Agricultural Water Management in Africa: Lessons Learned and Future Directions - Chapter 13 - Gender dynamics and power relations in water management and agricultural innovations in the Mpegnesso’s lowlands of Mali

Effective land management practices have facilitated the establishment of a circular economy. This system involves women engaging in rice production during the rainy season, while men focus on cultivating potatoes and vegetables during the dry season. This division is made possible by the consistent availability and accessibility of water, achieved through the extensive utilization of motorized pumps and the adoption of enhanced agricultural innovations. The importance of gender and power relations in agricultural innovation processes has been recognized. The present case study aims to examine the social change, the potential of the lowlands, and the new technologies to create, or expand, spaces for women to exercise their agency in economic, social, political, and agricultural decision-making in southern Mali in general, and in Mpegnesso. Using Enabling Gender Equality in Agricultural and Environmental Innovation’s qualitative approach, data was drawn from 110 participants from Mpegnesso, which has been the hotspot of development stakeholders for the past four decades. Our findings show that the integrated development of lowlands and the adoption of agricultural technologies have increased women’s empowerment in institutional, economic, political, and social spheres, which facilitated the creation of gendered spaces for opportunity and social inclusion in the region.