Deal #10825

Based on the Project Appraisal Document: In the community forestry sector women are involved and even take leadership position, however there is limited involvement in commercial activities and decision-making associated with forest enterprises. Women are heavily involved in subsistence forestry activities, such as collecting and utilizing forest products for household needs. This contribution is often undervalued because it is considered unpaid work. Women's participation in the commercial aspects of the forestry sector, including timber harvesting, processing, and business activities, is limited. This is partly due to traditional gender roles and a lack of access to opportunities and resources. Women are poorly represented in forestry policy-making bodies and institutions. Project Interventions to Address Gender Gaps The Forests for Prosperity Project (FFPP) aims to address these gender gaps through various interventions: The project prioritizes granting land inside Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) areas to poor, female-headed households for fodder and Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) production. It also encourages joint land ownership for private plantations, incentivizing the registration of land titles in the names of both male and female household members. These measures seek to ensure women directly benefit from the project's activities. The project aims to guarantee women's representation in various project bodies and technical positions within the Project Management Units (PMUs). This promotes women's participation in decision-making processes and project implementation. The project provides a credit line and capacity building support specifically for female farmers and entrepreneurs involved in forest-based enterprises. This addresses the lack of access to finance and entrepreneurial skills that often hinders women's participation in the commercial forestry sector. The project includes capacity building activities aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of women in both formal and informal institutions. These activities equip women with the technical expertise and business acumen needed to participate more effectively in the forestry sector. Expected Impacts The project expects these interventions to narrow the gender gap in the forestry sector. Specific targets include: The project aims to achieve a 50% increase in the number of women employed in skilled jobs within the forestry value chain. This will be monitored through surveys and data collection on the percentage of women involved as skilled workers in various enterprises and parts of the value chain. The project's credit line specifically targets women entrepreneurs, aiming to increase their access to financial resources for establishing or improving forest-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The project seeks to increase women's representation in project governance structures and community forestry groups, empowering them to influence decision-making processes related to forest management and resource allocation. The project aims to empower women economically by providing them with opportunities to generate income through sustainable forest management, plantation establishment, and forest-based enterprises. This will contribute to improving the livelihoods of women and their families.