Gender and social inclusion
This chapter in the book ‘Climate-smart agriculture manual for agriculture education in Zimbabwe’ (PDF) by the Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) addresses the critical links of gender with climate change and agriculture. In Zimbabwe and the rest of the developing world, both women and men are smallholders, yet the role that women play is often unrecognized. Globally, women make up 43% of the agricultural labor force, and in Zimbabwe they provide 70% of agricultural labor. Women face structural barriers that create gender gaps and inequalities. Women farmers in southern Africa, as a result, face barriers in adopting climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices, including unequal access to credit, technology and agricultural inputs as well as capacity-building. The changing climate is poised to exacerbate these inequalities unless measures are taken to address them. This chapter demonstrates that climate-smart agriculture practices and policies will need to take these barriers into account and develop solutions to address them. Highlighted CSA case studies not only improve food security and increase incomes, but also benefit women and reduce gender barriers. Finally, the chapter emphasizes the importance of developing and implementing gender-responsive climate change and agricultural practices, and of mainstreaming gender into academic curricula.
Read also this blog by the CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) which discusses the chapter.