A guide for planners and managers - IUCN

1. Involving women in assessment and extension teams.
PART III
Case Histories of Marine Protected Areas
2. Using participatory approaches throughout.
3. Using special techniques to stimulate women participation and dialogue and
cooperation between the sexes in all steps of the process.
4. Collecting and monitoring of gender disaggregated data.
5. Conducting special meetings or actions when participation of women is low or
absent: In cases where women did not participate well in meetings special meetings
were conducted, first with women alone and finally with men to discuss women’s
participation. This resulted in a better understanding of men and women of the
importance of women’s participation, as well as a better participation of women
in meetings afterwards.
6. Insisting on equal representation in activities like training courses, study tours,
workshops, etc. This was instrumental in building women’s self-confidence.
7. Insisting on a fair (not necessarily equal) representation in village meetings and village
committees.
8. Assessing gender equity in addressing priority issues, allocation of funds and materials,
and other benefits on a yearly basis.
As a result of these steps, progress was made in raising awareness and support
among women and men of the importance of the participation of both sexes; and in
achieving more equitable representation of women and men in committees and
decision making, in training and in study tours. Women’s confidence has increased
through their successful participation and some are even actively participating in typical
‘male’ activities like village patrols. In general women’s and men’s issues are equally
addressed. Although some activities are male dominated and others are female
dominated, there is mutual understanding and support.
Lessons Learned
• A combination of different measures (see above) can effectively contribute to
improved women participation and gender equity in coastal zone management.
• Working in a Moslem environment—where customs and traditions are often seen
as an obstacle to gender equity—cannot be an excuse to not bother with improving
women’s participation. Programme experience shows that ways can be found to
improve women participation without violating customs and traditions.
• It is important that both men and women see the necessity and the advantages
of women participation in all steps of the process, and of dialogue and cooperation
between the sexes.
Source: Trudi van Ingen, Chief Technical Advisor, Tanga Coastal Zone Conservation
and Development Programme, IUCN.
E-Mail Contact: tangacoast@raha.com
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