You are here: / Promoting gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in the Mekong r...

Promoting gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in the Mekong region’s small-scale forest sector

Gender equality and women’s economic empowerment are important aspects of our work supporting wood-based micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Mekong region. Women play significant roles and contribute to the sustainable management of forests and forest-related businesses at the household and community level. However, women often do not benefit equally and their participation in decision-making processes has been restricted.

Husband and wife displaying their products at a trade fair, Lao PDR.
Husband and wife displaying their products at a trade fair, Lao PDR. Source: Khamphoui Saythala

Challenges faced by women are multi-layered. The heavy physical workload in forest plantations and timber processing, in conjunction with social gender norms, confine them to reproductive and unpaid domestic work. Enhancing women’s capacity and participation in economic activities in the forest sector can boost rural livelihoods, increase their inclusion in sustainable forest resource use, and reduce deforestation and forest degradation.

We have published a briefing to analyse the challenges women are facing and to identify how gender equality in the small-scale forest sector can be pursued.

Read the briefing:

You might also like
Promoting gender equality among micro and small enterprises in the wood-processing industry – findings and recommendations from Viet Nam
COVID-19 impacts on wood-based MSMEs in Myanmar
Rujinaree Ar-lai shows her wood lamp product made from wood waste.Konwilai WongyothChampioning gender equality in the small-scale forest sector
Monruedee Taemduem poses next to the tree she tagged.Somporn KhongthanakrittakornThe road to equal opportunities in Thailand’s forest sector: Women engage in tree planting and timber processing for sustainable livelihoods
COVID-19 takes a heavy toll on Myanmar’s wood-based micro and small businesses
Promoting legality within the private forest sector: obstacles and incentives to formalization

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.