Gender implications of forest product value chains in the Congo basin

Abstract

Activities and roles in value chains of forest products in the Congo Basin are highly gendered, varying with the product's characteristics, the segment of the chain and customary regulations and norms. High-value products are primarily male-harvested when customary rules govern tenure and access, enabling men to exert control. Whilst non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are important cash sources for both sexes, women tend to use more of their harvest for domestic consumption, while men sell a greater proportion. Interventions by research and development organisations, NGOs and projects have positively influenced women's incomes in some NTFP chains. Suggestions include supporting women's domesticating and cultivating NTFPs currently pressured by over-harvesting; recognising the informal, often invisible nature of value chains; addressing unfavourable customary norms restricting the possession of valuable species by women; revising bureaucratic trade regulations; improving value-adding opportunities and supporting collective action to access credit and increasing bargaining power.

Keywords::

• non-timber forest products
• gender
• livelihoods
• trade
• value chains
• governance
• Cameroon
• Congo
• Gabon
• Central Africa

Acknowledgements

We thank all the stakeholders interviewed. We are grateful to Peter Cronkleton, Patrice Levang and the editor for their comments.

Notes

^1. Email: [email protected]

^2. Email: [email protected]

^3. Current Address: FAO-SFC, BP 2643, Libreville, Gabon; Email: [email protected]

^4. Current Address: Montpellier 3 University, Montpellier, France; Email: [email protected]

^5. Email: [email protected]

^6. The Congo Basin covers Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

^7. Hives with sloping sides and bars of wood across the top to which the bees attach the comb.

Additional information

Funding

Value chain analyses were conducted as part of CIFOR's contribution to three European Commission funded projects: GCP/RAF/408/EC ‘Mobilisation and capacity building of small and medium enterprises involved in non-timber forest product value chains in Central Africa’ (2007–2011), the EuropeAid DCI-ENV/2008/151-384 ‘Sustainable management of woodfuel in the Democratic Republic of Congo’(Makala Project) (2009–2013) and 9 ACP RPR 91#1 ‘Establishment of a forestry research network for ACP countries (FORENET)’ (2007–2012), and as part of CIFOR's contribution to a Common Fund for Commodities financed project led by INBAR ‘Enhancing Opportunities for Market-Led Bamboo and Rattan-based Development in West and Central Africa’. This paper's content is the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the Common Fund for Commodities.