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Promoting a gender-sensitive approach to addressing corruption in the forestry sector

Corruption in the forestry sector leads to deforestation, with detrimental impacts on society and on women in particular. However, forest governance dominated by men has led to anti-corruption interventions that disadvantage women and hinder progress on forest conservation. Improving gender equality in forestry can help reduce both corruption and forest degradation. Donors, governments, and civil society can support gender-sensitive approaches to forestry governance that integrate gender into anti-corruption initiatives and ensure that gender equality initiatives consider corruption as a threat to their goals.

Also available in Indonesian
21 December 2019
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Promoting a gender-sensitive approach to addressing corruption in the forestry sector

Main points

  • Anti-corruption initiatives in the forestry sector often disregard gender, while efforts to integrate gender into forestry activities do not necessarily consider corruption as a major obstacle to forest conservation and gender equality.
  • Research has shown a link between poor corruption control and a high rate of deforestation. Illegal logging, the most common type of forestry corruption, strips forest cover, which has implications for global efforts to control climate change.
  • Deforestation also hinders forest-dependent people’s livelihoods by decreasing their access to timber and non-timber forest products. Women appear to be disproportionately affected.
  • Increasing women’s participation in community forestry institutions may improve forest governance and the sustainability of resources. However, it is not enough to just include women; their participation must be active and meaningful.
  • Corruption risks should be taken into consideration when designing and implementing initiatives aimed at empowering women and promoting gender equality in the forestry sector.
  • Donors can fund initiatives by international bodies, governments, civil society, and academic researchers that promote gender-sensitive approaches to anti-corruption efforts in the forestry sector.

Cite this publication


Kirya, M. (2019) Promoting a gender-sensitive approach to addressing corruption in the forestry sector. Bergen: U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, Chr. Michelsen Institute (U4 Issue 2019:14)

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About the author

Monica Kirya is Deputy Director at the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre and a lawyer. Kirya coordinates the themes on mainstreaming anti-corruption in public service delivery and integrating gender in anti-corruption programming.

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