Influence of Gender Policy on Women’s Empowerment: A Case of Estuaire Province in Gabon (2021–2025)

Orlane Mazarine Marguerite Diop Agnouret & Daniel Mburamatare
University of Kigali, Rwanda
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4043-6123
Email: orlane19diop@gmail.com

Abstract: This study aimed to assess the influence of gender policy on women’s empowerment, focusing on Estuaire Province in Gabon. It examined the effects of inclusive governance, legal frameworks, and resource equity on women’s empowerment. The target population consists of 489 individuals directly involved with gender policy and women’s empowerment in Estuaire Province, Gabon, including members from the Gender Unit, local leaders, Women Forum representatives, women entrepreneurs, and community-based organizations (CBOs). Using a sample size of 220, determined through Slovin’s formula, the study employed cluster sampling, with the population divided into distinct groups based on their involvement in different gender policy sectors. A randomized sample was drawn from each sector to ensure representation. Data collected through structured questionnaires, interviews, and documents. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25. The unstandardized coefficient for inclusive governance is 0.420, indicating that a unit increase in inclusive governance results in a 0.420 improvement in women’s empowerment (B = 0.420, t = 6.865, Sig. = 0.000). Similarly, legal frameworks have an unstandardized coefficient of 0.246, meaning that each unit increase in legal frameworks contributes to a 0.246 improvement in women’s empowerment (B = 0.246, t = 3.775, Sig. = 0.000). Resource
equity exhibits an unstandardized coefficient of 0.342, demonstrating that enhanced resource equity leads to a 0.342 improvement in women’s empowerment (B = 0.342, t = 5.897, Sig. = 0.000). The study recommended that local authorities prioritize gender-responsive governance, strengthen legal frameworks, and ensure equitable resource distribution to enhance women’s empowerment.