A GENDER-SENSITIVE ANALYSIS OF A COMMUNITY-BASED WILDLIFE UTILIZATIONINITIATIVE IN ZIMBABWE ZAMBEZI VALLEY

Zimbabwe's CAMPFIRE program is a grassroots natural resource managemen t initiative promoting utilization of natural resources, usually wildl ife, as an economic and sustainable land use option in Zimbabwe's rura l areas. Under CAMPFIRE, the village of Masoka developed a plan to all ocate a large portion of the land under its control to leased hunting safari operations. A smaller portion was protected by a wildlife fence and allocated to cultivation and settlement. This study examines the development consequences of this initiative with reference to the diff erential outcomes for men and women. The program, and associated devel opment activity, has initiated many changes in village life. Some of t hese have led women into opportunities that were formerly not availabl e, including formal education, cash payments, and paid employment. Alt hough the process of change points to greater inclusion of women,. men still have substantially greater access to money from CAMPFIRE.