INSTRAW United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. UNITAR United Nations Institute for Training and Research WCED World Commission on Environment and Development WCT Wildlands Conservation Trust.
Introduction
The inclusion of women in the green economy framework is essential as it will not only empower them, but also contribute to poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability and gender equality (Stevens, 2010). It would therefore be beneficial for urban women to help protect the environment and contribute to environmental management.
Aim and objectives
To investigate the impact of the green economy project on the livelihoods of marginalized urban women. To ascertain the level of environmental awareness and involvement in environmental management of the women in the case studies through their participation in the community-based green economy initiative.
Rationale
To critically review literature on the green economy discourse and assess its application in poverty alleviation in developing countries, particularly South Africa. To investigate women's involvement in a community-based green economy project organized by a local ENGO in three communities, and to establish reasons for their involvement and factors that may promote or hinder their participation in such grassroots green economy initiatives.
Structure of the dissertation
Introduction
Urban Poverty
What is urban poverty?
A lack of sufficient income that hinders the ability of the poor to meet their minimum nutritional needs. This is due to the lack of finance and the fact that demand far exceeds institutional capacity.
Urban poverty in South Africa
In the absence of the informal economy, the UN Economic and Social Council (2007) asserts that urban poverty would be more severe. 2005; Crush and Frayne, 2010). As of 2012, it is estimated that the informal economy contributes 38% of South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) and more women than men participate in the economy for subsistence reasons (SALGA, 2012).
Urban poverty and the environment
Second, while the environment provides goods and services to the poor, it can have a negative impact on their livelihoods. Consequently, governments must find strategies to help the poor cope with the impacts of environmental degradation (ActionAid International, 2006; Satterthwaite, 2013).
Sustainable development
- History
- The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
- World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
- Failure of sustainable development
The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development contains 27 principles that countries have agreed to follow in order to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Despite the fact that sustainable development as a concept is globally accepted, its implementation has proven to be a difficult task.
Green Economy
Transition from Sustainable Development to Green Economy
UN CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. green economy in the context of poverty reduction and sustainable. development) - The future we want. Dankelman (2012) adds that The Future We Want has failed to provide guidance for promoting a low-carbon green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.
Green economy in South Africa
To start the process, several sectors have been identified to foster a green South African economy. Economic development in the green economy through the promotion of localization, youth development, cooperatives and skills development.
Women and the Environment
History of Women and the Environment
There are many women's groups and environmental organizations that are fighting and lobbying against environmental degradation and unsustainable practices. Examples include the Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) which is a global women's advocacy organization that aims to promote gender equality, protect women's rights and environmental resources to ensure that sustainable development goals are met ( WEDO, ud);.
Women and environment in S.A
Furthermore, the law advocates the participation of women, youth and vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in environmental management. Despite having one of the best developed environmental policy and legislative frameworks in the world, South Africa is finding it difficult to implement, with researchers questioning whether the poor, the majority of whom are women, and the marginalized are actually equipped with the skills to participate and have the opportunity to participate in environmental management.
Women and Green Economy
In the absence of such training, they are unable to participate in the green economy and therefore continue to live in poverty (WESC and WOW, 2009). In addition, it is important to create awareness about green economy and provide women with appropriate training to enable them to participate in "green collar" opportunities (WESC and WOW, 2009, p. 13).
NGOs and the environment
The role of NGOs
NGOs have a strong presence in the global community and operate mainly at the local or grassroots level (giving a voice to civil society), but some can also be found at the international level (Paul, 2000). The latter can prove to be an unreliable source of income, especially given the uncertainty and losses that can occur in the stock market (Paul, 2000; SustAinability et al., 2003; Shah, 2005).
Criticisms of NGOs
NGOs have proven to be crucial for development aid, poverty reduction and environmental protection. Finally, NGOs have been accused of unknowingly “doing more harm than good” (Shah, 2005, no page number).
Environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs)
The 1980s saw the rise of community-based NGOs concerned with meeting the needs of the poor. Prior to this, the needs of the poor, whose environmental issues stemmed from lack of development, were largely ignored.
Conclusion
After that, more 'community greening' campaigns were initiated in the form of tree planting projects or growing organic food gardens. As such, with the advent of the global financial crisis of 2008, the sector is facing a financial sustainability crisis due to a lack of funding.
Introduction
Research strategies
Mixed Methods Research
Case studies
In line with the objective of the study, three suburban study sites were selected based on the contribution to environmental sustainability of women within each study area through their adoption of green economy initiatives led by a local environmental non-governmental organization (ENGO), the Wildlands Conservation Trust. A brief history of ENVOs and their green entrepreneurship activities is discussed in the next section.
Wildlands Conservation Trust (‘A sustainable future for all’)
Green-preneurship activities
Cabbage, beans and roots (a,b,c,d) are grown by women in the communities for subsistence and for sale to other members of the community. On occasion, the top green-preneurs in the various communities are rewarded by attending similar training.
Study sites
- Sampling
- Study areas
- Data Collection
- Analysis and interpretation
Pietermaritzburg is a city located within the jurisdiction of Msunduzi Municipality in uMgugundlovu District Municipality and is the economic center of the district municipality (Smith and Green, 2005; Msunduzi Municipality, et al., 2012; SACN, 2013). There is poor provision of services in this area as 94% of residents are forced to dispose of their waste themselves (Statistics South Africa, 2003; Statistics South Africa, 2011).
Limitations
Content and textual analysis of the secondary data was undertaken to build the foundation of the research (Wharton, 2006). This chapter serves to present the research findings which consist of responses provided by the respondents in the study areas and observations of the researcher.
Socio-economic characteristics of respondents
The results are divided into three sections, which illustrate the focus of the study, namely the socio-demographic information of the 120 women who participated in the study, their involvement in the Wildlands Conservation Trust's green economy initiative, and their level of environmental awareness as determined. through their environmental knowledge, values, attitudes, willingness to act and 'actual' action.
Green-preneurship activities
- Reasons for participating in green-preneurship
- What have you done with the income from green-preneurship?
- Importance of green-preneurship activities
- Has green-preneurship changed your role in the household?
- Have you faced any challenges in carrying out green-preneurship activities?
- Has Wildlands Conservation Trust met its goals?
- Future participation in the green-preneurship project
Seventy-seven percent of respondents stated that green entrepreneurship initiatives have significantly changed their role in the household. The project leaders agreed, adding that the “issue of scale” is a major challenge.
Environmental awareness
Environmental knowledge and values
The majority of respondents do not know who is polluting the water in their area (57%) (Figure 4.10), and 39% stated that the community is responsible for water pollution. In addition, women felt that the government should provide them with some form of employment.
Environmental attitudes and willingness to act
The next generation will not take care of the environment and such mismanagement of environmental resources results in the spread of diseases." As such, women tend to err on the side of caution and choose to protect the environment for their children and grandchildren.
Responses from key informants
The role of women in green-preneurship and South Africa’s green economy
The reason for this lack of focus on women and the poor is that the municipality lacks resources - human and financial - as at the time of the study only three people worked in the municipality's environmental management unit, which is below the minimum manpower. request (Msunduzi Municipality pers comm, 2012). When asked about the strengths and weaknesses of the initiative, WCT stated that the strength of the initiative is that it addresses poverty in South Africa and the need to restore ecosystems.
Summary of results
To protect and manage the environment, poverty levels must be drastically reduced. I didn't know that I need the environment and the environment needs me” - Project Facilitator, Sweetwaters pers comm, 2012.
Introduction
Socio-economic data
The majority of respondents were not married, which is not surprising since the women from such female households are not subject to the same constraints that married women face, who culturally tend to face inequalities and are not allowed to make decisions in households due to the “presence of the alpha male” (Darkey, 2012, p. 212). Conversely, the lack of a man in a household gives women more incentive to participate in such projects, as they are the breadwinners of the family and are always looking for opportunities to become financially secure.
WCT’s Green-economy initiative
Waste entrepreneurship made for a cleaner environment as most of the waste was collected and recycled in the communities. Despite the financial incentive to participate in the project, the women are beginning to understand the importance of the environment and are more aware of the environmental impact of their activities.
Environmental awareness
Similarly, in a study by Alfaro (2010) on the environmental friendliness of the urban poor in Ocotlán, Mexico, it was found that women in the study, both those who received formal education and those who did not, demanded that the government measures to stop pollution and raise awareness, leading the researcher to conclude that “poor women saw government action as a solution to their environmental degradation,” regardless of their level of education (Alfaro, 2010, p. 30). Therefore, successfully addressing the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainable development in the context of a green economy will require a gender perspective (Cozendey, 2011, Becher, 2012).
Conclusion
In the same way, NGOs or civil society organizations should renounce funding from external donors in order to ensure the economic sustainability of the projects they initiate. This chapter presents the main findings of the research in relation to the purpose and objectives of the research.
Main findings
To examine literature on urban poverty, its impact on the environment, and the role
This chapter presents the main findings of the research in relation to the purpose and objectives of the research. 2008).
To critically review literature on the green economy discourse and assess its
Many women are forced to walk long distances in search of waste to sell, increasing the labor intensity of the project. But despite the challenges, many expressed a strong desire to stay in the initiative because of the financial gains.
To investigate the impact of the green economy project on the livelihoods of the
To ascertain the level of environmental awareness and involvement in
United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), World Bank and World Resources Institute (WRI), 2005. United Nations Division for Sustainable Development (UNDESA), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2011.
Questionnaire administered to women from SWAPO, Sweetwaters, and
Who do you think should be responsible for solving the following environmental problems and why? In your experience with the program, do you think Wildlands has achieved these goals?
Interview schedule for project facilitators
What steps are being taken to clean up the environment in the area, besides the green prenuership program. How have the initiatives changed the lives/basis of life of the women who participate in the programme.
Interview schedule for official from WCT
In the long term, do you feel that this is sufficient to achieve a green economy and an overall sustainable development. How can the project be diversified to ensure sustainable poverty reduction in the long term (explain) and the sustainability of the programme.
Interview schedule for Manager of Environmental Management Unit, Msunduzi
I am conducting a study to find out how women from urban/peri-urban areas in South Africa are participating in environmental management and the overall green African economy. What is the municipality doing to encourage the development of similar environmental or green economy programs by other organizations.
Informed consent WCT
Informed Consent Msunduzi
Ethical clearance
Example of tree-preneurship
To ensure the diversification of community members' livelihoods and develop entrepreneurial skills, WCT has created the Food Entrepreneurship Project Hub in which registered community members are encouraged and taught how to grow vegetables such as carrots, beans and cabbage (Plate 3.3), for personal purposes. consumption and for sale to other community members for additional income. The food producers plant these crops in their yards and initially WCT provides them with 30 meters of chicken wire to border the gardens, a watering can and vegetable seedlings to facilitate the process (WCT, 2011a). a) b).
Examples of food-preneurship
The majority of respondents admitted that the price (87%), quantity (77%) and quality of the product (70%) influenced their purchase choice (Figure 4.14). Is your understanding of the environment and environmental issues different than before Wildlands came to work in the area.
