Women and adaptive capacity to climate change in East African seascapes – Zanzibar as an example

Abstract

As the climate crisis persists, there is a crucial need to increase knowledge on adaptive capacity and the underlying factors building it. This is particularly important for disadvantaged groups, such as coastal women in East Africa. Women’s livelihoods in these seascapes are and will be more severely affected by climate change and the capacity of East African states to deal with these challenges is limited in terms of financial and human capital. In this research, we investigated the underlying factors building the adaptive capacity of coastal women in Zanzibar (Unguja Island), Tanzania. Coastal women (N=117) were interviewed in villages around the island to gather information about potential factors supporting adaptive capacity. This was analysed applying Cinner et al (2018) five domains typology for adaptive capacity, i.e. assets, flexibility, organizations, learning and agency. The results show that women had relatively low adaptive capacity, extended poverty and very high dependence on seaweed farming of red algae, a livelihood providing low income and already being seriously affected by climate variability and change. Women’s observations of key variables related to environmental changes corresponded to most scientific findings. It was, however, unclear how that knowledge is useful and enhances adaptive capacity. Adaptive capacity was generally low but individual differences were found in which ten women had a high income. The results show that the factors underlying adaptive capacity are complex and interact with each other, being positive, negative and unclear. Many of the identified factors deserve future research. This study adds to the pool of knowledge by addressing women (not only men); coastal ecosystems (as land and freshwater systems are more studied) and the individual level (since most studies focus on national and community levels). The study illustrates that institutional renewal, bridging and cooperation is possible in Zanzibar bringing good news to the region.

Dynamic livelihoods, gender and poverty in marine protected areas: Case study from Zanzibar, Tanzania

“…The overall large exits from individual’s seaweed farming seen in this study would suggest the increasing unviability of seaweed farming as a livelihood, e.g. due to climate change as previously documented (Hassan and Othman 2019 ; de la Torre-Castro et al 2022 ). Alternatively, other livelihoods which better serve needs are within reach to women—which would indeed be positive.…”

“…Regarding climate change, seaweed farmers were also found having low capacity for avoiding harm by adjusting to climatic changes, i.e. adaptive capacity, which is a serious aspect to be considered (de la Torre-Castro et al 2022 ). This includes, for example, low organisational capacity, financial assets and mobility.…”

“…The idea originated from researchers following visits to established farms in the Philippines, with particular interest in its low environmental impact, as well as positive possibilities for income generation (Bryceson 2002 ). Over time, seaweed farming has raised concerns in terms of poor working conditions and low productivity (Fröcklin et al 2012 ; Makame 2022 ; de la Torre-Castro et al 2022 ), vulnerability to climate change (Hassan and Othman 2019 ; Matoju et al 2022 ) and negative impacts on macrobenthic habitats (Eklöf et al 2005 ; Moreira-Saporiti et al 2021 ).…”

Climate Change and Human Health in Africa in Relation to Opportunities to Strengthen Mitigating Potential and Adaptive Capacity: Strategies to Inform an African “Brains Trust”

“…Their capacity to adapt was enhanced with access to credit, household income, number of farms, access to information and access to land. Among coastal women in Zanzibar (Tanzania) adaptive capacity, namely assets, flexibility, organizations, learning and agency, was low with extended poverty and very high dependence on seaweed farming that was being severely affected by climate change [112]. They needed to diversify their livelihoods, and additional education and training to increase knowledge was essential.…”