Indigenous Women’s Participation in Forest Governance and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Cameroon and Central African Republic: A Comparative Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results Analysis

Indigenous women serve as primary forest stewards in Central Africa, yet remain systematically marginalized from REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) decision-making. Employing SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results) analysis, an appreciative inquiry framework, this study compares Indigenous women’s REDD+ participation across Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR). Through systematic review of 52 policy documents, peer-reviewed publications, and gray literature (2011–2025), we identify divergent trajectories shaped by a ∼10-year policy maturity gap. Cameroon demonstrates tangible institutional progress, including 30% gender quotas in REDD+ committees, while CAR’s commitments remain predominantly aspirational due to limited capacity and security challenges. Shared strengths include traditional ecological knowledge and emerging women’s networks; key opportunities involve scaling benefit-sharing models and strengthening land tenure recognition. Meaningful participation requires simultaneous intervention across individual, relational, institutional, and structural levels. This comparative analysis offers evidence-based insights for advancing genuinely gender-transformative forest governance.