Extractives and Sustainable Community Development: A Comparative Study of Women’s Livelihood Assets in the Americas

Abstract

The world has experienced a rapid growth in the mining industry due to increased demand for minerals. However, this situation has given rise to complexities in resource regions, compromising how women sustain their livelihoods. With increasing deregulation and globalization of the world economy, the livelihoods of women in resource-rich regions deserve special attention. Women in communities adjacent to extractive operations commonly experience a loss of livelihood options. Using case studies, this paper compares the livelihoods of women in two resource regions, Risaralda in Colombia and an Indigenous community in Nemiah Valley of British Columbia in Canada. This paper argues that the extractive industry should engage with women to enhance their assets and help them forge more sustainable livelihood options. The paper also makes recommendations to stakeholders on how livelihood assets can be enhanced to benefit women in resource development regions.