Women’s Vulnerability to Climate Change: Gender-skewed Implications on Agro-based Livelihoods in Rural Zvishavane, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Climate change presents a considerable threat to human security, with notable gender disproportions. Women’s vulnerability to climate change has implications on agro-based livelihoods, especially the rural populace. The primary purpose of this study was to assess women’s vulnerability to climate change and the gender-skewed implications on agro-based livelihoods in rural Zvishavane, Zimbabwe. A qualitative approach that used purposive sampling techniques was adopted. Data was collected through 20 in-depth interviews with 11 de jure and 9 de facto small-scale female-headed farmer households. Two focus group discussions with mixed de facto and de jure small-scale female-headed farmer households were also conducted. Five key informant interviews were held with departmental heads of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development; the Agriculture Technical Extension Service Department; the Livestock Production Department; the Runde Rural District Council and the Meteorological Services Department. Gendered effects were noted in terms of increased roles and responsibilities for women. Observations showed that there was an increase in distances travelled by women to fetch water owing to a depleted water table. Climate-induced migration of men due to depleted livelihoods in rural areas has also increased roles and responsibilities for women. The traditional male responsibilities assumed by women included cattle herding and ox-driven ploughing. This study concluded that adaptation strategies towards vulnerability to climate change have to be gender-sensitive and area-specific. This study also recommended that response programmes and policies meant to curb existing gendered vulnerabilities should be informed by evidence because climate-change effects are unique for different geographical areas. Moreover, adaptation activities should be mainstreamed in community processes so as to reduce the burden on women and increase sustainability opportunities.

Adapting to climate change-induced flooding: insights from women traders in the riverine areas of Nigeria—a qualitative study

“…The term adaptive strategies inherently suggest a focus on coping measures and resilience. This aligns well with the study's objective of understanding how women traders respond to the challenges posed by climate change-induced flooding, providing insights into their capacity to navigate adversity (Chidakwa et al, 2020). By emphasizing adaptive strategies, the study explores the behavioral responses of women traders.…”

“…The term women traders explicitly delineate the demographic group under study, acknowledging the unique challenges, roles, and experiences of women engaged in trading activities. This specificity enhances the study's ability to provide targeted insights into the impact of climate change-induced flooding on this particular group (Chidakwa et al, 2020). By focusing on women traders, the study adopts a gender lens, recognizing the intersectionality of gender with climate change impacts.…”

“…Women are more vulnerable to the flooding due to social and economic factors, including limited access to resources, restricted mobility, and unequal decision-making power (Ibrahim and Mensah, 2022;Perelli et al, 2024). Studies such as those in Burkina Faso (Vinke et al, 2022), Cameroon (Ntali et al, 2023) and Zimbabwe (Chidakwa et al, 2020) have highlighted how gender inequalities intersect with flood impacts, leading to heightened vulnerability among women. To cope with climate change-induced flooding in sub-Saharan Africa, adaptive measures that have been implemented include early warning systems, resilient infrastructure development, and ecosystem-based approaches (Suhr and Steinert, 2022;Xiao et al, 2022;Fonjong and Zama, 2023).…”

Rights-Based Education Programming: A Complimentary Approach for Addressing Poverty, Education Inequality, and Development in Zimbabwe

“…Women and children are most affected as they typically rely on farming for labor (Chidhakwa et al, 2020). [6] In order to address this and other dimensions of poverty in Africa, it is imperative to address any structural or institutional barriers to education, economic empowerment, and social protections particularly amongst women. This paper describes a rights-based framework for addressing inequalities in educational opportunities in Zimbabwe.…”

Drivers of adaptive capacity of rural women farmers: The role of climate action and information mediums in rural Ghana

“…In the literature on women and climate change, women's vulnerability is highlighted, where the impacts of climate change on water availability, forest biomass, and increased human risk to the health of children, women, and the elderly are much more prominent (Arora‐Jonsson, 2011; Chidakwa et al., 2020; Desai & Zhang, 2021; Habib et al., 2022; Sorensen et al., 2018). The vulnerabilities of women are deepened as they are mainly responsible for providing and managing essential livelihood resources (Chidakwa et al., 2020; Arora‐Jonsson, 2011). According to Yadav and Lal (2018), socioeconomic indicators, such as poverty, insecure landholdings, overreliance on agriculture, and meager asset base perpetuate women's vulnerability.…”