Gender Outcomes Harvesting in Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Within the context of the promotion and adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) options or practices, this paper is a meta-analysis that focuses on gender outcomes resulting from women’s adaptation strategies, in response to constraints brought on by their normative and cultural environment, expectations emanating from their reproductive and productive roles, and gender disparities that contribute to gender inequality and women’s economic disempowerment.

The women’s adaptation strategies were examined among climate-smart villages in five countries in Southeast Asia -- Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, and the Philippines. The gender outcomes were harvested from available gender-related literature and empirical studies under the CCAFS and researches implemented by IIRR on CSA practices, technologies, innovations consisting of a portfolio or a basket of options that address food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation and support services provided in climate-smart villages. Outcome is defined in this study as a change in the behaviour, relationships, actions, activities, policies, or practices of an individual, group, community, organization, or institution. Gender outcome harvesting shifts the focus on the changes that impact on women and men from the use of CSA technologies, practices, and social learning practices.

The report presents gender outcomes and insights from 69 reports conducted in these five countries with findings validated by studies done in other CSVs elsewhere, covering a range of women’s concerns that include an analysis of their gender roles are determinants or barriers to empowerment, gendered impacts of climate change, male migration, literacy, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Gender outcomes were also harvested from studies on the adoption not only of CSA practices (including homestead gardens and livestock production), but also of agricultural innovations, labour-saving technologies and seed systems.

The report includes gender outcomes that spring from integrating gender approaches into CSA and food systems, examining pathways around gender norms surrounding patriarchy, and assessment of the use of gender transformative approaches, gender guidance and tools used in measuring women’s empowerment. In support of the findings and recommendations, a final section is presented on a future research agenda.