Rural households who fail to gain a voice in decisions over the management of shared forests, pasturelands, wetlands and fisheries face heightened risks to their livelihoods, particularly as competition increases between existing and new user groups. Exclusion from decision-making increases vulnerability of rural households, making it more difficult for them to move out of poverty and thwarting broader efforts to achieve sustainable resource management. Poor rural women in particular often face institutionalized barriers to effective participation in resource management. Structured efforts to create inclusive dialogue can help address those barriers, contributing to more equitable resource management and more resilient livelihoods. This brief presents recommendations for building such dialogue and addressing the underlying barriers to equity.