A Systematic Review of Gender Dynamics in the Emerging Legal Cannabis Industry of Djibouti, 2000–2003: Leadership, Equity and the African Context

This systematic review critically examines the gender dynamics within Djibouti’s legal cannabis industry during the period 2000–2003. It addresses a significant gap in scholarship concerning women’s navigation of leadership roles and equity considerations during the early commercialisation of a historically informal sector. The methodology, following the PRISMA framework, entailed a rigorous search of academic databases, institutional repositories, and grey literature. Pre-defined search strings and inclusion criteria focused on documents pertaining to Djibouti’s cannabis legislation, agricultural policy, and gender-inclusive economic development from the relevant period. The synthesis of sourced evidence indicates that, whilst the legal framework created new economic opportunities, initial industry structures largely reproduced existing gendered hierarchies. Key findings show women’s participation was predominantly concentrated in cultivation and retail, with significant barriers to capital and executive roles limiting their influence. However, the analysis also identifies early, context-specific strategies employed by women, including the formation of agricultural cooperatives and advocacy for inclusive licensing. The significance of this work lies in its empirical contribution to feminist political economy, demonstrating how legal transitions in controlled sectors can perpetuate or challenge structural inequities. The implications underscore the necessity for gender-sensitive regulatory design to ensure the equitable development of nascent industries.