Agroforestry and changing power relationships, Bafwasende, DRC

In Bafwasende, agroforestry is quietly reshaping gendered power dynamics rooted in patriarchal traditions. Historically, agriculture has been marked by a strict division of labor: men held control over land and cash crops, while women contributed largely unpaid labor to sustain their households. Since 2019, with the support of Tropenbos DRC, women have begun to enter the male-dominated realm of cocoa-based agroforestry. Despite cultural, financial, and educational obstacles, many have managed to acquire land, establish cooperatives, and challenge norms that once excluded them from key economic roles. This shift has led to increased visibility and influence of women in household and community decision-making, including governance roles within community forests. Some now control a significant portion of farm income and are recognized for their leadership and innovation. While tensions remain in a society still deeply patriarchal, agroforestry has emerged as a powerful, if unintended, lever for women’s economic empowerment and a reconfiguration of power relations. As more women engage in agroforestry to respond to poverty and instability, their growing autonomy is gradually reshaping the social landscape of Bafwasende.