Press release number IFAD 28/06

Rome, May 29, 2006. The impact of desertification on women around the world and their role in dealing with the problem is examined in a report to be launched today at a conference in Beijing.

The report, entitled “Gender and Desertification: Expanding roles for women to restore drylands”, has been prepared by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

It examines the way in which women in particular are affected by desertification and highlights the role they play in the management of natural resources and drylands, as well as the constraints they face.

Experiences are presented from several IFAD-supported initiatives that address women as natural resource users and managers in dryland areas. The report also highlights some of the approaches used to involve and empower women.
 
Over the years, IFAD has provided financial and technical support to projects and programmes that specifically support women’s participation in the management of drylands. The report examines some of the lessons from these initiatives and makes recommendations for expanding women’s roles in restoring dryland areas.

Desertification is a process of land degradation in dryland areas, caused by poverty, unsustainable land management and climate change. It affects women and men differently due to their strictly gendered division of labour. Through their daily work, women have acquired extensive knowledge on managing natural resources and drylands, which would enable them to play a crucial role in combating desertification. However, women often do not have decision-making authority, property rights, or access to resources, and are excluded from being involved in dryland development projects.

“We need to have a long-term focus on women affected by desertification, extending beyond this International Year of Deserts and Desertification,” said Sheila Mwanundu, IFAD’s Senior Technical Adviser, Environment and Natural Resource Management. “Women need to be empowered to take control of their own lives and their own development, especially women who live in such harsh areas.”

The report will be launched at the Beijing Conference on Women and Desertification, one of a number of thematic conferences being held during 2006 to mark the United Nation’s International Year of Deserts and Desertification (IYDD).

One third of the earth’s land surface, about 4 billion hectares, is threatened by desertification, and 24 billion tons of fertile soil disappears annually. Over 250 million people are directly affected by this global phenomenon and more than 1.2 billion in 110 countries, mainly in the developing world, are at risk.

Over the past 23 years, IFAD has committed over US$3.5 billion to support dryland development and combat land degradation in developing countries. About 70 per cent of IFAD-supported projects assist pastoralists and small farmers in ecologically fragile and marginal environments.

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IFAD is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries. Through low-interest loans and grants, it develops and finances projects that enable rural poor people to overcome poverty themselves. There are 187 ongoing IFAD-supported rural poverty eradication programmes and projects, totalling US$6.2 billion. IFAD has invested more than US$2.9 billion in these initiatives. Cofinancing has been provided by governments, beneficiaries, multilateral and bilateral donors and other partners. At full development, these programmes will help nearly 80 million rural poor women and men to achieve better lives for themselves and their families. Since starting operations in 1978, IFAD has invested US$9.0 billion in 705 programmes and projects that have helped nearly 300 million poor rural men and women achieve better lives for themselves and their families. Governments and other financing sources in the recipient countries, including project participants, have contributed almost US$8.8 billion, and multilateral, bilateral and other donors have provided another US$7.0 billion in cofinancing