PhD project title: The Implications of tourism development in Marine Protected Areas for Indigenous Papuan Women in Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Supervisory team: Prof. Machiel Lamers (WUR), Dr. Richter, Andries (WUR) and Dr. Pakiding, Fitri (UNIPA)

PhD project description: The development of Marine Protected Areas and tourism in Raja Ampat is expected to generate alternative livelihoods for local communities. However, what these developments mean for socioeconomic chances and the roles of women in Raja Ampat remains unclear. Women play a central role in providing food, while food systems are transforming due to the establishment of MPAs and tourism development. Tourism development also creates economic opportunities for women in hospitality and related services. But whether and how women are benefiting from MPAs and tourism development, and the gender implications of MPAs and tourism development, need further investigation. This research will analyze the impacts of MPAs and tourism development within local communities, with an emphasis on women, from a capability perspective.

Yustina Wambrauw is a PhD candidate jointly at the University of Papua (UNIPA) and Wageningen University & Research (WUR), working within the INREEF project. With a background in Agribusiness and Global Food and involved in gender research, her research focuses on how MPAs and Tourism should be well managed to establish gender equality and indigenous women’s inclusion in creating sustainable MPA and Tourism management that will increase welfare and equality for all related stakeholders around Raja Ampat and around the world.