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Protecting Natural Resources, Empowering Women: Investigating the Effects of Natural Resource Protection on Women's Empowerment in Sub‐Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Heng Li
  • Stéphane Mbiankeu Nguea

Abstract

Women in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) confront institutionalized marginalization in the context of Natural Resource Protection (NRP) where patriarchal land tenure systems, exclusionary conservation institutions, and gendered livelihood dependencies perpetuate their marginalization. These barriers exacerbate ecological vulnerability while denying women agency over the resources vital to their survival. Analyzing data from 37 SSA nations from 2006 to 2021, this study leverages secondary data from the World Bank and CIESIN to investigate how NRP impacts women's empowerment. Using Driscoll–Kraay estimators, Lewbel IV methods, and panel quantile regressions, the results reveal that while NRP reduces women's agricultural employment, it simultaneously increases vulnerable employment and reduces labor force participation, reflecting displacement into precarious informal sectors without secure alternatives. The results also indicate that NRP exacerbates barriers to political representation, underscoring the exclusion of women from conservation governance. Sub‐regional analyses highlight stark disparities: Central Africa faces heightened vulnerability to employment due to restrictive conservation policies, whereas Southern Africa's stronger institutions mitigate adverse effects. Eastern Africa's NRP initiatives reduce economic precarity but fail to improve political inclusion, while Western Africa shows insignificant gendered impacts, indicating underprioritized gender equity in conservation agendas. These findings highlight how NRP risks reinforcing “green grabbing” and patriarchal systems without intentional gender integration. Practically, the study urges policymakers to adopt gender‐responsive reforms: prioritizing land tenure rights for women, inclusive conservation governance, and region‐specific livelihood programs. For societies, this research underscores the imperative to align environmental sustainability with gender justice, ensuring that NRP empowers women as agents of ecological and social resilience.

Suggested Citation

  • Heng Li & Stéphane Mbiankeu Nguea, 2026. "Protecting Natural Resources, Empowering Women: Investigating the Effects of Natural Resource Protection on Women's Empowerment in Sub‐Saharan Africa," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(S1), pages 1341-1361, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:s1:p:1341-1361
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70230
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    References listed on IDEAS

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