[Wigsat-l] Overcoming barriers: promoting women’s local knowledge

[Sophia Huyer]

Overcoming barriers: promoting women’s local knowledge by Friederike  
Knabe, Jacqueline Nkoyok, Vol 2, No 1 (2006), KM4D

In many regions of Africa land degradation and desertification are  
increasingly threatening people’s livelihoods and the integrity of  
ecosystems. Women, as the families’ main food producers, are  
particularly impacted. Traditionally, women’s contribution to food  
security and environmental protection in agrarian societies in Africa  
has been a fundamental aspect of long term sustainability. Yet too  
often nowadays, when searching for solutions, and/or when agricultural  
policies and land management strategies are developed, whether  
national or international, women’s voices are bypassed and their know- 
how belittled or ignored.

For more than 10 years, an international civil society network on  
desertification (RIOD) strives to bring local expertise to the  
international policy and negotiation tables. RIOD promotes the  
important exchange of local expertise and scientific knowledge in this  
field. The article discusses experiences at the local level. It  
reviews obstacles at the community level and to the necessary exchange  
of experiences at the national and international levels. It concludes  
with suggesting ways for overcoming barriers and encourages lessons  
learned. The year 2006 has been designated by the United Nations as  
the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. This is  
providing a timely opportunity for focus on knowledge systems for  
African drylands that give equal weight to women’s local knowledge in  
sustainable land and natural resource management.

http://www.km4dev.org/journal/index.php/km4dj/article/view/49
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