A case for gender equity in governance of the Okavango Delta fisheries in Botswana

A critical analysis of Okavango Delta fisheries governance reveals that past and current policies have entrenched gender disparities, marginalizing women fishers despite their intimate ecological knowledge. The study, based on interviews with 96 basket fishers across five villages, found that women's contributions to flood variability understanding, fish migration, and habitat management are excluded from zoning regulations and co-management structures. This exclusion perpetuates pre-existing gender inequalities in resource access, asset accumulation, and employment opportunities. Recommendations include innovative co-management approaches that recognize diverse interests to address these inequities.

Ngwenya, B. N., Mosepele, K. K., & Magole, L. (2012). A case for gender equity in governance of the Okavango Delta fisheries in Botswana. Natural Resources Forum, 36(2), 109–122. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1477-8947.2012.001450.x