Increasing women’s voice and participation in extractive governance

With support from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Publish What You Pay (PWYP) national coalitions in Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda undertook research to unearth what data/information and reforms are needed to improve women’s participation and power in decision-making around the allocation and use of extractive revenues, for the benefit of women, men and communities at the local level. Our report is a synthesis of this research. 

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Too often the voices of those living in the shadows of resource extraction are not heard. Extractives projects are presented as pathways to sustainable development but in reality they deliver little tangible benefit for those affected by them. Women and girls are disproportionately harmed by extraction. The extractive industries have historically been male-dominiated, with women only recently gaining access. 

We know that citizen participation in the governance of their natural resources is a precursor to addressing the needs of the communities impacted by extraction. We also know women leaders often produce better outcomes. But women’s participation in extractive governance remains worryingly low; women are largely excluded from decision-making and policy formulation in a system of natural resource governance that is riddled with structural gender inequality.

Our report :

• outlines best practices for women’s participation and power in influencing the use and  allocation of extractive revenues ; 
• summarises the country research, findings and recommendations;
• synthesises lessons learned; 
• suggests next steps and possible advocacy strategies.