Raising the voices of women on land & resources

Papua New Guinea (PNG)

Partner: Wide Bay Conservation Association (WBCA)

Funding source: IWDA supporters and AusAID – ANCP

Issue: East Pomio District in East New Britain Province is a matrilineal society where women are the traditional custodians of the land and their roles in building their clan, land and resource ownership are important in society. Pressures to develop land for oil palm plantations and an increasingly market-driven economy have decreased women’s status as partners in decision-making. Women of East Pomio are concerned about men controlling income and exerting control over women through restricting women’s access to food gardens.

Outline: This project strengthens women’s organisation, visibility and voice in discussions and decision-making about natural resources in areas impacted by unsustainable oil palm production. The initiative supports women’s participation in consultative meetings and forums, community skills-building and training in good governance for women leaders.

Impact: More than 100 women have increased their skills in establishing and running small-scale microenterprises in affected communities. IWDA also provided WBCA with organisational capacity building support, which strengthened financial management and reporting, governance and organisational learning practices.

Posted in | Comments Off