Gender and Climate Change: Does It Matter?

Gender and Climate Change: Does
it matter?
Claudia Ringler
Deputy Division Director
Environment and Production Technology
Division, IFPRI

Claudia Ringler, IFPRI
Claudia is Deputy Division Director of the Environment and
Production Technology Division at IFPRI. She manages the
Institute’s Natural Resource Theme and co-leads its water
research program and is also a flagship co-lead under the
CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems
(WLE). Over the last two decades, Claudia’s research has
focused on the implications of and trade-offs between growing
natural resource scarcity and water, energy and food security
in developing counties. She has more than 100 publications in
these areas. Claudia holds an M.A. degree in International
and Development Economics from Yale University and a
Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the Center for
Development Research, University of Bonn, Germany.

Insights from two projects
1. Enhancing Women's Assets to Manage Risk under
Climate Change: Potential for Group-Based
Approaches (2011-2014, Germany)
2. Increasing Women’s Resilience to Confront Climate
Change (2012-2014, CCAFS)

Key Questions
How are climate change, agriculture and gender equality
linked?
Is it worth while to invest in gendered activities for climate
resilience?
Which climate-resilient agricultural practices are preferred by
women and men?

Source: SOFA 2010-11.
Why does gender matter for agriculture?

CASESTUDIES:“BASIN/NATIONAL”GROUPBASEDAPPROACHESTO
ADDRSSCLIMATERISK
1 Framework
1 Example Ethiopia
7 Key Messages
+ Stakeholder
Analysis

Project summary
 Duration: 03/2011-09/2014
 4 Country Case Studies: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya and Mali
 Mixed methods: Econometrics, Stakeholder mapping, Qualitative Analyses,
including KAP survey and Net Map Analyses
 Partners:
o DATA, Bangladesh
o U. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (+ PhD student)
o KARI, Kenya
o IER/IPA, Mali
o ZEF (+ PhD students for Bangladesh and Kenya)

Framework on Gender-Climate Change Linkages
 User characteristics: Livelihood
activities, assets, gender and cognitive
abilities
 Biophysical characteristics: Sensitivity of
physical and ecological systems, on
which people depend (water, land
resources, etc. )
 Information and technologies: Access to
climate information and other climate-
resilient technologies
 Institutions: Markets, laws, strategies,
organizations, social and cultural norms
influence how individuals, households
and communities perceive climate
change, to what extent they are
affected and how they respond
Sources: Sustainable Livelihoods (SL) Framework (DfID 2001), the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework (Ostrom
2005), the IFPRI Gender and Assets (GAAP) framework (Meinzen-Dick et al. 2010), and Third Assessment Report of the IPCC (IPCC
2001)

Share of households that experienced a climatic shock over the
last 5 years (%), Ethiopia
67
25
12 12
1 0
29
ANY SHOCK DROUGHT FLOOD ERRATIC
RAINFALL
FIRE LANDSLIDE HAILSTORM
Source: IFPRI-AEMFI 2013

Response to climatic shocks (relative frequency),
Ethiopia
18
34
100
51
1 4
29
6 3 8 3 4
10
50 50
28
18
15
45
25
11 9
72
77
10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Sold livestock Borrowed from
relatives
HH head
migrated to
other rural area
Sought off-farm
employment
Ate less Ate different
foods
Sold crops
Male family member Female family member Husband and wife Household

2
15
10
35 35
4
23
11
30
23
NOT AT ALL
CONCERNED
NOT VERY
CONCERNED
INDIFFERENT SOMEWHAT
CONCERNED
VERY
CONCERNED
Household heads
Spouses
Are you concerned about climate change? (%,
Ethiopia)

5
24
25
19
22
6
38
20
14 14
NOT AT ALL
INFORMED
NOT VERY
INFORMED
AVERAGELY
INFORMED
RELATIVELY
WELL
INFORMED
VERY WELL
INFORMED
Household heads
Spouses
How well are you informed about climate change?

Access to information relevant for adaptation
40
59
85
86
71
76
62
14
28
44
73
81
62
72
57
8
0 20 40 60 80 100
Forecast of extreme events (e.g. drought
and flood)
Forecast for the start of the rains
(seasonal forecasts)
Information on climate change
Information on crop production
Information on livestock production
Information on tree management and
agroforestry
Information on marketing
Information on processing and adding
value
Spouses Household heads

What types of information are being used?
78
90
82
90
76
80
72
56
82
93
81
92
78
91
75
65
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Forecast of extreme events (e.g.
drought and flood)
Forecast for the start of the rains
(seasonal forecasts)
Information on climate change
Information on crop production and
management
Information on livestock production
and management
Information on tree management and
agroforestry
Information on marketing of
crop/livestock
Information on processing and adding
value added

Planned Adaptation Strategies (%)
4
4
4
6
6
8
9
9
10
15
17
17
17
28
35
36
1
5
7
7
4
5
12
12
12
15
21
15
13
15
50
39
BUILD A WATER HARVESTING SCHEME
CHANGE PLANTING DATES
CHANGE FROM LIVESTOCK TO CROP PRODUCTION
CHANGE FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS
SUPPLEMENT LIVESTOCK FEEDS
CHANGE CROP TYPE
MIX CROP AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION
INCREASE AMOUNT OF LAND UNDER PRODUCTION
PLANT INDIGENOUS CROPS
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK
CHANGE CROP VARIETY
USE MORE WATER FOR IRRIGATION
INCREASE FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS
PLANT TREES
INCREASE PLANTING OF TREES
IMPLEMENT SWC
Spouses Household heads Source: IFPRI-AEMFI 2013

Desired Adaptation Strategies (%)
3
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
12
12
16
22
26
6
11
2
9
2
19
0
9
11
19
17
36
11
CHANGE FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS
CHANGE CROP TYPE
SUPPLEMENT LIVESTOCK FEEDS
CHANGE ANIMAL BREEDS
CHANGE CROP VARIETY
PLANT TREES
BUILD A WATER HARVESTING SCHEME
IMPLEMENT SWC
INCREASE PLANTING OF TREES
INCREASE FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS
INCREASE AMOUNT OF LAND UNDER PRODUCTION
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK
USE MORE WATER FOR IRRIGATION

Summary - Ethiopia
1. Wives are less aware of climate change
2. Wives have less access to climate information; women with access
use such information
3. Responses to climatic extreme events are gendered
4. Both planned and desired climate adaptation strategies are similarly
gendered
5. Additionally, in 2013 more households reported that they undertake
adaptation strategies (82%) compared to 2005 (63%)
6. Adaptation strategies changed over time, more households report
growing trees, use more fertilizers, use new varieties and soil and
water management strategies
Source: Ringler et al. 2014.

Are gendered approaches worthwhile? 7x Yes!
1. There is a gender gap in what men and women own, and
women’s assets are often sold to cope with climatic shocks
Generally men hold most agricultural assets, including land. Women’s assets are
smaller in value and generally have higher liquidity – and are thus more easily sold
(Rakib and Matz, 2015; Quisumbing et al. 2017).
2. Climate information, which is essential for adaptation, is not
equally available to men and women
Access to climate information shapes climate change perceptions and responses.
Husbands are more likely to report having access to climate information, particularly
from formal sources, such as agricultural extension agents, radio broadcasts and
community meetings (Bernier et al. 2015; Bryan et al. 2013).

3. Women have less access to agricultural technologies that support
adaptation
In Mali, irrigation allowed men to increase their value of production almost enough
to offset the negative impact of climatic shocks. Women, on the other hand, had
limited access to irrigation or other farm technology, such as motorized tillers that
would increase productivity (Dillon and Gill 2014; Bernier et al. 2015).
4. Risk aversion negatively affects adaptation by rural women
While our studies in Bangladesh and Ethiopia found that women are not more risk
averse overall, we found that they were more risk averse when taking decisions on
agriculture (Kumar and Clarke 2014; Berga et al. 2014).

5. Group-based approaches for climate change adaptation can
support rural women
In Bangladesh, women benefit from groups, such as credit groups, when climatic and
other shocks occur, but women participate in fewer groups, spend fewer hours in
group activities and are less active in decision-making (Rakib and Matz 2015).
6. Rural women value risk sharing
In a Bangladesh case study, women valued insuring against agricultural risk faced by
the household even though they are less involved in agricultural decision-making
than men. But women had less education and lower financial literacy than their male
counterparts, as well as less background in understanding agricultural risk. This
placed them at a disadvantage when facing insurance purchase decisions (Kumar
and Clarke 2014).

7. Laws and regulations are not sufficient for gender equality and
resilience
Even though Ethiopia implemented a highly successful reform of land rights that was
gender sensitive, gender-related gaps in knowledge about the reform reduced
women’s adoption of both soil conservation practices and the planting of tree crops
and legumes, important practices for climate-smart agriculture (Quisumbing &
Kumar 2014)

Who are key stakeholders for climate change
adaptation in Ethiopia?
Largely hub-and-spoke
structure
Key actors:
Environmental
Protection Authority
(EPA), Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural
Development (MoARD),
& Prime Minister’s office
(PM)
Source: Aberman et al. 2015

Network is largely
decentralized, clustered
Three main clusters:
national-level
government
organizations; research
and policy organizations;
and civil society
organizations
Source: Aberman et al. 2015
Who are key stakeholders for climate change
adaptation in Mali?

Practitioners Survey (KAP)
 What is the capacity of organizations in designing and implementing
climate change adaptation activities in the 4 study countries?
 What is the level of capacity and importance given by organizations to
gender analysis related to climate change adaptation in the 4 focus
countries?
 What are the main barriers and constraints faced by organizations
working on climate change issues in the 4 countries?

Responses to KAP survey
 Strong awareness among practitioners of different aspects of climate
change adaptation along the project cycle and presence of national
strategies and action plans
 No explicit and clearly defined policy and strategy within organizations
outlining their role in and contribution to the national and collective efforts
 No explicit and measurable targets and monitoring and evaluation (M&E)
system to track progress and outcomes over time.
 Attention to gender issues is perceived by practitioners as important during
the design and planning stage of climate change-related activities
 ….But gender issues receive much less attention during implementation and
even less during M&E.
 ….Gender-disaggregated data collection, monitoring, and reporting are
rarely done as part of their organizations’ climate change–related activities.

Government agencies do not yet “walk the talk”
Perceived importance vs actual
practice: gender-disaggregated
data
Bangladesh
(14)
Ethiopia (26) Kenya (36) Mali (11)
Do not collect, analyze, or report
gender-disaggregated data
25 76 72 59
Collect, analyze, or report data on
women, men, girls, and boys in
household
41 14 19 15
Collect, analyze, or report data on
female-headed households and
male-headed households
34 11 9 26
Source: Ragasa et al. 2013

References
 Quisumbing, A. R., N, Kumar and J, A. Behrman. 2017. Do Shocks Affect Men’s and Women’s Assets Differently? Evidence from Bangladesh and Uganda, Development Policy Review,
available online: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dpr.12235/full.
 Ngigi, M., U. Mueller, and R. Birner. 2017. Gender Differences in Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Participation in Group-based Approaches: An Intra-household Analysis
From Rural Kenya. Ecological Economics. 138. 99-108. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800915302275?via%3Dihub
 Rakib, M. and J. A. Matz. 2016. The Impact of Shocks on Gender-differentiated Asset Dynamics in Bangladesh, The Journal of Development Studies, 52(3): 377-395, Available at:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2015.1093117
 Clarke, D. J. and N. Kumar. 2016. Microinsurance Decisions: Gendered Evidence from Rural Bangladesh. Gender, Technology and Development, 20(2) 1–25. Available at:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0971852416639784
 Aberman, N.L., R. Birner, E. Haglund, M. Ngigi, S. Ali, B. Okoba, D. Koné, and T. Alemu. 2015. Understanding the policy landscape for climate change adaptation: a cross-country
comparison using the Net-Map method. IFPRI Discussion Paper, 01408. Washington DC: IFPRI. Available at: http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/ifpridp01408.pdf
 Aberman, N.L., S. Ali, J. Behrman, E. Bryan, P. Davis, A. Donnelly, V. Gathaara, D. Kone, T. Nganga, J. Ngugi, B. Okoba, and C. Roncoli. 2015. Climate change adaptation, assets and
group-based approaches: gendered perceptions from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mali and Kenya. IFPRI Discussion Paper, 01412. Washington DC: IFPRI. Available at:
http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/ifpridp01412.pdf
 Clarke, D.J. and N. Kumar. 2015. Microinsurance Decisions: Gendered Evidence from rural Bangladesh. IFPRI Discussion Paper 1465. http://www.ifpri.org/publication/microinsurance-
decisions-gendered-evidence-rural-bangladesh-0
 Quisumbing, A.R. and N. Kumar. 2014. Land rights knowledge and conservation in rural Ethiopia: Mind the gender gap. Available at: http://www.ifpri.org/publication/land-rights-
knowledge-and-conservation-rural-ethiopia
 Rakib, M. and J. Matz. 2014. Impact of shocks on gender differentiated asset dynamics in Bangladesh. IFPRI Discussion Paper, 1356. Washington, DC: IFPRI. Available at:
 Bryan, E. and J. Behrman. 2013. Community-based adaptation to climate change: a theoretical framework, overview of key issues and discussion of gender differentiated priorities
and participation. CAPRi Working Paper, 109. Available at: http://www.capri.cgiar.org/wp/capriwp109.asp
 Ragasa, C., Y. Sun, E. Bryan, C. Abate, A. Alemu and M. Namori Keita. 2013. Organizational and institutional issues in climate change adaptation and risk management. Insights from
practitioners’ survey in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya and Mali. IFPRI Discussion Paper 1279. Washington DC: IFPRI.
 Davis, P, and S. Ali. 2013. Exploring local perceptions of climate-change impact and adaptation in rural Bangladesh. IFPRI Discussion Paper 1322. Washington DC: IFPRI. Available at:
 Goh, A.H.X. 2012. A literature review of the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change on women’s and men’s assets and well-being in developing countries. CAPRi Working
Paper, 106. Available at: http://www.capri.cgiar.org/wp/capriwp106.asp
 Quisumbing, A., N. Kumar, and J. Behrman. 2011. Do Shocks Affect Men’s and Women’s Assets Differently? Evidence from Bangladesh and Uganda. IFPRI Discussion Paper, 1113.
Washington, DC: IFPRI. Available at: http://www.ifpri.org/publication/do-shocks-affect-men-s-and-women-s-assets-differently
 Ringler, C., A. Quisumbing, E. Bryan, and R. Meinzen-Dick (Eds). 2014. Enhancing women’s assets to manage risk under climate change: Potential for group-based approaches, Policy
Note Series. Washington, DC: IFPRI. Available at: http://www.ifpri.org/publication/enhancing-women-s-assets-manage-risk-under-climate-change
 Bryan, E., C. Kovarik, S. Passarelli, and K. Sproule. 2015. Project Toolkit: Research Guide for Gender-Disaggregated Analysis of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation. Available at:
http://womenandclimate.ifpri.info/files/2015/02/BMZ_Toolkit_Final.pdf

CASESTUDIES:“BASIN/NATIONAL”
New Data for
4 countries (Kenya,
Senegal, Bangla-
desh & Uganda)
Which strategies do
women prefer?
INCREASINGWOMEN’SRESILIENCETO
CONFRONTCLIMATECHANGE

What type of information do women and men access?
Nyando, Kenya Wote, Kenya Rakai, Uganda
Kaffrine,
Senegal
Women Men Women Men WomenMen Women Men
Extension agents 40 42 98 99 30 67 2 12
NGOs 68 64 84 67 31 68 8 24
Community meetings 38 63 97 99 24 45 8 17
Farmer organizations 36 13 30 11 12 36 1 1
Religious groups 42 32 55 44 36 31 13 14
Agri-service providers 16 7 67 18 12 40 6 15
Family members 93 79 97 99 52 73 83 68
Neighbors 82 94 99 99 91 95 80 79
Radio 96 99 99 100 86 98 85 88
TV 15 45 5 15 2 14 10 8
Newspaper/bulletin 6 27 2 11 1 34 0 1
School 16 28 2 9 4 14 0 0
Cell phones 6 28 2 2 6 12 1 4
Internet 0 11 1 1 0 0 0 0
Traditional knowledge 81 93 91 90 74 75 88 94
Agricultural shows 3 11 4 11 1 20 0 0
Farmer field schools 8 11 57 41 6 12 0 0
Women have
less access
to infor-
mation than
men
Source: IFPRI-CCAFS intra-household survey.
KEY: Highlighted
differences are
statistically
significant at the
10% level
Men more likely to
have information
from source
Women more likely
to have information
from source

Nyando, Kenya Wote, Kenya Rakai, Uganda Kaffrine, Senegal
Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men
Agroforestry 52 76 98 100 98 98 93 95
Terraces/bunds 60 81 100 100 100 100 20 45
Water harvesting 39 72 94 95 58 93 7 26
Irrigation 72 77 85 92 100 100 90 94
Zai/planting pits 11 14 37 25 19 21 0 3
Crop residue mulching 94 88 96 97 100 99 44 66
Composting 20 43 27 48 97 96 10 47
Manure management 88 88 93 85 89 96 65 71
Efficient fertilizer use 64 73 12 35 53 86 60 80
Improved HYVs 85 62 94 99 96 98 29 67
Improved STVs 18 11 99 99 85 73 2 15
No/min tillage 56 72 7 34 96 54 54 67
Improved grain storage 56 48 98 98 82 98 46 48
Improved stoves 60 74 88 96 99 99 81 66
Improved feed management 33 39 68 74 88 92 34 50
Destocking 27 28 69 63 86 79 38 47
Cover cropping 40 24 13 4 6 25 28 39
Stress tolerant livestock 14 10 53 30 68 73 8 20
Rangeland management 20 5 31 2 76 99 30 41
IPM 6 4 0 5 83 77 1 6
Women
know fewer
climate-
smart
practices
Which practices do women and men know?
KEY: Highlighted
differences are
statistically
significant at the
10% level
Men more likely to be
aware of practice
Women more likely
to be aware of
practice

Nyando, Kenya Wote, Kenya Rakai, Uganda Kaffrine, Senegal
Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men
Agroforestry 33 25 70 93 90 93 96 95
Terraces/bunds 45 41 95 98 56 60 34 23
Water harvesting 37 22 28 31 30 8 4 0
Irrigation 21 14 9 10 21 29 6 6
Zai/planting pits 48 26 6 7 11 17 0 20
Crop residue mulching 92 67 75 87 100 95 85 82
Composting 63 24 28 30 33 21 16 10
Manure management 79 57 85 84 57 72 96 96
Efficient fertilizer use 60 56 0 13 34 50 80 74
Improved HYVs 87 82 91 99 22 56 78 59
Improved STVs 60 30 92 99 55 60 67 45
No/min tillage 47 18 8 0 21 48 58 50
Improved grain storage 32 18 66 49 62 48 70 67
Improved stoves 36 34 29 35 37 33 14 17
Improved feed management 42 23 65 36 71 22 83 88
Destocking 43 29 40 25 32 10 20 16
Cover cropping 60 48 38 0 17 5 85 65
Stress tolerant livestock 43 50 47 65 2 13 0 20
Rangeland management 78 33 41 33 5 1 57 55
IPM 33 14 0 78 75 29 100 83
If women do
know the
practices
then they
are as likely
or more
likely to use
them
Use of climate-resilient practices
KEY: Highlighted
differences are
statistically
significant at the
10% level
Men more likely to
adopt practice
conditional on
awareness
Women more likely
to adopt practice
conditional on
awareness

References
 Bryan, E., Q. Bernier, M. Espinal, and C. Ringler. 2017. Making climate change adaptation programs in Sub-Saharan Africa more gender-responsive: Insights from
implementing organizations on the barriers and opportunities. Climate and Development, available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2017.1301870.
 Kristjanson, P., E. Bryan, Q. Bernier, J. Twyman, R.S. Meinzen-Dick, C. Kieran, C. Ringler, C. Jost, and C. Doss. 2017. Addressing gender in agricultural research for
development in the face of a changing climate: Where are we and where should we be going? International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, available online:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2017.1336411.
 Bryan, E., Q. Bernier, M. Espinal, and C. Ringler. 2016. Integrating Gender into Climate Change Adaptation Programs: A Research and Capacity Needs Assessment
for Sub-Saharan Africa. CCAFS Working Paper, 163. http://hdl.handle.net/10568/72482
 Bernier Q, Meinzen-Dick R, Kristjanson P, Haglund E, Kovarik C, Bryan E, Ringler C, and Silvestri S. 2015. What Influences Awareness and Adoption of Climate-Smart
Agricultural Practices? Evidence from Kenya. CCAFS Working Paper No. 79. CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).
Copenhagen, Denmark. Available at: https://cgspace.cgiar.org/rest/bitstreams/53043/retrieve
 Twyman J, M. Green, Q. Bernier, P. Kristjanson, S. Russo, A. Tall, E. Ampaire, M. Nyasimi, J. Mango, S. McKune, C. Mwongera, and Y. Ndourba. 2014. Adaptation
Actions in Africa: Evidence that Gender Matters. CCAFS Working Paper No. 83. Copenhagen, Denmark: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture
and Food Security (CCAFS). Available at: https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10568/51391/WP83.pdf
 Kristjanson, P., Q. Bernier, E. Bryan, C. Ringler, R. Meinzen-Dick, and J. Mango. 2015. Learning about adaptation possibilities by talking to Kenyan female and male
farmers separately. IFPRI Project Note 1. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Available at:
http://ebrary.ifpri.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15738coll2/id/129755
 Kristjanson, P., Q. Bernier, E. Bryan, C. Ringler, R. Meinzen-Dick, and Y. Ndour. 2015. Implications of gender-focused research in Senegal for farmer's adaption to
climate change. IFPRI Project Note 2. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Available at:
http://ebrary.ifpri.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15738coll2/id/129754
 Kristjanson, P., Q. Bernier, E. Bryan, C. Ringler, R. Meinzen-Dick, and E. Ampaire. 2015. Gender and climate change adaptation in Uganda: Insights from Rakai. IFPRI
Project Note 3. Washington, D.C.: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). http://ebrary.ifpri.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15738coll2/id/129753

A few concluding remarks
 Climate change, agriculture and gender equality are closely linked and gendered
approaches pay off!
 More information is needed about gendered, climate-resilient agricultural
management approaches
 A focus on technologies and management practices only, however, is problematic.
The enabling environment and the policy space are equally important—education,
gendered knowledge about access to land and water rights, information climate
change, credit access options all matter
 More capacity development is needed on gender in ministries of agriculture
 M&E as well as ex-post evaluations are needed to better understand if and how
gendered strategies achieve outcomes & impact
 ..while achieving a shift from REACH to BENEFIT and EMPOWER

What is the end goal? Women’s empowerment
through agriculture

Gender and Climate Change: Does It Matter?

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