GENDERED GOVERNANCE AND THE COMMONS : AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF FEMALE PARTICIPATION AND STRUCTURAL BARRIERS WITHIN THE VOI MITSINJO, MADAGASCAR

ABSRACT The decentralized governance of natural resources in Madagascar, formalized through the Transfer of Natural Resource Management (TGRN), seeks to empower local communities through the Vondron’Olona Ifotony (VOI). However, the substantive inclusion of women within these frameworks remains a critical challenge for institutional efficacy and social equity. This study examines the role and participation of women in the VOI Mitsinjo, situated in the Ranomafana rural commune, a region characterized by high biodiversity and significant anthropogenic pressure. Adopting a transdisciplinary methodological approach, the research utilized a combination of literature reviews, semi-structured interviews with key institutional informants, and quantitative surveys involving 50 women across four hamlets: Ambatolahy, Ambodikimba, Ambodiamontana, and Tsararano. Data processing was executed using XLSTAT to analyze the correlation between socio-economic activities and participation levels. Results indicate that while 80% of women maintain a baseline involvement in VOI activities, their influence in decision-making bodies is severely hindered by systemic barriers. "Lack of time," cited by 60% of respondents, emerged as the primary constraint, exacerbated by the "double burden" of domestic labor and subsistence activities like agroforestry and banana chip production. Furthermore, institutional demotivation (30%) and spatial marginalization in peripheral hamlets continue to obstruct gender equity. The study confirms the hypothesis that the efficiency and sustainability of natural resource management are contingent upon the effective participation of women. The findings suggest that reconciling female economic roles with governance responsibilities is essential for resilience against climate change and biodiversity loss. The article concludes that achieving sustainable stewardship in Madagascar requires a systemic policy shift, including gender-sensitive land reforms, leadership capacity building, and the institutionalization of gender quotas to dismantle patriarchal architectures in community-based governance. Keywords: Limited and marginalized, women’s involvement, community governance, natural resources, social cohesion, social and environmental justice.