The blue economy (BE) is a new frontier that could promote ocean sustainability and equity in the access and utilization of ocean resources. This is more relevant amongst ocean-dependent communities in the global south, such as in India. However, despite increasing evidence of the potential of the BE in promoting women’s inclusion, systemic barriers are still prevalent. Current interventions to bridge gaps concerning gender equity and women's inclusion in the BE are largely fragmented and less comprehensive. This undermines avenues geared towards reactivating gender inclusion and women’s empowerment (WE). Further negative ramifications might emerge, including a limited understanding of evidence-based and context-specific solutions for WE in the BE, ocean sustainability challenges, and the effectiveness of current solutions for coastal women's inclusion. Here, we draw together diverse perspectives systematically extracted from the literature on WE in the BE and develop a ‘strategic sustainable transformational pathway.’ The proposed pathway is grounded on transformative WE perspectives, experiences, and knowledge from India and the global south. The pathway highlights that addressing gender inequality and the core needs of women in the BE requires phased assessments. This can help inform transformative actions for WE. Phased assessments should be based on inclusive stakeholder participation in co-designing, co-monitoring, and continuous evaluation of the efficacy of specific BE interventions. Such actions can contribute to marine social science research that is largely less explored. Future studies can explore the applicability of the pathway by using myriad transdisciplinary approaches centered on participatory co-design and co-inclusion. In India, this can begin with the re-defining of BE in the context of WE. This can help generate micro-level narratives of coastal women on how to promote equity, and WE in the BE, across geographies.
Matovu B., Lukambagire I., Bleischwitz R., Linda. A E., Alkoyak-Yildiz M., Suresh A.S. and S A. (2025) An evidence-based review of the pre-requisite interventions for women's inclusion in the blue economy in the global south: A case study of India. Marine Policy 171: 106476. 10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106476
@article{Matovu2025,
Title = {An evidence-based review of the pre-requisite interventions for women's inclusion in the blue economy in the global south: A case study of India},
Author = {Matovu, Baker and Lukambagire, Isaac and Bleischwitz, Raimund and Linda. A, Etta and Alkoyak-Yildiz, Meltem and Suresh, Ammu S. and S, Anusree},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Marine Policy},
Year = {2025},
Pages = {106476},
Volume = {171},
Doi = {10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106476},
Abstract = {The blue economy (BE) is a new frontier that could promote ocean sustainability and equity in the access and utilization of ocean resources. This is more relevant amongst ocean-dependent communities in the global south, such as in India. However, despite increasing evidence of the potential of the BE in promoting women’s inclusion, systemic barriers are still prevalent. Current interventions to bridge gaps concerning gender equity and women's inclusion in the BE are largely fragmented and less comprehensive. This undermines avenues geared towards reactivating gender inclusion and women’s empowerment (WE). Further negative ramifications might emerge, including a limited understanding of evidence-based and context-specific solutions for WE in the BE, ocean sustainability challenges, and the effectiveness of current solutions for coastal women's inclusion. Here, we draw together diverse perspectives systematically extracted from the literature on WE in the BE and develop a ‘strategic sustainable transformational pathway.’ The proposed pathway is grounded on transformative WE perspectives, experiences, and knowledge from India and the global south. The pathway highlights that addressing gender inequality and the core needs of women in the BE requires phased assessments. This can help inform transformative actions for WE. Phased assessments should be based on inclusive stakeholder participation in co-designing, co-monitoring, and continuous evaluation of the efficacy of specific BE interventions. Such actions can contribute to marine social science research that is largely less explored. Future studies can explore the applicability of the pathway by using myriad transdisciplinary approaches centered on participatory co-design and co-inclusion. In India, this can begin with the re-defining of BE in the context of WE. This can help generate micro-level narratives of coastal women on how to promote equity, and WE in the BE, across geographies.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Matovu, Baker
AU - Lukambagire, Isaac
AU - Bleischwitz, Raimund
AU - Linda. A, Etta
AU - Alkoyak-Yildiz, Meltem
AU - Suresh, Ammu S.
AU - S, Anusree
TI - An evidence-based review of the pre-requisite interventions for women's inclusion in the blue economy in the global south: A case study of India
T2 - Marine Policy
PY - 2025
SP - 106476
VL - 171
DO - 10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106476
AB - The blue economy (BE) is a new frontier that could promote ocean sustainability and equity in the access and utilization of ocean resources. This is more relevant amongst ocean-dependent communities in the global south, such as in India. However, despite increasing evidence of the potential of the BE in promoting women’s inclusion, systemic barriers are still prevalent. Current interventions to bridge gaps concerning gender equity and women's inclusion in the BE are largely fragmented and less comprehensive. This undermines avenues geared towards reactivating gender inclusion and women’s empowerment (WE). Further negative ramifications might emerge, including a limited understanding of evidence-based and context-specific solutions for WE in the BE, ocean sustainability challenges, and the effectiveness of current solutions for coastal women's inclusion. Here, we draw together diverse perspectives systematically extracted from the literature on WE in the BE and develop a ‘strategic sustainable transformational pathway.’ The proposed pathway is grounded on transformative WE perspectives, experiences, and knowledge from India and the global south. The pathway highlights that addressing gender inequality and the core needs of women in the BE requires phased assessments. This can help inform transformative actions for WE. Phased assessments should be based on inclusive stakeholder participation in co-designing, co-monitoring, and continuous evaluation of the efficacy of specific BE interventions. Such actions can contribute to marine social science research that is largely less explored. Future studies can explore the applicability of the pathway by using myriad transdisciplinary approaches centered on participatory co-design and co-inclusion. In India, this can begin with the re-defining of BE in the context of WE. This can help generate micro-level narratives of coastal women on how to promote equity, and WE in the BE, across geographies.
ER -
