Gender and Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming in Development Projects: 1

By Gitonga. B. A. Israel

Gender and Climate Adaptation in Community Development Projects 2020 edition  is a simplified guide for students and trainers in gender and climate courses. The book provides ideal framework for approaching learning and training of gender and climate change issues in development interventions. The book further helps the reader to link gender, climate change issues with sustainable development.

In a simple, clear and logical structure, the book helps the reader to connect climate change adaptation issues and gender inequality. It articulate the the process of mainstreaming gender and climate adaptation issues in development project cycle.

Who May benefit from this Book.
Besides students and lecturers, practitioners such as trainers, consultants, development projects and programme managers, policy makers, researchers, human rights advocates and lobyists, curriculum developers, legislators, community mobilizers among others may find this book helpful.

The book is published by PSI Consultants the leaders in project and community development consultancy. It is developed around nine chapters and glossary of terms.

• Language: English
• Publisher: PSI Consultants
• Release date: Jan 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224081080

Gitonga. B. A. Israel

Gitonga.B.A.Israel is consultant, trainer and author in project and community development. He has authored more than twenty two books. Some of the books include college, university and self help titles. Gitonga has more than twenty years of experience involving private, public and personal projects. He is a Ph.D cadidate in Monitoring and Evaluation. He hold masters degree in Project Planning and Management, Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, Diploma in project management and several professional certificates. Gitonga is also an entrepreneur, environment impact assessor, member of project management proffessionals, evaluation society of kenya and professional trainers association of kenya.

Book preview

GENDER AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION

MAINSTREAMING IN

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Project Support Information Consultants Publication Series  ©2020

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© Project Support Information Consultants 2020

Gender and Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming in Development Projects-1st Edition

ISBN 978-1977-2021-X

Disclaimer

This book has been developed after wide consultation and research on diverse knowledge areas believed to be reliable. However, because of the possibility of human or mechanical errors by PSI Consultants sources, author and others, The PSI Consultants does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any information and not responsible for any errors or omissions or any mistake made after the use of the information contained in this book.

About This Book

In the 21st century, there is a global consensus that climate change and gender inequality are issues of concern for sustainable development. The two issues have a bearing on the achievement of MDGs and future sustainable development. According to United Nations 2015; there can be no sustainable development without gender and climate adaptation mainstreaming development interventions. Gender inequality is one of the threats to sustainable development. It has negative impacts on access to, use of and control of resources, and on the ability to fulfill human rights. This problem can be exacerbated by climate change. To address it, there is a need to mainstream gender and climate in development interventions.

The purpose of climate adaptation mainstreaming is to reduce climate change vulnerability of communities. It helps them adapt to the impacts of climate change and contribute to the sustainability of their livelihoods. However, this cannot be achieved without addressing gender inequalities. To address gender inequality, gender mainstreaming in climate mitigation and adaptation interventions is adopted as a strategy. This helps in building gender agency, transforming gender relations and social structures in favour of gender equality hence sustainable development.

The objective of developing the book; Gender and Climate Change Adaptation Mainstreaming in Community Development Projects is to contribute to the body of knowledge in gender and climate adaptation and mainstreaming.  The book design is an ideal guide for learning and developing skills, knowledge and attitude necessary in gender mainstreaming in development interventions.

Who May Benefit From This Book

The book may be a useful companion for people involved in gender, climate change mitigation and adaptation, project management and community development projects. It may be beneficial to but not limited to the following.

The Book Structure

The book gender and climate adaptation mainstreaming design framework is built on eight chapters. To enable the reader develop clarity of concepts and their relationship, the book comes with clear and easy to understand language with examples, diagrams, tables and glossary of terms.

About This Book

Who May Benefit From This Book

The Book Structure

List of Figures

List of Tables

Chapter One: Introduction to Gender and Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Background Information

1.3 Theme and Key Concepts

1.3.1 Climate Change Adaptation

1.3.2 Gender Mainstreaming

1.3.3 Gender Equality

1.3.4 Gender Equity

1.4 Climate Change Impact

1.4.1 Consequences of Climate Change

1.4.2 Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

1.5 Climate Change Adaptation Mainstreaming

1.5.1 Climate Change Adaptation Interventions

1.6 Community Development Projects

1.6.1 Characteristics of Sustainable Community Development

1.9 Importance of Gender Equality in Community Development

1.10 Gender Responsive and Blind Intervention

Gender Responsive or Sensitive Intervention

Gender-Neutral Interventions

Gender-Specific Interventions

Gender-Redistributive Interventions

Gender Blind Intervention

1.11 Gender Role, Responsibilities and Stereotypes

1.11.1 Gender Stereotypes

Review Questions

Chapter Two: Gender Mainstreaming Concept

and Development

Introduction

2.2 Evolution of Gender Mainstreaming Concept

2.3 International Instruments Relevant to Gender Mainstreaming

2.4 Challenges in Gender Mainstreaming

What Gender Mainstreaming is Not About?

2.6 Feminism, Gender Mainstreaming and Equality

2.7 Purpose of Gender Mainstreaming

2.8 Characteristics of Gender Mainstreaming

2.9 Classification of Interventions According to Gender Equality

2.10 Gender Mainstreaming Frameworks

2.11 Importance of Gender Mainstreaming in Climate Adaptation

Review Questions

Chapter Three: Gender Issues in Climate Adaptation and  Community Development

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Key Gender Issues for Mainstreaming

3.3 Gender Based Impacts of Climate Change

3.4 Reasons for Women Vulnerability to Climate Change

3.5 Guiding Questions on Gender Issues in Adaptation Planning

3.6 Causes of Gender Inequalities

3.7 Gender Mainstreaming Needs and Options

3.7.1 Gender Mainstreaming Needs

3.7.2 Gender Mainstreaming Options

3.7.3 Factors that Makes Women Vulnerable to Climate Change

3.8 Addressing Gender Inequality in Project Lifecycle

3.8.1 Activities in Gender Mainstreaming

3.9 Principles of Gender Mainstreaming

3.10 Gender, Climate Adaptation and Development Dimensions

3.11 Reasons for Gender Mainstreaming in Climate Adaptation Interventions

3.12 Gender Mainstreaming Strategies

3.13 Concept of Gender Equality Wheel

3.14 Principles of Gender Equality

3.14.1 Typology of Inequalities

3.15 Approaches Adopted in Promoting Gender Equality

Review Questions

Chapter Four: Theories of Gender Mainstreaming and Climate Adaptation

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Importance of Theory in Intervention Design

4.3 Theory of Gender Mainstreaming

Theory of Change

4.3.1.2 Generic Steps in Theory of Change Development

Social and Behaviour Change Theory

The Health Belief Model (HBM)

Risk Reduction Model

Stages of Change Model

Theory of Planned/Reasoned Action (TPA)

Defra 4Es Model

4.5 Development Theory

Gender Inequality and Equality Theory

Feminist Theories of Inequality

4.7 Biological Theory of Gender Inequality

4.8 Cognitive Theory Gender Inequality

1.9 Theory of Climate change and Adaptation

Theory of Change (TOC)

Economic Theories:

4.12 Cultural Theory

Review Questions

Chapter Five: Gender, Climate Adaptation and Sustainable

Development

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Concept and Background to Sustainable Development

5.2.1 UN Sustainable Development Goals

5.2.2 Climate Change Adaptation Provision in SDGs

5.2.3 Gender Equality Relevant Targets in SDGs

5.3 Climate Change and Sustainable Development

5.4 Rationale of Gender and Climate Mainstreaming in Development

5.5 Gender, Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Development

5.6 Benefits of Gender Mainstreaming in Climate Adaptation Interventions

5.7 The Link between Gender and Climate Change

Review Questions

Chapter Six: Climate Change Adaptation Mainstreaming

1.1 Introduction

6.2 Concept of Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming

6.3 Justification for Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming

6.4 Classification of Climate Adaptation Intervention

6.5 Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation

6.6 Adaptation Management Cycle, Options and Needs

6.6.1 Climate Adaptation Cycle Management

6.6.2 Climate Adaptation Needs and Options in Development Projects

6.7 General Climate Adaptation Actions Based on Sector

6.8 Advantages of Climate Change Adaptation Mainstreaming

Review Questions

Chapter Seven: Gender and Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming In Project Cycle

7.1 Introduction

7.1 Development Project Life Cycle

7.3 Characteristics of Gender Responsive Climate Adaptation Project

7.4 Impacts of Gender Mainstreamed Climate Adaptation Projects

7.5 Justification for Gender Mainstreaming in Climate Adaptation Projects

7.6 Steps in Gender Mainstreaming in Climate Adaptation Intervention

7.6.1 Gender Mainstreaming Preparation Activities

7.6.2 Gender Issues Analysis

7.6.3 Option/Solution Analysis

7.6.4 Project Design and Planning

7.6.5 Project Implementation

7.6.6 Project Financing/ Funding Approval

7.6.7 Gender Based Monitoring and Evaluation

7.6.7 Sustaining Gender Equality and Climate Adaptation

7.7 Checklist for Gender Mainstreaming in Climate Adaptation Intervention

7.7.1 Suggested Checklist Questions for Gender Mainstreaming

7.8 Challenges in Gender and Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming

7.9 General Steps in Gender Mainstreaming in the Project/Programme

7.10 Categories of Projects Based on Gender Mainstreaming

7.11 Impacts of Gender and Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming in Projects

7.12 The Role of Government in Gender and Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming

7.13 Components of Gender Mainstreaming in a Project Cycle

7.13.1 Gender Analysis

7.13.2 Gender Analysis Questions

7.13.4 Gender Assessment

7.13.4 Gender Responsive Framework

7.13.5 Project Implementation

7.14 Reasons for Gender Mainstreaming

7.15 Tools for Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Climate Adaptation Project

7.15.2 Gender-Climate Analytical Tools

7.15.2 The Role of Gender Analysis in Climate Change Adaptation Projects

7.16 General Category of Gender-Climate Analytical Tools

7.17 Steps in Gender Analysis

7.19 Benefits of Gender Analysis in Climate Adaptation Projects

7.19.1 Levels of Gender-Climate Issues Analysis

7.19.3 Access, Resource Control and Benefits Analysis

Review Questions

Chapter Eight: How to Mainstream Gender and Climate Adaptation in Projects

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Gender Needs Analysis

8.2.1 Importance of Gender Needs Analysis

8.2.2 Gender Impact Analysis (GIA)

8.2.3 Importance of Gender Impact Analysis

8.2.4 The Purpose of Gender Impact Analysis

8.3 Steps in Gender Impact Analysis

8.3.1 Gender Dynamics Factors Analysis

8.3.2 Identifying Factors Influencing Gender Dynamics

8.3.3 Process of Analyzing Factors Influencing Gender Dynamics

8.3.4 Importance of Factors Influencing Gender Dynamics Analysis

8.4.1 Types of Indicators According to Measurement

8.4.2 Types of Indicators According Levels of Results

8.4.3 Importance of Gender Sensitive Indicators at Project Level

Climate Change Vulnerability Reduction Analysis (VRA)

8.5.1 Prerequisite for Conducting VRA

8.4.3 Gender Context Analysis

8.4.4 Gender Sensitive Stakeholder’s Analysis

8.8 Project Cycle Specific Gender Issues

8.8.1 Project Identification, Formulation and Appraisal

8.8.2 Gender and Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming in Project Formulation

8.8.3 Gender Mainstreaming in Project Appraisal

8.8.4 Gender Mainstreaming in Project Planning

9.8.4 Project Design Analysis

8.8 .5 Definition of Project Objectives and Expected Results

8.9 Importance of Gender Indicators

8.10 Defining Gender Issues in Logical Framework

8.11 Gender Mainstreaming in Project Implementation

8.11.1 Success Factors of Gender Mainstreaming in Project Execution

8.11.2 Gender Mainstreaming in Project Evaluation and Learning

8.12 Gender Mainstreaming in Project Sustainability

8.13 Assessing Gender Equality in Project Cycle

Review Questions

Chapter Nine: Transformative Gender and Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Concept of Transformative Mainstreaming

9.2.2 Transformative, Transaction, Conservative and Incremental Mainstreaming

9.2.2 Characteristics of Transformative Mainstreaming

9.3 The Goal of Transformative Mainstreaming

9.4 Opportunities of Transformative Mainstreaming

9.5 Indicators of Gender Inequality

9.6 Strategies for Gender Mainstreaming in Climate Adaptation

9.6 Gender Responsive Project Management

9.6.1 Project Design

9.8 Transformative Gender Mainstreaming Theory of Change

9.8.1 Gender Mainstreaming Need

9.8.2 Gender Mainstreaming Result Factors

9.8.3 Gender Mainstreaming Environment

9.8.4 Commitment to Change through Gender Mainstreaming

9.8.5 Gender Responsive Project Cycle Management

9.8 Checklist for Gender Mainstreaming TOC

Review Questions

Glossary of Terms

Further Reading

Chapter One: Introduction to Gender and Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming

1.1 Introduction

There is a global consensus that gender and climate adaptation concerns are key factors in  achieving sustainable development goals. Climate change impact is currently emerging as a universal problem globally. Its impacts have the potential to increase the vulnerability, and threaten the livelihoods of millions of poor people across the world, many of whom already face exposure to a diversity of challenges, including disasters, hunger, susceptibility to disease outbreak and loss of livelihoods. However, its impacts may be manifested and viewed differently between genders. This therefore justifies the need for contextual gender mainstreaming in climate change adaptation interventions as one of the strategies for delivering community development projects especially in developing countries. In this case it is important to note that development programmes that are blind to gender and climate change adaptation are potentially harmful since they may widen the existing inequality and increase vulnerability to climate change impacts hence unsustainable development.

Women and men’s views and manifestations of climate change impact differ based on various gender issues. Therefore community development projects incorporating climate adaptation interventions ought to mainstream gender issues. In the context of this book, the focus is on three aspects namely gender, climate adaptation interventions and development projects. This therefore leads to discussion of gender mainstreaming in climate change adaptation interventions in community development projects. In this case, gender and climate change issues mainstreaming may be viewed as one of the strategies for delivering sustainable and value based social development projects under conditions of climate change. Therefore this chapter introduces the reader to background information on the concept of gender and climate change adaptation issues mainstreaming in development projects.

To ensure clarity and foundation for logical sequence in the text, the chapter highlights background information considered useful. This prepares the reader for the subsequent chapters. Evolution of concepts gender and climate change issues mainstreaming, definitions of key terms and theory of mainstreaming in development projects and organization of the book have been highlighted.

1.2 Background Information

Gender and climate change issues mainstreaming are globally accepted strategies for ensuring sustainable development by reducing gender inequalities in all development processes. This can be considered as one of the transformative means or approaches but not the end in itself. In the 21st century any development programme that does not incorporate gender and climate change issues based on development frameworks such as plans, best practices and principles, policies, laws and institutions will likely have greater chances of failure than success. Currently, gender and climate change issues mainstreaming in community development projects are emerging as some of the important strategies for delivering sustainable development goals. To achieve community development projects goals of economic, social, political, environmental, cultural, technological, cultural and spiritual wellbeing, gender and climate change issues ought to be incorporated in the identification, planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation as well as sustainability plans of community development projects.

In the sustainable development goals (SDGs) list developed by the United Nations in 2012 at Rio Jeneiro, goal number five (5) seeks to achieve gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls by 2030. The need to come up with this goal was motivated by the fact that since time in memorial till when SDGs were being developed, development intervention segregated against women thus implying development solutions that were either in appropriate or inadequate for disadvantaged gender. Maybe what patriarchal society does not realize is that any development programme that does not address gender equality results to an outcome that does not only negatively affect the disadvantaged group but also the rest of us. For example a woman in the family whose economic, social, environmental, cultural and spiritual wellbeing is not addressed appropriately will result to upbringing of poor children hence the poor society in various dimensions of human development.

In reality, the achievement of the other sixteen SDGs will depend on the achievement SDG number five because it is integral to all dimensions of inclusive and sustainable community development.  Considering the stated argument, climate change adaptation interventions in development project have to incorporate gender issue if sustainable goals will have to be achieved. In SDG number 13, hundred ninety two (192) countries members of the United Nations are required to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts as it is also a requirement by countries that also signed agreement made by the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) forum in 2015.

1.3 Theme and Key Concepts

The main themes in this book are gender, climate adaptation and community development. To ensure clarity of ideas, important concepts are highlighted. Understanding of these concepts is expected to place the reader on a better position of connecting gender issues, climate adaptation, community development and sustainable development. The underlying premise is that gender equality is a central cog between climate change adaptation intervention, community development projects and sustainable development.

The figure that follows may be helpful in illustrating the concept of gender and climate adaptation mainstreaming in community development project for sustainable development. Imagining that the four components namely gender equality, climate change adaptation intervention, community development projects/programs and sustainable development are gears; you realize gender equality is a central cog that drives sustainable development through gender mainstreamed climate adaptation interventions through community development projects or programs. According to United Nations 2005 and IPCC, there can be no sustainable development without gender equality in all development interventions including climate change adaptation projects.

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Figure 1.1 Gender Equality, Climate Adaptation, Community Development and Sustainability

1.3.1 Climate Change Adaptation

The important terms under the concept of climate change adaptation has two sub concept namely climate change and adaptation. Climate change is a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods (UNFCCC). In order to adapt to changes, people develops strategies that will help them thrive hence climate change adaptation.  In this case climate change adaptation is a process by which people develop strategies to moderate, cope with and take advantage of the consequences of climatic events in order to build resilience against climate change impact. This involves adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. Adaptation in this case can be anticipatory and reactive adaptation, private and public and autonomous and planned adaptation. In the context of this book, we focus on planned adaptation irrespective of whether it is anticipatory, reactive, private, public or autonomous since the ultimate goal remain the same-sustainable development.

1.3.2 Gender Mainstreaming

Gender mainstreaming is a concept developed by combining the abstract noun and transitive verb thus a connotation of incorporating a thing into the main one. Therefore for the purpose of ensuring clarity of the concept, the two terms are discussed separately and later the definition of the two terms as a single concept is defined and discussed. However, mainstreaming is a dualistic concept that implies equality and mainstreaming. The duality of the concept is beyond the scope of this book.

Gender is a social cultural expression of economic, social, political and cultural attributes and opportunities associated with being a woman or a man. It is a social cultural definition of roles, responsibilities, access and control of resources, participation in decision making, rights, expectations, obligations, perceptions and power relations associated with certain group of people with respect to being a male or female. It is important to note that gender is not a synonym of sex or women. Gender is a concept we learn, it changes over time and has wide variations both within and between cultures. It determines the roles, power and resources of females and males in any culture. It has nothing to do with capabilities and very little to do with a person’s sex.

Sex is a biological and universal characteristic of male or female individuals that are genetically determined and usually enduring or unchangeable unless surgical interventions are done. On the other hand gender varies among culture and society. For example conceiving and carrying pregnancy is a sexual role of any normal woman irrespective of the culture and society. A man cannot conceive and carry pregnancy irrespective of the culture. However, a certain society can define roles for women and men differently and this about gender whereas sex roles are not subject to social or cultural definition. In summary gender and sex roles may be differentiated as follows.

Table 1.1 Gender and Sex Roles

Although some gender issues may be similar, it is important to note that effective gender mainstreaming in community development projects is based on the a particular community context. For example in some community, men are responsible for building family shelters while in others building family shelter is the role of women.  Another example is ownership of economic resources. In some community resources like land, developed properties, livestock, cash crops are owned and controlled by men while women roles are restricted to household chores like taking care of children, sourcing for fuels, water, looking after livestock and tilling land for subsistence needs. Therefore in the context of this book, understanding contextual gender issues in climate change adaptation mainstreamed in community development projects may lead to effective gender mainstreaming hence sustainable development.

As mentioned earlier, mainstreaming has a connotation of incorporating something into a main thing. It is about applying a gender lenses on every action, intervention, policy, programme, and projects undertaken. This means adoption of gender-sensitive adaptation projects where different constraints and needs of individuals based on their gender are factored in all development process. In this case gender mainstreaming is a strategic process of incorporating gender issues into community development structures such as policies, strategies, programmes, projects a swell as in administrative functions and institutional cultures. Gender mainstreaming is about making women’s and men’s concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the project cycle, so that they can benefit equally from development interventions with reduced inequalities.

For the purpose of the concept advanced in this book, the definition of the concept gender mainstreaming by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNESC). They defines gender mainstreaming as a strategy for making women’s as well as men’s concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres so that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated.

Gender mainstreaming involves assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programs/projects, at all levels. It is a process of making women’s, as well as men’s concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects in all political, economic and social spheres, so that women and men benefit equally, and inequality is not perpetuated. In this case it should be noted that gender mainstreaming is a strategy and a means and not an end. Therefore any gender mainstreamed intervention should seek to achieve gender equality as the ultimate goal.

Gender mainstreaming in this case involves a process of change or transformation, to form relatively unequal social and institutional structures into equal and just structures for both men and women. Gender mainstreaming is not about adding a women’s component or even a gender equality component into an existing project or activity, but goes beyond increasing women’s participation by bringing the experience, knowledge, skills, talents and interest of women and men to bear in the development agenda to create synergy in development. The perspective of sameness and inter-gender competition does not apply.

1.3.3 Gender Equality

The reason for gender mainstreaming is to ensure equality. Therefore it is important to define what equality means. Gender equality means accepting and valuing equally the differences between women and men and the diverse roles they play in society (European Union, 1998). This is a state where there is access to equal rights and opportunities for every one regardless of gender. The focus of gender equality intervention is ensuring there is equality in rights and opportunity for both men and women; this Seeks gender equality for every one regardless of their gender. It can be viewed as synergistic and as a win-win strategy for ensuring equal access to rights and opportunity and create synergy. More details on the difference between feminism and gender equality are covered latter in this book. However, embarking on gender mainstreaming interventions, it is important to note that gender equality is not about sameness. It is about equal visibility, empowerment and participation of both sexes in all sectors of life and business including right to be different. In this case community development interventions by design or default can be gender responsive or gender blind.

For a climate change adaptation intervention to effectively, address gender issues related to access to, use of, and control over resources, especially those defining land distribution, labour division, and strategic decision-making power, development effort for ensuring equality should focus on the following.

Ensuring equal rights, capabilities and access to resources and opportunities by both women and men;

Building agency which include but not limited to strategies for building confidence, self-esteem and aspirations of both men and women, in addition to the talent, knowledge, skills and capabilities they need to thrive as human.

Changing relations that include strategies for transforming the power relations through which men and women live their lives through intimate relationships and social networks, through group membership and activism, and citizen and market negotiations among other relations.

Transforming structures which include strategies for supporting the transformation of discriminatory social norms, customs, values and exclusionary practices in both non-formal and formal sectors. Here one may target non formal structures such as traditional institutions, customs, beliefs, values etc. and for formal one would target laws, policies, procedures and services that exacerbate gender inequality.

Eliminating gender-based violence and discrimination.

1.3.4 Gender Equity

Gender equality is not a synonym of gender equality.  Gender equity refers to the process of fair and just treatment of women and men to reach gender equality hence a means to achieving equality as mentioned above. To ensure fairness and justice, measures must be put in place to compensate for the historical and social disadvantages that prevent women and men from sharing a level playing field.

One example of measures is the provision of leadership training for women or establishing quotas for women in decision-making positions. Equity is about principle of opportunity and rights that are necessary as basis for applying other principles such as value, situation and outcome and agency.

1.3.3.1 Gender Inequality and Climate Change Adaptation Capacity

From the above discussion, gender inequality can lead to vulnerability to one of the genders that is disadvantaged in terms of limited access and use of resources, roles, responsibilities and decision making. However, with awareness of gender inequality, development agents can help members of the community to develop climate change adaptive capacity. This may be done with the understanding that climate change affects different communities, households and individuals in different ways.

In this case adaptive capacity can be developed by promoting development projects or interventions that seek to ensure the disadvantaged gender are able to have the following;

Access to and use of information and services

Control over assets

Access to institutions and entitlements to key resources

The ability to innovate in response to evolving challenges and opportunities

Flexibility and foresight in planning and decision-making.

It is important to note that the above five factors defines the adaptive capacity of the community and can lead to sustainable development. While on this, more details are covered latter in this book under the sections of gender analysis, principles of gender equality and gender mainstreaming on project life cycle.

1.4 Climate Change Impact

In order to understand the concept of climate change impact, one has to break the concept into two, define them separately and rejoin them for a single concept definition. Although there are several definitions or no universally agreed definition so far, for the purpose of advancing the objective of this book, definition of climate change by UNFCC is adopted. According to UNFCC, climate change is a change which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which lead to natural climate variability over comparable time periods. A change in global atmospheric condition and climate variability in this case may result to negative outcomes on human being, flora and fauna and consequently compromises on livelihoods, health and economic development.

Some of the climate change impacts according to food and agriculture organization (FAO) and UNFCCC include but not limited to; increases in the intensity and/or frequency of natural-hazard induced disasters such as prolonged dry spells and associated droughts, intense rainfall, snow avalanches, severe dust storms, pest and diseases outbreak, biodiversity loss, economic losses, loss of traditional lifestyle and casualties of disasters and famine. However, there is a significant variance across geographies and demographics with regard to vulnerability to these impacts. For example the poor and the marginalized segments of