Environmental Justice and Women Empowerment in Nyungwe National Park (Rwanda): Case Study of Kitabi Women Handcrafts Cooperative

A case study of the Kitabi Women Handcrafts Cooperative in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, reveals significant strides in women's economic and social empowerment while highlighting persistent challenges in environmental justice. The cooperative, established in 2011 to shift former hunters' wives away from reliance on natural resources, demonstrates measurable progress through access to financial loans, savings, employment, and income-generating projects. Socially, members report improved capacity building and family relations. However, procedural justice remains limited due to a dominant top-down approach that marginalizes women's voices in decision-making processes. Challenges such as crop raiding, slow compensation processes, high-interest rates, and inadequate communication hinder further empowerment. The study recommends adopting a partnership approach to better integrate women's needs and perspectives into conservation policies.

Umuziranenge, G. (2019). Environmental Justice and Women Empowerment in Nyungwe National Park (Rwanda): Case Study of Kitabi Women Handcrafts Cooperative. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 77–87. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2019/v9i230098