To tackle climate change, we need to empower rural women. Here are four ways to do that
IFAD 07 March 2022
Rural women in developing countries are already feeling the effects of climate change in their daily life.
They’re seeing weather patterns change, and once-dependable crops are no longer thriving.
They’re having their livelihoods wiped out by extreme weather events – and with less access to resources than men, they have a harder time bouncing back.
They’re at greater risk of gender-based violence due to climate disasters.
They’re often the ones feeding the household, so they notice when a variety of nutritious food is no longer affordable or available.
But most importantly, they know what needs to be done to help their households and communities adapt to climate change and build resilience.
Here are four ways to empower rural women for a climate-safe future.
Listen to women
Women make up almost half the world’s agricultural workforce. They know the local landscapes and resources well, including the wealth of biodiversity available. Yet their voices often go unheard when and where decisions are being made – including in their own households.
Studies show that when women have an equal say in decision-making, their households and communities cope better with the changing climate. This leads to more effective, comprehensive and inclusive solutions – and, moreover, it’s a matter of equality and justice. It’s crucial for women’s voices, agency, perspectives and knowledge to be represented.
Many IFAD-supported projects get women involved in planning, ensuring that their knowledge informs climate change adaptation strategies: from building climate-smart infrastructure to sustainably managing climate-sensitive natural resources like water.
In Sudan’s Butana region, for example, women have historically been disadvantaged and marginalized. They’re now coming together in informal groups, building their leadership skills, and leading community networks that manage and protect communal rangeland from desertification and other threats.
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