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Integrating livelihoods of women in the extractive industry or other sectors relevant for the local economy will create value for both the resource industry and
women themselves. However, stakeholders (particularly the extractive industry)
meet difficulties in pursuing such integration and building resilient assets. Women’s
livelihoods have undergone substantial transformations led by local dynamic change.
For example, violent times in Risaralda, Colombia, diminished community opportunities to develop livelihood options other than mining. During times of armed conflict in Colombia, illegal groups tapped on revenues coming from natural resource
extraction and very often forced community members, particularly women, to
engage in illegal mining. The low income that some families received from mining
was inefficiently spent, and gender and power dynamics amongst small miners elevated internal conflict in the community. In addition, “low educational level impeded
women miners effectively administering the income they got from gold extraction”
(Community Leader, Interview, November 2012). Informal miners did not know
how to handle the benefits derived from informal mining, neither did they realize the
magnitude of the social and environmental problems triggered by poor mining practices. This situation led to some local authorities partnering with community members and other local stakeholders to provide capacity building in the form of education
(e.g. a vocational programme on making jewellery), providing women with sustainable human capital and therefore alternative employment and livelihood options.
Communities, particularly women, adjacent to extractive operations more commonly experience loss of livelihood options. Hence, there is a need to engage the
extractive industry in helping women fashion sustainable livelihoods in the regions
they operate (Franco 2014). This can create added value to the industry and local
communities, reduce tension in resource-rich regions and foster paths for sustainable peace through the creation of new sustainable livelihood options. Moreover,
there is a recognition that natural resources, particularly minerals and metals, will
not last for long and that local communities, mostly women, shouldn’t solely rely on
natural resource extraction in order to advance towards sustainability. The discussion in this chapter is organized as follows: Sect. 17.1 introduces the literature
review, followed by the methodology and presentation of Risaralda, Columbia, the
case study area. The paper finishes with the discussion and data analysis and final
remarks on impact sustainability.
17.2 Literature Review
17.2.1 Sustainable Livelihoods
The world has experienced rapid resource development, particularly in developing
and less industrialized economies. The total net output of the resource sector in the
world grew by 1.7% in 2013 (UNIDO 2014). However, increased growth of the sector has given rise to complexities within the industry, leading to unsustainable
resource development at locations where the industry operates with implications for
women and sustainable livelihood options. Poor resource development practice in
17 SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Integrating livelihoods of women in the extractive industry or other sectors relevant for the local economy will create value for both the resource industry and
women themselves. However, stakeholders (particularly the extractive industry)
meet difficulties in pursuing such integration and building resilient assets. Women’s
livelihoods have undergone substantial transformations led by local dynamic change.
For example, violent times in Risaralda, Colombia, diminished community opportunities to develop livelihood options other than mining. During times of armed conflict in Colombia, illegal groups tapped on revenues coming from natural resource
extraction and very often forced community members, particularly women, to
engage in illegal mining. The low income that some families received from mining
was inefficiently spent, and gender and power dynamics amongst small miners elevated internal conflict in the community. In addition, “low educational level impeded
women miners effectively administering the income they got from gold extraction”
(Community Leader, Interview, November 2012). Informal miners did not know
how to handle the benefits derived from informal mining, neither did they realize the
magnitude of the social and environmental problems triggered by poor mining practices. This situation led to some local authorities partnering with community members and other local stakeholders to provide capacity building in the form of education
(e.g. a vocational programme on making jewellery), providing women with sustainable human capital and therefore alternative employment and livelihood options.
Communities, particularly women, adjacent to extractive operations more commonly experience loss of livelihood options. Hence, there is a need to engage the
extractive industry in helping women fashion sustainable livelihoods in the regions
they operate (Franco 2014). This can create added value to the industry and local
communities, reduce tension in resource-rich regions and foster paths for sustainable peace through the creation of new sustainable livelihood options. Moreover,
there is a recognition that natural resources, particularly minerals and metals, will
not last for long and that local communities, mostly women, shouldn’t solely rely on
natural resource extraction in order to advance towards sustainability. The discussion in this chapter is organized as follows: Sect. 17.1 introduces the literature
review, followed by the methodology and presentation of Risaralda, Columbia, the
case study area. The paper finishes with the discussion and data analysis and final
remarks on impact sustainability.
17.2 Literature Review
17.2.1 Sustainable Livelihoods
The world has experienced rapid resource development, particularly in developing
and less industrialized economies. The total net output of the resource sector in the
world grew by 1.7% in 2013 (UNIDO 2014). However, increased growth of the sector has given rise to complexities within the industry, leading to unsustainable
resource development at locations where the industry operates with implications for
women and sustainable livelihood options. Poor resource development practice in
17 SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions