Enhancing Women’s Assets to Manage Risk under Climate Change: Potential for Group-Based Approaches

Keywords

shocks, assets, gender, ownership, coping strategies

Countries

Bangladesh, Kenya

Summary

While the role of climate change in food security and poverty reduction is well established as an international research theme, “gender and climate change” is also increasingly being recognized as an important concern.
Frequent claims exist that women are disproportionately affected by climate change, but with a limited evidence base and a lack of understanding of the reasons. Hence, only a limited basis for sound policy recommendations exists.
Insights from previous research on climate change adaptation as a form of risk management need to be enriched by the gender-disaggregated role of assets and collective action.

The project aims to highlight the impact of climate shocks on different types of assets by gender of the owner and to identify adaptive strategies used to withstand these shocks.
Through identification of the context-specific factors associated with group membership and performance, and by paying particular attention to the role of gender, the project contributes to improved policy formulation and program design.

Methodology

After a literature review on risk management tools to adapt to climate change, two field studies (Bangladesh and Kenya) are carried out with local collaborators and IFPRI.
The role of assets and group-based approaches in the adaptation to climate change/ climate-related shocks, in particular related to inclusiveness, equity effects, and effectiveness, are assessed by carrying out qualitative studies and/ or econometric analysis of existing data sets for the two field study sites.

Main Cooperation Partners

• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
• Bangladesh: Data Analysis and Technical Assistance (DATA)
• Kenya: Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)

Main Funding Partners

This project is supported by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and forms part of the CGIAR program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM) lead by IFPRI, Washington D.C., USA.

Publications

Ngigi, M.W., Birner, R., Müller, U. 2014. Farmers’ intrinsic values for adopting climate-smart practices in Kenya (submitted to journal).

Ngigi, M.W. Managing Risk under Climate Change in Kenya: Gender, Group-Based Approaches, and Poverty Implications. Doctoral Thesis at Faculty of Agriculture, Center for Development Research, University of Bonn. (ongoing doctoral thesis)

Rakib, M. and J.A. Matz. 2014. The Impact of Shocks on Gender-differentiated Asset Dynamics in Bangladesh. (IFPRI Discussion Paper No. 01356 and ZEF Discussion Paper No. 194)

Rakib, M. Gender Differentiated Asset Dynamics in Bangladesh: Individual Adaptation and Potential for Group Based Approaches in the Context of Climate Change. Doctoral Thesis at Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn. (ongoing doctoral thesis)

Duration of the Project

15.03.2011 - 30.09.2014

Project Homepage

http://womenandclimate.ifpri.info/

Team

• <link http: www.zef.de external-link-new-window external link in new>Prof. Joachim von Braun
• Prof. Regina Birner (Uni Hohenheim)
• <link http: www.zef.de external-link-new-window external link in new>Dr. Julia Anna Matz
• <link http: www.zef.de external-link-new-window external link in new>Muntaha Rakib 
• <link http: www.zef.de external-link-new-window external link in new>Marther Ngigi