269
strong role in enhancing women’s human capital assets, an approach that is leading
to more sustainable livelihoods in Risaralda, Colombia. Research shows that active
engagement and empowerment of women, state government’s public policies and
effective governance arrangements are factors that have contributed to forge sustainable women’s livelihoods (Franco 2014).
Risaralda’s government authorities agree that the extractive industry is essential to
meet regional competition standards and achieve the sustainable development goals,
particularly SDG 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. It is important to note
that companies are made accountable for meeting acceptable sustainable resource
development and are asked to make a strong commitment to regional development.
There are three key approaches taken by the local government to forge sustainable
livelihoods; these include education, knowledge transfers and entrepreneurship
(Franco 2014). These three pillars, as constituent components of Risaralda’s governance framework, are considered as fostering factors to develop less resourcedependent communities and aid in creating more sustainable livelihood options.
However, we can see the transferal of economic dependency from local capacitybuilding initiatives to short-term dependency on resource revenue. For areas such as
Risaralda, localization of corporate policies will provide an economic boost to grassroots capacity building and upskilling initiatives. Thus, the involvement of women in
the extractive industry and other local economic sectors is paramount to forging sustainable resource regions and for the progress towards sustainable peace (Franco
2013). Business literature therefore recognizes the role of women participation in the
local economy, particularly in running business in nontraditional sectors such as mining, construction and manufacturing. In addition, scholarly debates address concerns
regarding the lack of empowerment and poor decision-making skills in integrating
both the community and women in the local and global economy (Christensen and
Grant 2007; Mabudafhasi 2002; Muthuri 2007; Said-Allsopp and Tallontire 2015).
One of the most significant research findings in the Risaralda case study has to do
with active women engagement. Women have played a strong role in the formation
of local development agendas, becoming active participants in achieving their own
development aspirations (Franco 2014). Women have also benefited from socially
responsible practices intended to help them cope with livelihood transformations
induced by the extractive industry. Such initiatives comprise activities, like agribusiness, dressmaking, jewellery manufacture, coffee production and agriculture. For
example, former informal miners and miners’ wives have been provided by the company with dressmaking training to create alternative livelihoods and realize their
entrepreneurial potential. These actions have been implemented either as a result of
effective government-corporation partnerships or as a response to women’s requests.
17.3 Methodology
This chapter is based on empirical research in Risaralda, Colombia. The selection of
the case study was based on three criteria: (1) a developing resource region, (2)
evidence of women starved for sustainable livelihood options and (3) a region which
17 SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
strong role in enhancing women’s human capital assets, an approach that is leading
to more sustainable livelihoods in Risaralda, Colombia. Research shows that active
engagement and empowerment of women, state government’s public policies and
effective governance arrangements are factors that have contributed to forge sustainable women’s livelihoods (Franco 2014).
Risaralda’s government authorities agree that the extractive industry is essential to
meet regional competition standards and achieve the sustainable development goals,
particularly SDG 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. It is important to note
that companies are made accountable for meeting acceptable sustainable resource
development and are asked to make a strong commitment to regional development.
There are three key approaches taken by the local government to forge sustainable
livelihoods; these include education, knowledge transfers and entrepreneurship
(Franco 2014). These three pillars, as constituent components of Risaralda’s governance framework, are considered as fostering factors to develop less resourcedependent communities and aid in creating more sustainable livelihood options.
However, we can see the transferal of economic dependency from local capacitybuilding initiatives to short-term dependency on resource revenue. For areas such as
Risaralda, localization of corporate policies will provide an economic boost to grassroots capacity building and upskilling initiatives. Thus, the involvement of women in
the extractive industry and other local economic sectors is paramount to forging sustainable resource regions and for the progress towards sustainable peace (Franco
2013). Business literature therefore recognizes the role of women participation in the
local economy, particularly in running business in nontraditional sectors such as mining, construction and manufacturing. In addition, scholarly debates address concerns
regarding the lack of empowerment and poor decision-making skills in integrating
both the community and women in the local and global economy (Christensen and
Grant 2007; Mabudafhasi 2002; Muthuri 2007; Said-Allsopp and Tallontire 2015).
One of the most significant research findings in the Risaralda case study has to do
with active women engagement. Women have played a strong role in the formation
of local development agendas, becoming active participants in achieving their own
development aspirations (Franco 2014). Women have also benefited from socially
responsible practices intended to help them cope with livelihood transformations
induced by the extractive industry. Such initiatives comprise activities, like agribusiness, dressmaking, jewellery manufacture, coffee production and agriculture. For
example, former informal miners and miners’ wives have been provided by the company with dressmaking training to create alternative livelihoods and realize their
entrepreneurial potential. These actions have been implemented either as a result of
effective government-corporation partnerships or as a response to women’s requests.
17.3 Methodology
This chapter is based on empirical research in Risaralda, Colombia. The selection of
the case study was based on three criteria: (1) a developing resource region, (2)
evidence of women starved for sustainable livelihood options and (3) a region which
17 SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions