The document discusses gender and social inclusion activities in climate-smart villages in Latin America. Household surveys were conducted in villages in Nicaragua and Colombia to collect sex-disaggregated data on topics like agricultural activities, decision-making, and perceptions of climate change. The surveys found that women play a key role in agricultural production but are often not recognized as producers. They also found that women have less access to information and knowledge of climate-smart practices. The results will be used to identify gender inequalities and inform the design of policies to promote gender equity and reduce vulnerabilities to climate change.

1. JLUrrea(CCAFS)
Having locally appropriate solutions is essential for an effective climate-smart agriculture (CSA) approach. However,
identifying what is “locally appropriate” means understanding the needs, priorities and challenges of the different
stakeholders. Gender relations, local rules and dynamics of power in all social lines can lead men and women to have
different knowledge, skills and perspectives. In addition, they may have different opportunities and challenges to help or
inhibit them from adopting CSA.
The strategy for gender and social inclusion in CSVs seeks to close gender gaps in the rural sector and reduce rural
women’s vulnerability to climate change, through equal control of assets and resources, technologies and practices that
reduce labor and encourage the participation of women and youth in decision-making. The participation of all stakeholders
can also help to identify gender gaps and social and economic inequalities to be addressed.
Gender and social inclusion activities in the climate-smart
villages (CSVs) of Latin America

2. Objectives
• Make visible the role of women in agricultural
production.
• Identify prevalent gender inequalities.
• Support communities in gender-sensitive local
adaptation planning.
Location
CSVs El Tuma-La Dalia (Nicaragua) and Cauca
(Colombia).
Partners
CIAT, Fundación Ecohabitats
Methodology
Household gender baseline surveys were conducted in
the CSVs to collect sex-disaggregated data regarding,
among other things, perceptions of climate change and
climate variability in the short and long term.
For the survey, both a man and a woman decision-maker
in each household were interviewed. The questionnaire
included 15 modules and cover topics related to
agricultural activities, land and assets, decision-making,
information on climate, perceptions of risk, and the roles of
all household members.
The information gathered is essential to better understand
gender inequalities that arise in the CSVs, as well as
mechanisms to reduce these inequalities through local
adaptation plans.
Initial results
Some interesting results coming from the survey include
the following:
• Women are not typically recognized as producers,
although they play a key role in agricultural production.
• In the case of Cauca CSV, women have less access to
information and less knowledge of CSA practices. In
62.4% of the cases, women are the one responsible for a
specific product within the farm.
• In the CSV of El Tuma-La Dalia (Nicaragua), women
lead the work related with processing food crops, small
livestock, and processing of animal products. Women’s
participation in other farm activities is low and the
women rarely participate in off-farm harvesting activities.
Next steps
Next steps include identifying how gender inequalities
impact the practices or strategies people of the
community prefer for adapting to climate change and
whether these preferences differ by demographic
groups. In addition, we seek to answer which practices or
strategies can reduce the vulnerability of rural women to
climate change.
During the analysis of the potential costs and benefits of
prioritized practices, research will be conducted using
quantitative, qualitative, and participatory approaches to
evaluate these practices in terms of gender equity and
other social factors.
The results will also be used to inform decision-makers
through workshops, publications, and partnerships with
public and private institutions at different levels so that
these inputs can be considered in the design of public
policies in the agricultural sector.
More information
Jennifer Twyman, CIAT Social Scientist
j.twyman@cgiar.org
www.ccafs.cgiar.org
About CCAFS
The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), led by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT),
brings together some of the world’s best researchers in agricultural science, development research, climate science and Earth System science, to identify and
address the most important interactions, synergies and tradeoffs between climate change, agriculture and food security. www.ccafs.cgiar.org.
CCAFS Latin America
International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
Km. 17 Recta Cali-Palmira.
Palmira, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
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