Indigenous knowledge for sustainable livelihoods: Evaluating non-timber forest product value chains for San communities in Northern Namibia
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Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Namibia
University of Cologne
University of Cologne
Abstract
The commercialisation of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) has been primarily
promoted in the Global South for its potential to enhance subsistence and income
opportunities for indigenous communities residing in or adjacent to forested areas.
However, in practice, the traded NTFPs predominantly benefits companies in the
Global North, leading to substantial income disparities and insufficient compensation
for indigenous producers. This dissertation evaluates the integration of indigenous
peoples as NTFP producers and knowledge holders into global value chains (GVCs)
and regional value chains (RVCs), as well as the effectiveness of international
legislation as a strategy to enhance their value capture within these chains. The
dissertation’s primary objective is to contribute conceptually to global discussions on
equitable profit distribution from natural resources, focusing on vulnerable forest dependent indigenous communities.
Using a mixed-method approach, including interviews, focus group discussions,
participant observations, and secondary statistical data analysis, the study begins by
assessing the impact of integrating San NTFP harvesters from northern Namibia into
GVCs and RVCs on their livelihoods. It then evaluates the roles of international and
national legislation in ensuring fair benefit-sharing for these harvesters and
communities, while exploring their challenges in enhancing value capture and the
requirements for value upgrading opportunities.
The findings reveal that, despite the increased global commercialisation and value of
Namibia’s NTFPs, including Devil's Claw export worth over 143 million USD
annually, individual San NTFP harvesters earned an average of only 1,538 NAD (80
USD) in 2021. Furthermore, the benefit-sharing regulations and initiatives have not
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effectively translated into fair benefit-sharing; only a few Namibian NTFP-harvesting
communities established benefit-sharing agreements with multinational companies.
While communities with benefit-sharing agreements have established local processing
facilities and community enterprises to benefit through partnerships, the San
communities in Bwabwata National Park and Okongo Constituency, lacking such
agreements, face challenges in setting up similar structures. This hinders their value
capture and bargaining power, ultimately leaving them susceptible to exploitation by
intermediate companies and individual traders.
In conclusion, this thesis emphasises the urgency of addressing persistent inequalities
in benefit-sharing for indigenous and local communities in Namibia. Future research
should explore the potential for reforms in ABS regulation to rectify legal gaps and
ensure compliance for all value chain actors engaged in the use of NTFPs. Future
research should also assess the feasibility of increasing value capture within the
producing communities in Namibia for highly valued and globally demanded NTFPs
Description
A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the cotutelle dual degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Natural sciences of the University of Cologne and Doctor of Philosophy in Geography of the University of Namibia
Keywords
Indigenous knowledge, Northern Namibia, San communities, Sustainable livelihoods, Forest product value chains, University of Namibia