The concept of access and benefit sharing, or ABS, emerged from the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity in recognition that genetic resources were being commercialised for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other industries without consent from the custodians of those resources. In many cases, the custodians were Indigenous peoples or rural communities whose traditional knowledge associated with the resources had formed the basis of that commercialisation, but without any recognition or compensation for that knowledge. Thus, the Convention set out three objectives, with the third being, the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources.

But when we talk about benefit sharing, what does fair and equitable mean to the beneficiaries?

This question is explored in an animation created together with devil’s claw harvesters from Balyerwa Conservancy in north-eastern Namibia. Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum spp.) is a plant wild harvested by many rural communities in the country’s communal areas. The tubers are dried and sliced for export for manufacturing as a phytopharmaceutical for the treatment of arthritis in humans and domestic animals. It was first commercialised in the 1950s, informed by observation of its traditional use by German soldiers in Namibia. Today, despite efforts by government, donors and NGOs to improve equity and sustainability, it remains a grossly exploitative value chain. Since November 2022, access to devil’s claw for commercial use in Namibia is subject to ABS regulations which require prior informed consent and a benefit-sharing agreement to be negotiated with those providing the resource.

The idea for the animation was inspired by wanting to give voice to the experiences of oppression, marginalisation and discrimination shared by harvesters in my doctoral thesis and to advocate for change among industry, policymakers, NGOs, donors and others working in ABS implementation. With support from a social responsiveness student grant, the animation was not only about the creation of an advocacy tool but also about a slow and participatory process with community-ownership and decision-making. The aim was to facilitate the hearing of underrepresented voices in ABS fora and have a tool to open a space for critical discussion and alternative ways of doing and knowing. The process of creation was slow and deliberate with several trips to gather feedback from the participants and to record the narration in siLozi.

Hearing and acting on the perspectives of resource custodians and traditional knowledge holders is critical if ABS implementation is to be fair and equitable. Yet resource custodians and traditional knowledge holders are rarely given the opportunity to speak for themselves in ABS processes. In the animation, five harvesters share their perspectives on benefit sharing as it relates to devil’s claw including: a fair living wage, recognition and respect, transparency and accountability, upskilling, and value addition and justice.

Giving voice, listening and acting authentically undeniably takes time and effort, but so does the care of the resources upon which biodiversity-based businesses are built. With this in mind, the animation is also a call to action, especially to industry, to carefully consider what’s at stake without embedding equity and justice in the devil’s claw trade and those of other species.

You can watch the animation in English or siLozi. Please share it widely!

In siLozi Dr Lavelle’s insightful animation sheds light on equity and justice in the Devil’s Claw trade

In English Dr Lavelle’s insightful animation sheds light on equity and justice in the Devil’s Claw trade