Gender gaps in South and Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia highlight important issues that need to be considered in designing and implementing equitable development programs.
In a study conducted by the World Agroforestry Centre, researchers found that to better support agroforestry production in Sulawesi, women would benefit from greater access to land rights and ownership and more involvement in land-use management and decision-making.
“Currently women contribute very little to decision making and their income is much lower than men,” says Elok Mulyoutami, lead author of the study and researcher on local knowledge, gender and social science with the World Agroforestry Centre. “But when the situation is conducive – that is, women have rights to the land and can contribute to household and community income and markets - their potential for participation is far higher”.
The work forms part of a larger assessment of community livelihood systems for the Agroforestry and Forestry in Sulawesi (AgFor) project which is studying livelihood strategies, local farming systems and existing land-use systems.
“The longer-term aim of the project is to enhance local livelihoods through improved access to knowledge and skills,” explains Mulyoutami. “Knowledge about gender in land-use systems is vital to capture the different livelihood options of communities and the strategies they can employ to improve their options.”
In the study, researchers set out to understand the overall gender issues in Sulawesi and how women could be better integrated into natural resource management. They collected information relating to land use and historical sources of livelihood, land management practices, sources of and access to planting materials, training and extension, village organization, marketing practices and communication.
Based on their findings, the researchers developed recommended criteria and indicators to measure achievements in relation to gender participation in natural resource management during the implementation of the project.
“We looked at how the roles of men and women differ, their access to and control of resources and benefits, and how the project can accommodate these differences to ensure gender equality,” says Mulyoutami.
Focus groups were conducted with separate female and male groups in 8 villages in South Sulawesi and 9 villages in Southeast Sulawesi. A total of 30 household interviews were also conducted as well as some individual interviews
The Human Development Index (HDI), Gender Development Index (GDI) and Gender Empowerment Measurement/Index (GEM) were analysed in order to understand gender issues of equality and equity at the provincial and district levels. The Harvard Analytical Framework and the Moser Gender Planning Framework helped to illicit the actual role and work of women.
The researchers found that development between men and women is not yet balanced in South and Southeast Sulawesi. Men are still seen perceived as dominant in the economic sector. This could be as a result of low participation of women in the economic sector or because their contribution is under-acknowledged. The implication for the project is that women’s involvement at the community level must be promoted and women viewed as income earners.
Not surprisingly, women and men in the study had different roles in managing households, faming activities and natural resources. Women were largely responsible for domestic tasks and maintaining land close to the settlement whereas the men were mostly responsible for earning income from working in the public domain, and were fully responsible for maintaining land far from the settlement area and for heavy physical work.
When it comes to land rights, women are under-acknowledged as land holders with most of the land certificates only under male names. The researchers believe there is strong need to strengthen women’s position in households to increase the opportunities for them to hold land certificates.
Women and men also had different roles regarding natural resource management which reflect their different needs and interests in handling the resources. Women were more knowledgeable about land use values in regards to environmental issues related with biodiversity, while men were more aware of conservation or protecting the environment. Women also had more knowledge about the use of medicinal plants. The researchers say that if women can be more involved in land-use management, this will help to maintain biodiversity.
Women and men have equal positions in marketing and responsibility for cacao, clove and coffee marketing in South and Southeast Sulawesi. To expand their opportunities and income, both women and men need to have access to knowledge of market information.
Based on their findings, the scientists recommended that development programs specifically target the livelihood source preferred by both women and men, such as mixed-gardens, irrigated paddy fields and maize production in South Sulawesi.
“Opportunities need to be given to women so that they can be involved in public, extension services, technical assistance, credit and other activities,” says Mulyoutami. “To be effective, these need to be located close to women’s areas within villages but not place an additional burden on them.”
Download the full working paper:
Mulyoutami E; Martini E, Khususiyah N, Isnurdiansyah, Suyanto. 2012. Agroforestry and Forestry in Sulawesi series: Gender, livelihoods and land in South and Southeast Sulawesi. Working paper 158. Bogor, Indonesia: World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Southeast Asia Regional Program. 74p.
