compared to the overall national non-adjusted gender wage gap that stood at 11.5% in 2018. This discrimination is rooted in broader traditional, cultural and social arrangements.

Testing solutions in pilots

The Forest Smallholders Project’s approach to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment among MSMEs has been the integration of gender into the pilots’ activities by encouraging participation from women in trainings. Tailoring trainings to women’s needs not only empowers them but also increases business competitiveness. The Project is also using technical topics, such as trainings on management and continuous improvement as an entry point for raising awareness about gender equality among business owners and workers and challenging gender norms.

Another approach is building both male and female stakeholders’ understanding of women’s economic empowerment, gender equality and women’s rights. The Project is holding workshops and training for tree grower communities and timber processors in the pilots’ sites. It has also started facilitating dialogue among female representatives of MSMEs and is raising awareness and understanding of gender equality among the local authorities, credit providers, industry associations and universities. Such support opens a space to reflect on gender equality and contributes to narrowing the implementation gaps of the national and international gender commitments. Finally, the Project is putting women’s economic empowerment into action by coaching women-led enterprises in the forest sector, learning from and testing solutions to the challenges they face.

The human rights based approach

The human rights based approach (HRBA) serves as overall guidance in delivering the Forest Smallholders Project. It considers the relevant mandates under the international human rights frameworks and standards, and how they are applicable at the national and local levels. The Project is empowering the rights holders (the MSMEs) and building the capacity of the duty bearers (the relevant authorities).

It is empowering the rights holders by:

Building the understanding of their rights and the capacities to comply and/or hold others accountable under the laws and regulations, which reduces potential abuse by the authorities.
Improving their operations and competitiveness to become sustainable and resilient businesses that can create livelihood opportunities in local communities.
Creating more space for dialogue between workers and business owners on occupational health and safety, labour and women’s rights.

It is building the capacity of the duty bearers by:

Building their knowledge on laws and regulations so that they can enforce these regulatory frameworks in an effective and appropriate manner to support the MSMEs.
Improving their understanding of the situation on the ground which can reduce the gap in policy making and implementation.
Raising their capacities to support sustainable development and livelihoods at local level.

About the Forest Smallholders Project

Since 2016, the European Forest Institute (EFI) has been supporting wood-based micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in four Mekong countries to operate legally and sustainably. Under its Forest Smallholders Project, EFI has been testing solutions to MSMEs’ key challenges in pilot projects. Lessons learnt from these pilots are documented and disseminated nationally, regionally and internationally. Through its support to MSMEs, the Project promotes gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in the forest sector.

Disclaimer

This website has been produced with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the authors and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of funding organisations.