Top

Environmental Management

Published in:

01-05-2024

Does Matrilineality Reduce Gender Inequality in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Public Participation? Some Evidence from Malawi

Authors: Juwo Lwesya Sibale, Thomas Bernward Fischer

Published in: Environmental Management | Issue 6/2024

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

This paper reports on Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) public participation in Malawi with a focus on the role of women from matrilineal and patrilineal marriage systems. Six rural ESIA projects are explored of which three are in areas of patrilineal and three are in areas of matrilineal systems. Participation space was found to be consistently dominated by men, with no obvious differences between both systems. The key reasons are likely to be lower educational and social status of women in rural areas throughout the country. This is associated with a number of challenges, including chronic poverty and food insecurity. Affirmative action is needed to achieve a better representation of women in ESIA processes.

previous article The Overlooked Contributors to Climate and Biodiversity Crises: Military Operations and Wars

next article Insights from First Nations, Government and Industry Leaders on Criteria for Successful Impact Benefit Agreements

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Extension workers in the context of Malawi are frontline workers working with the communities at local level

Adusah-Karikari A (2015) Black gold in Ghana: Changing livelihoods for women in communities affected by oil production. Extract Ind Soc 2(1):24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2014.10.006CrossRef

Agrawal T (2014) Educational inequality in rural and urban India. Int J Educ Dev 34(1):11–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2013.05.002CrossRef

Alesina A, Giuliano P, Nunn N (2013) On the origins of gender roles: women and the plough. Q J Econ 128(2):469–530. https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/qjt005CrossRef

André P, Enserink B, Conner D, Croal P (2006) Public Participation: international best practice principles, Special Publications Series, 34(4). Available at: https://conferences.iaia.org/2008/pdf/IAIA08Proceedings/IAIA08ConcurrentSessions/CS5-4_Assessing-Public-Participation-Best-Practice-Principles_Enserink.pdf (Accessed:7 March 2018)

Anuar MINM, Saruwono M (2018) Obstacles of public participation in the design process of public parks. J Asian Behav Stud 3(6):147–155. https://doi.org/10.21834/jabs.v3i6.247CrossRef

Anyanwu JC, Augustine D (2013) Gender equality in employment in Africa: Empirical analysis and policy implications. Afr Dev Rev 25(4):400–420. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8268.12038CrossRef

Aucamp I, Retief FP, Sandham LA (2023) Best Practice Public Participation in Africa, In Sinclair, J and Burdett, T (eds.) Public Participation in Impact Assessment. Edward Elgar, London

Aziz A, Shams M, Khan KS (2011) Participatory action research as the approach for women’s empowerment. Action Res 9(3):303–323CrossRef

Berge E, Kambewa D, Munthali A, Wiig H (2014) Lineage and land reforms in Malawi: do matrilineal and patrilineal landholding systems represent a problem for land reforms in Malawi? Land Use Policy 41:61–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.05.003CrossRef

Bisset R (2013) Methods of consultation and Public Participation, in Lee, N. and George, C. (eds) Environmental Assessment in developing and transitional countries.Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118685570.ch9 (Accessed: 4 June2019).

Chigbu UE (2019) Anatomy of women’s landlessness in the patrilineal customary land tenure systems of sub-Saharan Africa and a policy pathway. Land Use Policy 86:126–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.04.041CrossRef

Chifungo PF (2023) A biblical and Cultural Study of Women in the church in Central Malawi, Luviri Press

Chimombo J, Mwale L Ndalama L (2006) An assessment of schooling conditions and standard one achievement levels in pre-literacy, pre-numeracy, basic literacy and numeracy in Malawi primary schools PCAR standard 1 baseline study, Lilongwe: Ministry of Education

Chiweza AL (2021) Discursive construction of citizen participation in democratic decentralisation discourses in Malawi. J Humanit 29(1):23–55

Cornwall A (2002) Making spaces, changing places: situating participation in development Available at : https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1130282272944594432. Accessed:12 April 2024)

Dagiliute R, Juozapaitiene G (2018) Stakeholders in the EIA process: What is important for them? The case of road construction. Environ Clim Technol 22(1):69–82CrossRef

Davison J (1997) Gender, Lineage, and Ethnicity in Southern Africa. Boulder, CO: Westview Press

Djurfeldt AA, Hillbom E, Mulwafu WO, Mvula P, Djurfeldt G (2018) The family farms together, the decisions, however are made by the man-Matrilineal land tenure systems, welfare and decision making in rural Malawi. Land Use Policy 70:601–610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.10.048CrossRef

Federici S (2018) Re-enchanting the World: Feminism and the Politics of the Commons. Pm Press, Kairo

Fischer TB, Welsch M, Jalal I (2019) Reflecting on the preparation of guidelines for strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of nuclear power programmes. Impact Assess Proj Apprais 37(2):165–178. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2018.1560667CrossRef

Fitzpatrick P, Sinclair AJ (2003) Learning through public involvement in environmental assessment hearings. J Environ Manag 67(2):161–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-4797(02)00204-9CrossRef

GoM (Government of Malawi) (2015) The National Gender Policy, December 2017Available at https://cepa.org.mw/Library/governmentpublications/National%20Gender%20Policy%202015.pdf/view

GoM (Government of Malawi) (2013) Gender Equality Act of 2013 (GoM, 2013GOM (GovernmentofMalawi) GenderEqualityAct, 2013 https://malawilii.org/akn/mw/act/2013/3/eng%402014-12-31

GoM (Government of Malawi) (1997) Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines. Available at: http://www.sdnp.org.mw/enviro/eia/chap1.html (Accessed: 6 June 2020)

Graef F, Hernandez LEA, König HJ, Uckert G, Mnimbo MT (2018) Systemising gender integration with rural stakeholders’ sustainability impact assessments: A case study with three low-input upgrading strategies. Environ Impact Assess Rev 68:81–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2017.10.004CrossRef

Gottlieb J, Robinson AL (2016) The Effects of Matrilineality on Gender Differences in Political Behavior across Africa. Berkeley: University of California. Available at: http://cega.berkeley.edu/assets/miscellaneous_files/Gottlieb_Robinson_Paper.pdf (Accessed: 26 June 2021)

Götzmann N, Bainton N (2021) Embedding gender-responsive approaches in impact assessment and management. Impact Assess Proj Apprais 39(3):171–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2021.1904721CrossRef

Hanna R Karlan D (2017) Designing social protection programs: using theory and experimentation to understand how to help combat poverty, In Handbook of Economic Field Experiments (Vol. 2, pp. 515–553). North-Holland

Hickey S, Du Toit A (2013) Adverse incorporation, social exclusion, and chronic poverty. Palgrave Macmillan, UK, 134–159

Hill C, Madden C, Collins N (2017) A guide to gender impact assessment for the extractiveindustries. Availableat: https://oxfamilibrary.openrepository.com/bitstream/handle/10546/620782/gt-gender-impact-assessement-extractives-010117-en.pdf?sequence=1 Availableat: https://conferences.iaia.org/2008/pdf/IAIA08Proceedings/IAIA08ConcurrentSessions/CS5-4_Assessing-Public-Participation-Best-Practice-Principles_Enserink.pdf (Accessed:7 March 2018)

Heydari Barardehi I, Abdollah Milani M (2022) Iranian female-headed households’ material well-being during sanctions and post-JCPOA periods. Gender. Technol Dev 26(1):116–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/09718524.2022.2043987CrossRef

Hill C, Namara C, Orcaya J, Bogrand A, Sellwood SA (2021) Hidden in plain sight: gender analysis of the environmental and social impact assessment of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. Impact Assess Proj Apprais 39(3):229–239CrossRef

Jayachandran S (2015) The roots of gender inequality in developing countries. Economics 7(1):63–88. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-economics-080614-115404CrossRef

Johri M (2023) Feminist perspective on patriarchy: its impact on the construction of femininity and masculinity. N. Lit 4(2):1–9. https://doi.org/10.48189/nl.2023.v04i2.001CrossRef

Kalinga OJM (1998) The production of history in Malawi in the 1960s: the legacy of Sir Harry Johnston, the influence of the society of Malawi and role of Dr Kamuzu Banda and his Malawi Congress Party. Afr Aff 97(389):523–549. https://doi.org/10.1093/Oxfordjournals.AfraF.A007969CrossRef

Kanu EJ, Tyonum ET, Uchegbu SN (2018) Public participation in environmental impact assessment (EIA): a critical analysis. Archit Eng 3(1):7–12

Kayira GW, Banda PC, Robinson AL (2019) Ethnic associations and politics in contemporary Malawi. J East Afr Stud 13(4):718–738. https://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2019.1678925CrossRef

Kennedy E, Binder G, Humphries-Waa K, Tidhar T, Cini K, Comrie-Thomson L, Vaughan C, Francis K, Scott N, Wulan N, Patton G (2020) Gender inequalities in health and wellbeing across the first two decades of life: an analysis of 40 low-income and middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Lancet Glob Health’ 8(12):e1473–e1488CrossRef

Kimotho W, Ogol D (2021) Exploring the drivers of gendered grievance mechanisms: examples from the agribusiness, extractive and wind power sectors in Kenya. Impact Assess Proj Apprais 39(3):240–250. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2021.1906020CrossRef

Knoblauch AM, Divall MJ, Owuor M, Musunka G, Pascall A, Nduna K, Ng’uni H, Utzinger J, Winkler MS (2018) Selected indicators and determinants of women’s health in the vicinity of a copper mine development in northwestern Zambia. BMC Women’s Health 18(1):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-0547-7CrossRef

Kurien J (2000) Factoring social and cultural dimensions into food and livelihood security issues of marine fisheries: a case study of Kerala State, India (No.299). Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum, India

Lahiri-Dutt K Ahmad N (2011) Considering gender in social impact assessments. New Directions in Social Impact Assessment: Conceptual and Methodological Advances, Edward, Elgar Publishing, pp.117–137.

Leuenberger A, Kihwele F, Lyatuu I, Kengia JT, Farnham A, Winkler MS, Merten S (2021) Gendered health impacts of industrial gold mining in northwestern Tanzania: perceptions of local communities. Impact Assess Proj Apprais 39(3):183–195CrossRef

Lowes S (2020) Kinship structure & women: evidence from Economics. Daedalus 149(1):119–133. https://doi.org/10.1162/daed_a_01777CrossRef

Lwesya-Sibale JJ Fischer TB (2023) Who is involved in environmental and social impact assessment public participation? Observations on urban and rural practices in Malawi. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, pp.1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2023.2220152 41, (4), 301–313

Lwesya-Sibale J (2022) A comparative analysis of effective public participation in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) in decision-making processes between Rural and urban areas in Malawi (Doctoral dissertation, University of Liverpool). Doctoral thesis available at https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3166050/1/201302224_Oct%202022.pdf

Madimbo M (2016) Transformative and engaging leadership: Lessons from indigenous African women. Springer.

Maliro D (2021) A Gender Needs Assessment Across All Components of the second Malawi National Social Support Programme (MNSSP II: Final Gender Needs Assessment Report. European Union, Lilongwe

Mayer CH, Barnard A (2015) Balancing the scales of gender and culture in contemporary South Africa, Psychology of gender through the lens of culture: theories and applications, 327–349. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14005-6_16.

Milner G, Chimombo J, Banda T, Mchikoma C (2001) The quality of primary education in Malawi: Some policy suggestions based on a survey of schools, Available at: http://www.unesco.org/education/wef/countryreports/malawi/rapport_2.html (Accessed 7 September 2020)

Mnimbo TS, Lyimo-Macha J, Urassa JK, Mahoo HF, Tumbo SD, Graef F (2017) Influence of gender on roles, choices of crop types and value chain upgrading strategies in semi-Arid and sub-humid Tanzania. Food Secur, 1007/s12571-017-0682-2

Mtika MM, Doctor HV (2002) Matriliny, patriliny, and wealth flow variations in rural Malawi, Afr Sociol Rev, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.4314/asr.v6i2.23215

Morrison-Saunders A, Early G (2008) What is necessary to ensure natural justice in environmental impact assessment decision-making? Impact Assess Proj Apprais 26(1):29–42. https://doi.org/10.3152/146155108×303210CrossRef

Mukherjee S, Sundberg T, Schütt B (2021) Issues, dimensions and approaches of assessing urban water security in developing and emerging countries: an inclusive perspective, Environmental Management: Issues and Concerns in Developing Countries, 151–184

Nadeem O, Fischer TB (2011) An evaluation framework for effective public participation in EIA in Pakistan. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 31(1):36–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2010.01.003CrossRef

Nguyen QN, Thi Phuong N, Le Hang DT (2021) Gender biases in resettlement processes in Vietnam: examining women’s participation and implications for impact assessment. Impact Assess Proj Apprais 39(3):206–217CrossRef

NPC (National Planning Commision) (2020). Available at: https://npc.mw/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/MW2063-VISION-FINAL.pdf (Accessed: 29 January 2021)

NSO (National Statistical Office) (2019) Malawi Poverty Report 2018. Available at: http://www.nsomalawi.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=226&Itemid=6. Accessed:12 April 2024

NSO (National Statistical Office) (2020) The Fifth Integrated House 1020 hold Survey (IHS5) 2020 Report. Available at: http://www.nsomalawi.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=230&Itemid=111. Accessed on 12 April 2024.

O’Faircheallaigh C (2010) Public participation and environmental impact assessment: purposes, implications, and lessons for public policy making. Environ Impact Assess Rev 30(1):19–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2009.05.001CrossRef

Palerm JAR (2000) An empirical-theoretical analysis framework for PP in Environmental Impact Assessment. J Environ Assess Policy Manag 43(5):581–600. https://doi.org/10.1080/713676582CrossRef

Pattajoshi B, Das D, Mohanty (2020) Brand-image dimensions and bottom of pyramid-aholisticperspective’, Available at :https://www.mililink.com/upload/article/636294809aams_vol_202_dec_2020_a3_p211-226_biswajit_pattajoshi_and_sangeeta_mohanty.pdf (Accessed: 23 June 2018)

Peletz N, Hanna K (2019) Gender Analysis and Impact Assessment: Canadian and International Experiences. Available at. https://dspace.ceid.org.tr/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1/1360/FINAL_WEB_Gender_Analysis_-Impact_Assessment.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (Accessed: 23 June 2018)

Phiri KM (1983) Some changes in the matrilineal family system among the Chewa of Malawi sincethe nineteenth century. Journal of African History 24(2):257–274. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021853700021976CrossRef

Pradhan SK (2018) Gender issues in project design: a case of Metro Rail in India. J Resour Energy Dev 15(1-2):13–23CrossRef

Robinson AL, Gottlieb J (2021) How to close the gender gap in political participation: lessons from matrilineal societies in Africa. Br J Polit Sci 51(1):68–92. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123418000650CrossRef

Retief F, Bond A, Pope J, Morrison-Saunders A, King N (2016) Global megatrends and their implications for environmental assessment practice. Environ Impact Assess Review 61:52–60CrossRef

Retief F, Morrison-Saunders A, Geneletti D, Pope J (2013) Exploring the psychology of trade-off decision-making in environmental impact assessment. Impact Assess Project Apprais 31(1):13–23CrossRef

Sainath NV, Rajan KS (2015) Meta-analysis of EIA public hearings in the state of Gujarat, India: its role versus the goal of environmental management. Impact Assess Proj Apprais 33(2):148–153. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2014.964085CrossRef

Sarkissian A (2012) Religion and civic engagement in Muslim countries. J Sci Study Relig 51(4):607–622. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5906.2012.01677.xCrossRef

Schneider, D Gough, K, 1961. eds. Matrilineal Kinship. Berkeley

Sikweyiya Y, Addo-Lartey AA, Alangea DO, Dako-Gyeke P, Chirwa ED, Coker-Appiah D, Adanu RM, Jewkes R (2020) Patriarchy and gender-inequitable attitudes as drivers of intimate partner violence against women in the central region of Ghana. BMC Public Health 20:1–11CrossRef

Simpson NP, Basta C (2018) Sufficiently capable for effective participation in environmental impact assessment? Environ Impact Assess Rev 70(1):57–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2018.03.004CrossRef

Sweetman C, Ezpeleta M (2017) Introduction: Natural resource justice. Gend Dev 25(3):353–366. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552074.2017.1395138CrossRef

Subramanian RR (2024). Gate-Cane:(Un) tying the knots between climate, cane, and early marriage in rural India. Clim Dev, 1–14, https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2024.2326117

USAID (2018) Sociological analysis of traditional authorities in Malawi: democracy, rights and governance. USAID in partnership with the Department of Political and Administrative Studies, Chancellor College, Zomba, University of Malawi

Wood C (2003) Environmental impact assessment in developing countries: an overview. Paper for conference on New Directions in Impact Assessment for Development: Methods and Practices. Manchester: EIA Centre, School of Planning and Landscape, University of Manchester. Available at: https://www.academia.edu/3420793/Environmental_impact_assessment_in_developing_countries_an_overview (Accessed: 3 February 2019)

Yang S (2008) Public participation in the Chinese Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system. J Environ Assess Policy Manag 10(1):91–113. https://doi.org/10.1142/s1464333208002932CrossRef

Zeze WSD (2015) Democratic constitution and ethnic organizations in Malawi: preserving good culture or promoting regionalism, nepotism and tribalism. Hist Res 5(3):169–187. https://doi.org/10.17265/2159-550X/2015.03.004CrossRef

Zhang H (2017) Opportunity or new poverty trap: rural-urban education disparity and internal migration in China. China Econ Rev 44:112–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.chieco.2017.03.011CrossRef

Zhang Y (2015) Urban-rural literacy gaps in sub-Saharan Africa: the roles of socioeconomic status and school quality. Comput Educ Rev 50(4):581–602. https://doi.org/10.1086/507056CrossRef

Zuhair MH, Kurian PA (2016) Socio-economic and political barriers to public participation in EIA: implications for sustainable development in the Maldives. Impact Assess Proj Apprais 34(2):129–142. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2016.1176404CrossRef

Title: Does Matrilineality Reduce Gender Inequality in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Public Participation? Some Evidence from Malawi
Authors: Juwo Lwesya Sibale
Thomas Bernward Fischer
Publication date: 01-05-2024
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Environmental Management / Issue 6/2024
Print ISSN: 0364-152X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-024-01971-9

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Technik"

Other articles of this Issue 6/2024

Sense of Place and Perceived Impacts in the Rural Industrialized Nexus: Insights for Sustainability Pathways

‘Climate Healing Stones’: Common Minerals Offer Substantial Climate Change Mitigation Potential

The Livestock Frontier in the Paraguayan Chaco: A Local Agent-based Perspective

Can Exclusion of Feral Ecosystem Engineers Improve Coastal Floodplain Resilience to Climate Change? Insight from a Case Study in North East Arnhem Land, Australia

“Biodiversity Offsetting” in Uganda’s Protected Areas: A Pathway to Restoration of Forest Biodiversity?

Riparian habitat connectivity restoration in an anthropized landscape: A multi-species approach based on landscape graph and soil bioengineering structures