The realities of gender in sustainable land management : basic concepts

CDE was recently commissioned by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to analyse the gender sensitivity of its agricultural operation. It's analysis showed that few programmes were adequately designed to address gender issues appropriately and even fewer included strategies for the monitoring of the most basic issues in gender-balanced development. This document outlines some basic concepts in gender-balanced development, sustainable land management and participatory methodologies and goes on to look at six key issues: local stakeholders and decision making processes; access to and control over land; division of labour and responsibilities; conflicts of interest over land use; knowledge and skills and external influences and support. Finally some implications for field activities are considered. The document is intended as a tool to initiate debate and to lead to the development of more precise and operational tools and guidelines.