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Reducing corruption’s impact on natural resources: How does a gender lens help?
Author(s): Kramer, Rachel , Hart, Elizabeth , Simoneau, Nathalie
Publication Date: 2020
DOWNLOAD FILEEvidence shows that women and other groups that face power inequity have an essential role to play in achieving natural resource management and conservation results. Many corrupt actions are only feasible for those with money and power, and corruption often perpetuates and deepens power networks. When programs and reforms are developed to prevent and address the corruption behind negative environmental and social outcomes, how can a gender lens help?
Key Takeaways
- Corruption undermines legal and sustainable natural resource management and conservation, gives power to parties with money and influence, and is often used as strategy for maintaining that power. Corruption can further marginalize women and other groups who already face power inequity and who rely on environmental resources for livelihoods and well-being.
- Evidence shows that women and men can have different interests in and relationships to natural resources. It also suggests that women and men experience, participate in, profit and lose from corruption differently.
- Anti-corruption strategies aimed at improving natural resource management and conservation outcomes should be informed by a strong understanding of these differences; otherwise, they may miss critical opportunities and constraints.
- Gender-informed anti-corruption strategies are still relatively new, so collecting data to further inform this work is especially important.
