We done it how we want to! Dictating the terms of engagement for decision making over NRM

So much rhetoric!  Women are silent!  Without a voice!  In the shadow of decision making!  Weak!  Invisible  Marginalised!

Very much a personal journey! Some turning points 1.“how many grandmothers per hectare do you need to know before making a soil fertility management decision? 2.“we chose a men to lead because it gives the impression we are serious”

Why focus on gender! “There is women’s business just as men have men’s business, but it all comes together you know!”

Where and how does it come together! In the home In the extended family In the interest groups In the community in other levels too its there for you to see! “Women are the parliament we are the cabinet, the two work together, that is government you know”

Buzz words! Gender mainstreaming! Inclusive democracy Empowerment Equity and social justice

Whose views prevail? Culture Local world views External world views Self determination

Re-engaging science! Changing visions inspired by world experience  What/who informs development discourse?  Whose voice counts?  How do local women perceive themselves?

The gender struggle! Decades of gender advocacy UN conferences on women (4) National action plans Years of gender targeted development

Beyond struggle! 1.Where are they? 2.How many speak? 3.When do they speak? 4.How do they speak? 5.What do they say when they do speak?

Too few by a long shot! Incredible, controversial, charismatic, powerful women of our times! Mbuya Nehanda, Winnie Mandela Special attributes as wives, witches, mediums, mistresses and politicians Mai Sibanda Alexander MacCall Smith’s Mma Ramostwe

Reality and illusion! Do women want empowerment? Are women really constrained by culture? Are they really weak? Are they really invisible?

Empowerment! “Women access decision making because of the good manners of their husbands!” Why do you want us to become men in our dresses?

Power “Women have influence. Men have power to define and enforce rules by which society is governed. This power allows them to monopolise the structures of governance. Influence in contrast is not institutionalised”.

What do we make of the silence? Who is interpreting the silence? When do we interpret the silence? Multiple interpretations –We don’t care –We don’t hear/understand –We need time –This is not the place

Democracy “Democracy has a female face look carefully and you will see it ” “ we vote and we choose to vote for men”

Participation “You are looking for participation in the wrong places” “We have our ways, we prefer them! We done it how we want to!”

Are women invisible? “Our men bring us back into the picture, they don’t operate alone. Perhaps you don’t see me but my husband does”

What informs decision making? Complex networks of relationships and obligations. Decisions are thus products of complex social processes that we don’t tune into

Candid questions! Did we misdiagnose the problem? Do we use the wrong tools? Whose questions are we addressing?

Taking stock? Do women want the type of power we want them to have? Can they and do they have the means to excise it? Does culture change at the pace of advocacy/development?

Can decision making be inclusive? Yes it can be if it gives space for local processes of engagement to take place, allows negotiations and bargaining to take place. Yes if allows and gives recognition to informal arenas and provides avenues for the informal to feed into the formal arenas.

Cont. Yes if need for change is from below not externally determined. Yes if different gender are given enough room to manouvre! If we understand enough about social processes of negotiations, complex relationships, hierarchies and cultural norms and motivations to identify the right interventions.

“You come and go, but we live here, with the setting of the sun I go home to my husband, my family, my people, it is with them I must live ”

“We done it how we want to! We don’t want to be men in our dresses!” “Life in an African village allows me to be in my skin” (Susanna Herrera)