Improving Gender Equality in GVCs: A Comparative Analysis of Interventions in Three Countries

Abstract

Global value chain (GVC) governance has become an essential part of the international development agenda to promote the inclusion and integration of all GVC's participants at all levels that benefit from the upgrading process. Ensuring gender equality and inclusion at the community level has been overlooked in this agenda, despite the recognition and adaptation of SDG 5 gender equality by governments and businesses worldwide. Previous literature indicates community governance as a supplement GVC governance structure to private, social, and public governance can facilitate livelihood upgrading for rural communities. However, it remains unclear under which conditions both women and men can equally benefit from the livelihood upgrading. To address this gap, this study that draws from GVC governance literature, feminist theory, and institutional theory empirically examined the effect of third-party interventions launched in artisanal mining communities on gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly the furthest reaches of a GVC when local institutions are weak—using a novel dataset collected from local miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe. We adopted ten indicators that reflect SDG 5 to investigate the pre-intervention conditions of five mining associations in three countries. Our study offers insights based on evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and practitioners who integrate SDG 5 into their global sustainability strategies. In the form of collective efforts from social and community actors, women and girls can benefit from integrating into the global economy, especially in the first mile of the GVC.