Descriptions

This project draws from extensive experience by the Global Comparative Study on Forest Tenure Reform (GCS-Tenure) conducted by CIFOR between 2014 and 2018 in Peru, Uganda and Indonesia. The general objective of that research program was to improve the knowledge and understanding of the design, implementation and outcomes of forest tenure reforms. One particular interest of the research was identifying results regarding the rights of women and other vulnerable groups. We argue that while gender equity has been identified as a key aspect in effective design and implementation of development interventions, forests continue to be perceived as "a man's domain" and women's involvement is still marginal and often underestimated; many state-led interventions in forest landscapes, including the formalization of land and resource rights, continue to be implemented based on the idea that the household is represented by the (male) 'head'. This calls for improved understanding of the many factors that come to play, in order to ensure that on-going reform processes translate into improved conditions e.g. (secure rights to assets, well-being, empowerment) for women.

In this project we take greater advantage of the available data and provide added value to the research work our team has done so far. The project will result in a research paper with a focus on two issues. First, we develop a comprehensive understanding of existing threats and opportunities as catalysts of change in reforms analyzed in Peru, Uganda and Indonesia. Second, this paper explores the processes and incentives leading to interactions among main stakeholders. Which set of action resources and at which level (eg. household, community type of organization, local government) mobilize favorable or undesirable change for women within collective tenure regimes?